Port Washington Branch Track Work Affects Service on Four Weekends

Substitute #7 Subway Service in Effect

MTA Long Island Rail Road Port Washington Branch service will be affected by a track work project for four weekends in March, April and May. On two of the weekends, March 15-16 and April 5-6, train service on the branch will be disrupted for the entire weekend. During the other two weekends, March 29-30 and May 17-18, there will be train service disruptions for parts of the weekends. The work is the initial stage of a five-year plan to install new switches and infrastructure in the area east of the East River Tunnels to accommodate the East Side Access Project that is expected to bring LIRR service into Grand Central Terminal by 2014.

Although alternate service requiring several transfers between the LIRR and the subway is described below, in order to avoid lengthy delays during these service outages, customers to and from Manhattan are encouraged to use the #7 subway train for transportation to and from the Willets Point/Shea Stadium subway station then transfer to or from LIRR service.

March 15-16 & April 5-6
Both Port Washington Branch tracks between Harold Interlocking (east of East River tunnels) and Shea Stadium will be out of service from 12:15 AM, Saturday, March 15 through 12:15 AM, Monday, March 17 and again Saturday, April 5 through 12:15 AM, Monday, April 7.

Eastbound
Eastbound Port Washington Branch customers will have a free transfer at Woodside to the #7 subway line for service to the Willets Point/Shea Stadium stop and transfer to LIRR service to complete their trips.

Westbound
Westbound Port Washington Branch customers will have a free transfer at Shea Stadium to the #7 subway line (Willets Point/Shea Stadium stop) for service to Manhattan (either Grand Central Terminal or Times Square).

Eastbound customers should expect increased travel time of up to 41 minutes. Westbound customers should expect increased travel time of up 58 minutes.

March 29-30 & May 17-18
One Port Washington Branch track between Harold Interlocking and Shea Stadium will be out of service along with one Main Line track between Harold Interlocking and Jamaica for both weekends except from 2:15 PM, Saturday, March 29 until 2:15 AM, Sunday, March 30, and again 2:15 PM, Saturday, May 17 until 2:15 AM, Sunday, May 18 when both tracks between Harold Interlocking and Shea Stadium will be out of service. During this 12-hour period Port Washington Branch customers will have a free transfer to the #7 subway line to complete their trips.

Eastbound
During the 12-hour period when both Port Washington Branch tracks are out of service, eastbound customers will have a free transfer at Woodside to the #7 subway line then transfer at the Willets Point/Shea Stadium stop to the LIRR to complete their trips. At all other times during the affected weekends customers will be able to complete their trips on the LIRR, however, some trains will use the opposite side platforms from normal.

Westbound
During the 12-hour period when both Port Washington Branch tracks are out of service, westbound customers will have a free transfer at Shea Stadium to the #7 subway line (Willets Point/Shea Stadium stop) for service to Manhattan (either Grand Central Terminal or Times Square).

Eastbound customers will experience increased travel time of up to 41 minutes during the 12-hour double track outage.

Westbound customers will experience increased travel time of up to 58 minutes during the 12-hour double track outage.

Handicapped Customers
Handicapped customers will not be able to use the Broadway Station during the four weekends due to continuing construction work at the station. Van service will be provided for eastbound handicapped customers at the Flushing Main Street LIRR station. Van service will be provided for westbound handicapped customers at Auburndale Station who will then transfer to the #7 subway at the Flushing-Main Street station.

Affected customers should obtain a copy of the special Port Washington Branch timetable for March 15-16, March 29-30, April 5-6 and May 17-18 at their station or at all terminals. Customers can also contact the LIRR’s 24-hour Travel Information Center in Nassau County at 516-822-LIRR, in Suffolk County at 631-231-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.