New LIRR Schedules impact Hicksville

New MTA Ltimetables go into effect Monday, May 16 and continue through Sept. 11, meaning adjustments to train schedules on a number of branches, including the Port Jefferson branch through Hicksville.

The bulk of the work is scheduled for off-peak periods, such as midday during the week and on weekends, the railroad says, to minimize the impact on most LIRR customers.

This spring and summer, those projects include the installation of new railroad ties on the Main Line and Far Rockaway branches, the replacement of third rail and the painting of a bridge on the Port Washington branch, the resurfacing of switches on the Main Line and Atlantic branches and the installation new running rail on the Babylon branch.

Among the summer changes affecting Hicksville station, which serves both the Port Jefferson and Ronkonkoma branches of the LIRR:

• One of the two tracks on the Huntington/Port Jefferson and the Ronkonkoma main line will be out of service between Merillon Ave. and Carle Place mid-day weekdays and early Saturday mornings. The work is needed to replace track ties and enact a switch surfacing program. Train times on Montauk, Huntington and Port Jefferson branch trains, as well as the Oyster Bay branch, have been adjusted up to 13 minutes to accommodate this work.
• The addition of a Hicksville stop (at 6:19 a.m.) to the schedule of the westbound 5:42 a.m. peak train from Ronkonkoma, allowing customers to transfer for local service west of Hicksville station.
• Addition of Carle Place (2 a.m.), Merillon Ave. (2:05 a.m.) and New Hyde Park (2:08 a.m.) stops to the 1:36 a.m. westbound train from Huntington.

Customers using the LIRR on the branches affected by the maintenance and repair work should allow extra travel time when planning a trip.

The railroad also announced that the tie replacement work on the Main Line, Babylon and Montauk branches that had caused timetable changes between March 7 and May 15 has been completed and the schedules have been restored to their normal times at all affected stations.

Customers can pick up a copy of the new May 16 – Sept. 11 timetables at stations and terminals or go to the LIRR website. Customers can sign up for free LIRR email service alerts, or contact the LIRR's Travel Information Center at 718-217-5477 (718-217-LIRR).