Service Suspended Between Mineola and Jamaica Weekend of Saturday & Sunday August 23 & August 24

- No Train Service Mineola - Jamaica
- No Train Service Hempstead - Jamaica
- Buses Replace Some Trains, Other Trains Rerouted
- Allow 30-45 Minutes Extra Travel Time
- Special Timetables in Effect

Main Line & Hempstead Branch
Weekend of August 23-24
The final phase of the Queens Interlocking Switch & Signal Improvement Project will require a 48-hour suspension of train service on the weekend of August 23-24. As a result, there will be no train service between Mineola and Jamaica or between Hempstead and Jamaica. Buses will replace some trains, other trains will be rerouted, and special schedules will be in effect. Special weekend timetables will be available at stations.

To avoid delays, customers should take other branches if possible, including the Babylon, Far Rockaway, Long Beach, Montauk, Port Washington and West Hempstead Branches. Special weekend timetables will be in effect.

We thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to complete this weekend's work in the shortest time possible. We urge you to plan ahead by reviewing the special timetables or by calling the LIRR's 24-hour Travel Information Center at 516-822-LIRR; 631-231-LIRR; or 718-217-LIRR.

Summary of Changes
Saturday, August 23 & Sunday, August 24

Hempstead Branch:

• Buses will replace all trains between Hempstead and Jamaica for the entire weekend.
• Customers can avoid busing by using the West Hempstead Branch.

Huntington/Port Jefferson Branch:

• Buses replace trains between Mineola and Jamaica for the entire weekend.
• Westbound: Customers will take trains to Mineola and transfer to buses bound for Jamaica. There, they will transfer to trains to complete their trips.
• Eastbound: Customers will take trains to Jamaica and transfer to buses to Mineola. There, they will transfer to trains to complete their trips.
• Port Jefferson Branch trains will operate every two-hours instead of at the regular 90 minute intervals.
• Customers should expect up to 30 minutes additional travel time.
• Busing can be avoided by taking the Montauk or Babylon Branches.

Ronkonkoma Branch:
Midnight - 7 AM

• Buses replace trains between Mineola and Jamaica. To avoid busing take the Montauk or Babylon Branch.

7 AM - Midnight

• Ronkonkoma through Farmingdale Customers - will travel to/from Penn Station by train without transfers, as trains will be re-routed via the Babylon Branch and will require additional travel time. Customers can avoid rerouting and busing by taking the Montauk or Babylon Branches.
• Bethpage Customers - will travel by bus to Hicksville, take a train to Mineola, and transfer again to a bus for service to Jamaica. To avoid busing, please consider using the Babylon Branch.
• East of Ronkonkoma - Buses will replace train service between Ronkonkoma and Greenport on Saturday, Sunday and Monday morning. Customers can avoid busing by using the Montauk Branch.

Oyster Bay Branch:

• Buses will replace all weekend trains between Mineola and Jamaica. Train service will operate between Oyster Bay and Mineola, except for Sunday morning between 9 AM - 11:30 AM when van service will replace trains between Locust Valley and Oyster Bay to accommodate the Greater Long Island Running Club Triathlon.
• Busing can be avoided by using Port Washington Branch train service. MTA LI Bus routes N21/N22 provide connecting service from Roslyn and Glen Cove to Great Neck.

Designated Bus Stops
Mineola:

• Westbound: All arriving westbound trains will terminate at Mineola and will platform on the south side of the station (normally used for eastbound service).
• Westbound customers will exit buses at Station Road, near 3rd Avenue, on the south side of the station.
• Eastbound: All eastbound trains will platform on the north side of the station (normally used for westbound service).
• Eastbound customers will exit buses at Station Plaza Road, on the north side of the station.
• Extra LIRR personnel will be on hand to assist and direct customers.

Jamaica:

• Eastbound: Customers will board buses on Sutphin Blvd.
• Westbound: Customers will exit buses on Archer Avenue.
• Extra LIRR personnel will be on hand to assist and direct customers.

Merillon Avenue and New Hyde Park:

• Streets at these stations are too narrow to accommodate buses. As a result, customers will be provided with van service to/from Jericho Turnpike, to connect with bus service to Jamaica or Mineola.

Stations and Designated Bus Stops

Station	Designated Bus Stop
Jamaica	Sutphin Blvd. near Archer Ave.
New Hyde Park*	Jericho Tpke. and New Hyde Park Road
Merillon Avenue*	Jericho Tpke. and Nassau Blvd.
Mineola	Station Road near 3rd Avenue (westbound) / Station Plaza Road (eastbound)

* Van service will operate between Jericho Turnpike and the Merillon Avenue and New Hyde Park Stations.

Travel Tips:

• Pick up special weekend timetables dated August 23-24
• Consider taking the Babylon, Far Rockaway, Long Beach, Montauk, Port Washington or West Hempstead Branches
• Allow 30-45 minutes of additional travel time
• Sign up for Customer E-Mail Alerts
• Monitor radio and TV traffic reports for updates
• Buy LIRR tickets in advance
• Listen for announcements
• Leave bicycles at home. Bicycles will not be permitted on buses
• Look for LIRR personnel at key locations
• Mets Fans/ Arthur Ashe Attendees: To avoid busing on 8/22 (after 11 PM), 8/23 and 8/24, use the Port Washington Branch or south shore branches, including the Babylon, Far Rockaway, Long Beach, Montauk & West Hempstead Branches.

Queens Interlocking Switch & Signal Improvments, Weekend of August 23 & 24 Brochure (PDF)

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

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.