LIRR Service Changes to Take Effect May 17

LIRR customers are advised to pay special attention to the new May 17, 2010 schedules as they include train cancellations and other adjustments related to budget reductions. Additional timetable changes are necessary to accommodate spring and summer track work and construction projects.

The service reductions included in the May 17 timetable change were required to address the MTA's nearly $800 million budget shortfall for 2010. The LIRR developed reductions that will improve efficiency while attempting to minimize the adverse impact to customers. Further budget-related service reductions are scheduled to take effect in mid-September. A news release detailing those changes will be issued later this year.

These service reductions were proposed in December 2009. After a series of public hearings were held in early March 2010 on the proposed changes, the MTA Board approved the service reductions on March 24.

Babylon Branch

• The 7:40 AM train from Seaford to Atlantic Terminal, Brooklyn will be canceled. To accommodate customers from this train, the 7:33 AM train from Babylon to Atlantic Terminal will depart four minutes earlier at 7:29 AM, and stops will be added at Wantagh, Bellmore, Merrick, Freeport, Baldwin and Rockville Centre.

• The 4:39 PM train from Atlantic Terminal, Brooklyn to Babylon will be canceled. To accommodate customers, the 4:37 PM express train from Penn Station to Wantagh will have added stops at Jamaica, Lynbrook, Seaford, Massapequa and all stops to Babylon. Brooklyn customers can take the 4:34 PM train from Atlantic Terminal and change at Jamaica.

• The 4:57 PM train from Penn Station to Wantagh will be canceled. Customers can take the 5:03 PM train from Penn Station with added stops at Merrick, Bellmore and Wantagh.

Belmont Racetrack

• The LIRR is no longer providing daily service to Belmont Park during racing season. Racing fans traveling to Belmont Park can take the LIRR to Queens Village Station and connect to the free shuttle bus provided by NYRA. Racing fans can also take the LIRR to Queens Village, then take the Q27 bus and transfer to the Q2 at Springfield Blvd. & Hempstead Ave. to Belmont; or take the E train to Parsons Blvd. and transfer to the Q110 bus to Belmont.

• Special LIRR train service will be provided to Belmont Park on Friday, June 4 and Saturday, June 5 – the day of the Belmont Stakes.

Track Work & Construction Programs

Babylon Branch

One of two tracks will be out of service between Valley Stream and Wantagh during midday weekdays as a track tie replacement program gets underway. One Babylon local train will operate in each direction each hour. The second local train will originate and terminate in Freeport every other hour. Express service to and from Babylon has been increased to hourly with added stops at Merrick, Bellmore, Wantagh and Massapequa. Train departure times will be adjusted between two and 22 minutes. The work on this stretch of track will continue until September 10. Additional work, and its associated affect on midday service, will be performed on another stretch of track on the Babylon Branch beginning with schedules that take effect September 13, 2010.

Brooklyn
During the overnight period, one of two tracks will be out of service for track work. This requires later departure and arrival times (up to 8 minutes later) for three overnight trains.

Customers should pick up a copy of the May 17-September 12, 2010 timetable for their branches at stations and terminals in early May. Schedule information is also available from 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. Customers may also consult the LIRR web site at www.mta.info/lirr.