Community Corner

Extremely Limited LIRR Train Service This Weekend

Due to the final leg of signal and switching control work, the Babylon Long Island Rail Road weekend service will be reduced from half-hourly to hourly.

Due to the final leg of signal and switching control work, the Babylon Long Island Rail Road weekend service will be reduced from half-hourly to hourly.

NYC marathon attendees advised to use Babylon, Long Beach or Port Washington Branches.

The Long Island Rail Road will be completing installation of a state-of-the-art centralized signal and switching control system at Jamaica this weekend in the final stage of a major modernization project. The Jamaica Modernization Project will result in significant service changes for all LIRR branches, except the Port Washington branch this weekend.

Find out what's happening in Babylon Villagewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

During the cutover to the new system this weekend, there will be extremely limited LIRR service, especially between Jamaica Station and Penn Station. 

The LIRR recommends the use of LIRR trains for essential business travel only. Buses and subway service will replace LIRR trains on most branches. Many customers will need to take the "E" subway line service between Jamaica and Penn Station.

Find out what's happening in Babylon Villagewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • NYC marathoners should use Babylon, Long Beach and Port Washington Branches for direct service to and from Penn Station
  • Port Washington branch is the only unaffected LIRR branch and extra trains are being added in the morning between 9 AM and 1 PM, and in the afternoon between 4 PM and 8 PM.
  • Only three trains will operate each hour in each direction between Jamaica and Penn Station (about one-third regular weekend service level)
  • Alternative subway service is available via NYC Transit's "E" subway line between Penn Station and Jamaica (the Archer/Sutphin stop on the "E")
  • There will be no LIRR train service between Jamaica and Atlantic Terminal, Brooklyn
  • Huntington/Port Jefferson, Ronkonkoma (overnight period only) and Oyster Bay Branch trains will terminate and originate at Mineola, and buses will operate between Mineola and Jamaica.
  • Buses replace LIRR trains between Queens Village and Jamaica on the Hempstead Branch
  • Most Ronkonkoma trains will be re-routed along the Babylon Branch for a portion of the trip
  • Customers should allow up to 70 minutes of additional travel time
  • No LIRR train service will operate to/from Atlantic Terminal, Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Hollis, Locust Manor, Laurelton, Rosedale, Merillon Avenue, New Hyde Park, St. Albans, Nostrand Avenue and East New York. These stations will be served by existing alternative public transportation (see LIRR Jamaica Cutover Service Plan (http://www.mta.info/supplemental/lirr/JCOCutover.htm) for detailed information).
  • Bicycles will not be permitted on buses or trains

For a detailed branch-by-branch description of how LIRR service will be impacted this weekend consult the LIRR's Jamaica Cutover Service Plan . 


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