Major Service Disruptions Hit Long Island Rail Road This Weekend

UPDATE: Significant service disruptions are affecting the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) this weekend, with major changes announced for the Port Jefferson and Ronkonkoma branches. These changes began early Saturday morning and will last until 2:15 a.m. on Monday, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).

For commuters on the Port Jefferson Branch, service is completely suspended between Mineola and Huntington. Shuttle buses are being provided hourly, making stops at Hicksville, Syosset, and Cold Spring Harbor. Additionally, there will be no LIRR service at Carle Place and Westbury. Passengers traveling to and from these stations are advised to use the NICE n22, n24, or n35 buses, which will accept LIRR tickets without extra charges.

Limited shuttle bus service will also be available overnight at these affected stations. Meanwhile, for those on the Ronkonkoma line, trains will run every two hours between Penn Station and Ronkonkoma, with reroutes via the south shore. Between the Jamaica and Farmingdale stations, trains will change direction twice but will not stop at any stations.

Commuters are urged to allow at least 50 minutes of additional travel time to reach their destinations. There is also no service at Bethpage, and passengers are recommended to catch trains at either the Farmingdale or Seaford LIRR stations instead.

This weekend’s service changes are necessary as transit officials conduct critical signal upgrade work in Hicksville. The MTA emphasizes the importance of these upgrades for future reliability and safety.

For real-time updates on LIRR service changes, visit the MTA website.