Multiple LIRR Lines Affected For Two Weekends
Earlier today, the MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) sent out a press release advising customers on the Hempstead & Port Jefferson line to use other lines for the next two weekends. The advisement is due to a track work program in the Queens Village area & grade crossing renewals. Here are the complete details:
A track work program in the Queens Village area and grade crossing renewals during the weekends of April 10-11 and April 17-18 will mean no train service on the Hempstead Branch and train service frequency will be reduced on the Port Jefferson/Huntington Branch. Customers should consider taking trains from South Shore LIRR stations (Babylon, Long Beach and West Hempstead Branches) in order to avoid delays during the two weekends.
The track surfacing work will keep this important section of track in a state of good repair, and when the work is completed, the thousands of daily LIRR customers who travel through the area should experience a smoother train ride. For this project, railroad employees using two track tamper machines will lift and align the track itself and add ballast (stones), where necessary. This helps to smooth out any bumps in the track bed and gives longer life to all track components. The tamper machines are each over 100 feet long and weigh 150 tons.
Schedule adjustments will also be made on some trains on the Babylon, Far Rockaway, Long Beach, Oyster Bay and Ronkonkoma Branches during the affected weekends to accommodate Hempstead Branch and Port Jefferson/Huntington Branch connections. These adjustments are reflected in the special weekend timetables dated April 10-11 and April 17-18.
Hempstead Branch:
Eastbound: Customers will board trains at western terminals then disembark at Jamaica for buses that will take them to their final destinations. Customers should anticipate up to 33 minutes additional travel time.
Westbound: Customers will board buses at their stations then change at Jamaica for trains to western terminals. Buses will depart up to 32 minutes earlier than scheduled train times.
Huntington/Port Jefferson Branch:
Customers traveling to and from stations New Hyde Park through Huntington will have hourly train service instead of half-hourly train service. Customers traveling east of Huntington to and from Port Jefferson will have train service every two hours instead of every 90 minutes.Grade Crossing Renewals:
In addition to the track surfacing work, two grade crossings will be renewed on the affected weekends. The work includes replacing rubber panels at the crossings with longer lasting concrete. On April 10-11, the Franklin Avenue, Garden City crossing will be renewed and on April 17-18, the Covert Avenue, Stewart Manor crossing will be renewed. During the work, local motor vehicle traffic detours will be in place as detailed below:
Detour route for Franklin Ave. road closure for crossing renewal work – April 10-11:
Southbound: Heading south on Franklin Avenue, proceed west on 7th Street, then proceed south on Hilton Avenue, then proceed east on 6th Street to Franklin Avenue.
Northbound: Heading north on Franklin Avenue, proceed west on 6th Street, then proceed north on Hilton Avenue, then proceed east on 7th Street to Franklin Avenue.
Detour for Covert Avenue road closure for crossing renewal work – April 17-18:
Northbound: Heading north on Covert Avenue, proceed east on Salisbury Avenue, then proceed north on New Hyde Park Road, then proceed west on Stewart Avenue to Covert Avenue.
Southbound: Heading south on Covert Avenue, proceed east on Stewart Avenue then proceed south on New Hyde Park Road, then proceed west on Salisbury Avenue to Covert Avenue.
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Customers should pick up a copy of the special April 10-11, April 17-18 branch timetables at their stations or at all terminals. For train schedule information customers can contact the LIRR’s 24-hour Travel Information Center in Suffolk County at 631-231-LIRR, in Nassau County at 516-822-LIRR or New York City at 718-217-LIRR. The Travel Information Center’s TDD number for hearing impaired is 718-558-3022. Customers can also consult the LIRR’s website at www.mta.info.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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[…] & following week (beyond in some cases). LIRR riders, do not forget about the major work affecting the Hempstead & Port Jefferson lines. I suggest you print out a copy of the diversions to carry with you or use your mobile device to […]