No Elmont-UBS Service for the Entire Weekend
Signal Work Critical for Launch of Service to Grand Central Madison
The Work Being Done This Weekend Will Enable a Significant Increase in Train Service to Elmont-UBS Station Starting with the Islanders Game Monday, Nov. 7
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) crews will complete a signal cutover near Queens Village as part of the modernization of the LIRR during the weekend of Oct. 29 and 30.
This critical signal work will require both existing Main Line tracks to be taken out of service for approximately 50 hours between New Hyde Park and Hicksville resulting in service changes on the Oyster Bay, Hempstead, Port Jefferson and Ronkonkoma Branches and schedule adjustments on the LIRR’s other branches.
There will be no train service to/from UBS Arena for the Oct. 29 New York Islanders game. Customers can use the Q110 and Q2 buses. NICE Bus also provides service to UBS Arena via the N6 line.
“This work is another step towards a modern and resilient Long Island Rail Road adding redundancy, reliability and operational flexibility as we continuously look to provide service improvements for our customers’ needs, said LIRR Interim President and Metro-North Railroad President Catherine Rinaldi. “The LIRR’s continues to build modern switches, signals, rails and terminals providing Long Islanders with the cheapest, greenest and fastest way to travel."
Hempstead Branch Service
Starting Monday, November 7 with the Islanders game against the Calgary Flames, all Hempstead Branch trains in both directions will stop at the station on event days.
Fans will now have the option of three LIRR branches (Hempstead, Port Jefferson/Huntington & Ronkonkoma) to take them directly to and from the Elmont-UBS station and once LIRR service to Grand Central begins at the end of this year, these new signals will make it possible for the Long Island Rail Road to turn Elmont-UBS into a full-time station with service on the Hempstead branch 365 days a year.
Service will be affected as follows:
There will be no train service between Penn Station and Hicksville in either direction and two-hourly Oyster Bay Branch diesel service will operate between East Williston and Oyster Bay.
For Eastbound customers from western terminals traveling to Ronkonkoma Branch stations Farmingdale through Ronkonkoma, and to Port Jefferson Branch stations Hicksville through Huntington/Port Jefferson, customers will board trains to Babylon.
At Babylon, customers will transfer to diesel shuttle trains to Hicksville via the Central Branch, then transfer at Hicksville to trains operating to either Ronkonkoma or Huntington/Port Jefferson.
Eastbound Bethpage customers will board the electric express train service to Babylon, then transfer to the diesel shuttle train, which will stop at Bethpage on its way to Hicksville.
For Westbound customers on the Ronkonkoma Branch travelling from stations Ronkonkoma through Farmingdale, and on the Port Jefferson Branch for stations Port Jefferson/Huntington through Hicksville, customers will board trains at their station to Hicksville, where they will transfer to diesel shuttle trains operating between Hicksville and Babylon via the Central Branch, then transfer at Babylon to express trains for western terminals.
Westbound Bethpage customers will board the diesel shuttle train to Babylon, then transfer at Babylon to express trains for western terminals.
Extra trains will be added between New York and Babylon to connect with shuttle trains between Babylon and Hicksville.
Bus service will also be provided between Mineola and Hicksville.
Oyster Bay Branch trains will operate between Oyster Bay and East Williston, with bus service provided in both directions between Jamaica, Mineola, and East Williston for connecting train service.
Hempstead Branch customers will be bused to/from Jamaica for the duration of the weekend.
There will be normal weekend service intervals on the Montauk, Long Beach, Far Rockaway, Port Washington, West Hempstead and Greenport Branches, but on adjusted schedules.
Train service will operate between Ronkonkoma and Greenport, but on adjusted schedules.
Information about the service changes noted in this press release and all planned service changes is available through the LIRR’s real-time service information sources:
MYmta app – Customers who use the comprehensive MYmta smartphone app will see real-time travel information for all MTA services all in one place.mta.info – The “Service Status” box at new.mta.info is always the definitive source for the latest status for each line. For a map of all the upcoming service changes this weekend on the New York City subway, click here.
Email and text message service updates – Customers are urged to sign up to receive alerts, tailored by specific branch and time of day, by visiting mymtaalerts.com.
Twitter – Twitter users can follow @MTA, @LIRR for service updates and customer service support.
WhatsApp – Customers can chat with the LIRR via WhatsApp. Riders can receive customer service support in their native language through the help of Google Translate.
For those who prefer to contact the MTA by telephone, information is available by dialing 511. Connecticut customers should call 877-690-5114. Those who are deaf or hard of hearing can use their preferred service provider for the free 711 relay to reach the MTA at 511.