Buses Replace Ronkonkoma Branch Trains Overnight Saturday March 21

The MTA Long Island Rail Road will provide bus service in place of trains on the Ronkonkoma Branch during overnight/early-morning hours on Saturday, March 21, while rail inspections are conducted. From 12:45 AM to 6:30 AM buses will replace four eastbound and four westbound trains between Farmingdale and Ronkonkoma.

In performing track inspection, LIRR track maintenance crews will utilize a vehicle fitted with ultrasonic technology and electro-magnetic induction test equipment. This bright yellow vehicle, the Sperry Rail Car, is designed to detect internal rail defects otherwise not readily visible to the eye. Track maintenance workers will immediately correct any defects uncovered.

To ensure that our rails are properly maintained, the Sperry Rail Car is used biannually to inspect approximately 500 miles of LIRR track.

Farmingdale to Ronkonkoma
The Sperry Rail Car will be conducting rail tests between Farmingdale and Ronkonkoma between 12:45 AM and 6:30 AM on Saturday, March 21.

Eastbound
Customers on the 12:14 AM, 1:16 AM, 2:53 AM and 4:43 AM trains from Penn Station to Ronkonkoma will transfer to buses at Hicksville for stations Wyandanch through Ronkonkoma. Bethpage and Farmingdale customers will remain on the train to their stations.

Westbound
Customers on the 12:44 AM, 2:10 AM, 3:45 AM and 5:37 AM trains from Ronkonkoma will board buses at stations Ronkonkoma through Wyandanch and transfer to trains at Hicksville to complete their trips. Customers utilizing Bethpage and Farmingdale stations will board normally scheduled trains.

During this testing, customers should anticipate up to 33 minutes additional travel time.

For additional information, customers can contact the LIRR’s 24-hour Travel Information Center in Suffolk County at 631-231-LIRR (5477), in Nassau County at 516-822-LIRR (5477), or in New York City at 718-217-LIRR (5477). The Travel Information Center’s TDD telephone number for the hearing impaired is 718-558-3022.