LIRR news release 1/5/18:
Service Advisory: Buses to Substitute For Trains on Four January Weekends Between Hicksville and RonkonkomaDuring the weekends of January 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, and 27-28, from Saturday at 12:48 a.m., through 12:46 a.m. on Monday each weekend, buses will substitute for trains beween stations Hicksville, Farmingdale, Pinelawn, Wyandanch, Deer Park, Brentwood, Central Islip, and Ronkonkoma as the LIRR works to replace switches and perform other construction related to the Double Track Project.
The Double Track Project upon completion will improve service and reliability on the LIRR’s Ronkonkoma Branch, while spurring economic activity, and improving LIRR service to Long Island MacArthur Airport. Over the past 25 years, ridership on the Ronkonkoma Branch has doubled – growing in popularity since the line was electrified in 1988 – indicating the need for expansion.
The project will also aid in reducing delays in the event of a service disruption, as the 18-mile stretch between Ronkonkoma and Farmingdale currently only has one track available to both directions of train traffic. When an issue arises with a train, this stalls all other east and westbound trains because there is currently no way to circumnavigate the stalled train.
No traffic detours will be required for this effort.
Related topic: LIRR Ronkonkoma Branch Double Track Project