Queens Interlocking Improvements
Impact Service June 16 - September 1

Dear LIRR Customers:

The LIRR will launch an important summer project in the coming weeks that will improve service but also will impact your commute. Beginning June 16th, we will start upgrading our switch technology at a track point between Queens Village and Bellerose, with a scheduled completion date of September 1st. By installing state-of-the art technology and switches in this essential section of the Railroad, our customers will enjoy a smoother ride and fewer maintenance related track outages. The project represents a major investment ($60.4 million) on the part of the LIRR to ensure greater reliability and comfort.

This work will involve significant schedule changes while the project is underway, including AM and PM Peak train cancellations on the Hempstead, Port Jefferson and Ronkonkoma branches - and schedule adjustments throughout the system.

This brochure is designed to provide both an explanation of the work being done and an overview of its impact on service, including for our reverse commuters. Please watch for other informational items to follow and be sure to pick up new branch timetables for changes to your regular schedules. I want to thank you in advance for your patience and understanding while we complete this important project. The LIRR - already the largest commuter Railroad in North America - is striving to be the best as well and is committed to completing this work as safely and quickly as possible while limiting its impact on your commute and the communities we serve.

Sincerely,
Helena E. Williams
President - MTA Long Island Rail Road

Here is what will be happening:

Customer Impacts
Most Rush Hour Service:

• Some trains will be cancelled or combined.
• Reverse Peak customers on the Hempstead Branch will be provided with buses between Queens Village and Hempstead in the AM and between Hempstead and Bellerose to Jamaica in the PM.
• All branches will experience adjustments of up to 10 minutes for stopping times and connections. Timetables dated June 16 will include the changes.
• New timetables and informational flyers will be available at stations.
  

AM Peak Service Changes
Hempstead Branch

June 16 through August 29:

• The 7:23 AM train from Hempstead to Flatbush Avenue will be temporarily cancelled. Alternate service at stations Hempstead through Stewart Manor and Bellerose will be available 13 minutes earlier or 18 minutes later. Service from Floral Park, Queens Village and Hollis will be available between 3 and 4 minutes earlier.

June 30 through August 22:

• The 8:45 AM train from Hempstead to Flatbush Avenue will be temporarily cancelled. Alternate service at stations Hempstead through Stewart Manor and Bellerose will be available 25 minutes earlier or 24 minutes later. Service from Floral Park, Queens Village and Hollis will be available 4 minutes earlier.

Port Jefferson Branch
June 16 through August 29:

• The 6:18 AM train from Port Jefferson will depart one minute earlier at 6:17 AM and will have an added stop at Huntington at 7:02 AM.
• The 6:45 AM Port Jefferson to Hunterspoint Avenue train will operate 2 minutes earlier and will terminate at Huntington, where customers will transfer to the 7:36 AM departure, which will have an added stop at Jamaica. Hunterspoint Avenue customers will arrive at their destination 6 minutes later.
• The 7:12 AM train from Huntington will temporarily originate in Cold Spring Harbor at 7:11 AM and will have an added stop at Hicksville.
• The 7:28 AM train from Cold Spring Harbor will temporarily originate from Huntington at 7:22 AM.
  

PM Peak Service Changes
Ronkonkoma Branch
June 16 through August 29:

• The 4:24 PM train from Penn Station to Ronkonkoma will have an added stop at Jamaica.
• The 4:34 PM train from Flatbush Avenue to Ronkonkoma will be temporarily cancelled. Alternate service for stations New Hyde Park through Hicksville will be available 3 minutes earlier. Service for Bethpage through Ronkonkoma will be available 14 minutes earlier.
  

Hempstead Branch
June 16 through August 29:

• The 6:14 PM train from Flatbush Avenue to Hempstead will terminate at Garden City. Bus service will be provided to Country Life Press and Hempstead. June 30 through August 22:
• The 7:05 PM Penn Station to Hempstead train will be cancelled. Alternate service will be available 10 minutes earlier or 28 minutes later.
  

Reverse Peak Service Changes
Ronkonkoma Branch
June 16 through August 29:

• The 7:13 PM weekday train from Ronkonkoma to Penn Station will originate at Central Islip at 7:20 PM. A bus connecting with this train will depart Ronkonkoma at 6:50 PM (23 minutes earlier than normal train service). Alternate train service is available from Ronkonkoma at 7:45 PM.

Hempstead Branch
June 30 through August 22:
Due to the need to close one of two main tracks on the Hempstead Branch for most of this project, it is not possible to operate normal Reverse Peak service to and from Hempstead. In the morning, three Reverse Peak trains will be cancelled, with no eastbound train service to stations Bellerose through Hempstead between 6:30 AM and 9:30 AM. Eastbound train service will be provided to Hollis and Queens Village, and bus service will be provided from Queens Village to stations Bellerose through Hempstead.

In the PM, three reverse peak trains are cancelled, with no westbound service from stations Hempstead through Bellerose between 4:50 PM and 7:00 PM. Westbound service from stations Hempstead through Bellerose will be provided by buses to Jamaica. Main Line trains making extra stops will provide westbound service from Floral Park, Queens Village and Hollis. Alternate bus service will add up to 25 minutes of travel time. During construction, LIRR employees will be assigned to assist customers with alternate bus service.

Off Peak Service Changes
Port Jefferson Branch
On weekends, during certain times, half-hourly service will be reduced to hourly service at Huntington, Cold Spring Harbor and Syosset stations.

• To allow construction activity to progress, stops have been added or removed from certain trains during the midday and overnight Off Peak periods. In addition, weekday schedule adjustments of up to 48 minutes and running time additions of up to 6 minutes have been added to some trains. Weekend schedule adjustments of up to 23 minutes and running time additions of up to 9 minutes have been added to some trains.

Please note that these changes will impact branches throughout our system, including branches that do not pass through the construction area, due to the need for trains to make connections at Jamaica as well as capacity constraints at Jamaica and western terminals.

Major Weekend Changes
Hempstead Branch -
Weekend of June 21-22:
Signal testing and installation will require a 48-hour shutdown of the Hempstead Branch. Buses will replace all weekend trains between Hempstead and Jamaica. Hempstead Branch customers should expect added travel time of up to 25 minutes.



To avoid delays, customers may wish to travel on other branches this weekend.

Main Line & Hempstead Branch -
Weekend of August 23-24
A signal cutover will require a 48-hour suspension of service on the Main Line between Jamaica and Mineola on the weekend of August 23-24. This suspension of service will affect Ronkonkoma, Port Jefferson, Oyster Bay and Hempstead branch tracks through this area, and require busing and some train diversions. Details of schedule adjustments and alternate service will be announced as the date approaches.

To avoid delays, customers should plan on taking the Babylon or Montauk branches this weekend.

Travel Tips
New timetables will be in effect from Monday, June 16 through September 1. Regular schedules will resume on Tuesday, September 2. Here are some tips for coping with the temporary schedule changes:

• Pick up timetables dated June 16 - September 1 for your branch
• Listen for announcements on track, platform and schedule changes
• Call the LIRR's 24-hour Travel Information Center for schedule information
• Check the LIRR website for schedule changes and service advisories
• Sign up for Customer E-Mail Notifications
• Check the Penn Message Boards for updates
• Look for additional LIRR personnel at Jamaica and Queens Village for assistance with alternate bus service
• Listen to radio and TV traffic reports for daily service updates
  

We thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to complete these infrastructure improvements in the shortest time frame possible.

Queens Interlocking Switch & Signal Improvements Brochure (PDF)

For additional travel 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 in New York City at 718-217-LIRR. The Travel Information Center's TDD telephone number for the hearing impaired is 718-558-3022.