LIRR to work on tracks this weekend

A track modernization project delayed in August by Tropical Storm Irene will resume this weekend, creating delays and cancellations on the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road, the commuter service said.

Crews will be performing surfacing work, railroad tie renewal, welding repairs and installing new running rails between New Hyde Park and Hicksville on Saturday and Sunday, according to a news release.

The delays and cancellations mostly will come on the Huntington / Port Jefferson, Oyster Bay, Ronkonkoma, Far Rockaway and Babylon branches.

Track work will start Saturday at 12:22 a.m. and end 10 a.m. on Sunday, when regular weekend service will resume.

More information is in a special weekend timetable available at terminals and stations affected by the work. Customers can also call 511, the New York State travel information line, and say: Long Island Rail Road. Or, visit mta.info.

Here is a brand-by-branch review of the revisions:

Huntington

Hourly service instead of half-hourly, and some trains will be adjusted earlier by three minutes.

SEE PHOTOSLIRR trains and commuters through the years

Port Jefferson

Trains will run every two hours instead of every 90 minutes. Customers also can expect an increase in travel time of 2-3 minutes.

Oyster Bay

Trains are scheduled to run every two hours.

Babylon

Trains departing Penn Station on Saturday at 12:38 a.m., 7:40 a.m., 8:40 a.m., 9:40 a.m. and 11:40 a.m. will have increased travel time of eight minutes. Sunday trains departing Penn Station at 12:38 a.m., 7:40 a.m. and 8:40 a.m. also will have increased travel time of eight minutes.

Ronkonkoma

On Sunday, the 12:15 a.m. eastbound train to Ronkonkoma will be held at Jamaica an additional two minutes and depart Penn Station 16 minutes later. On Saturday only, the 11:21 p.m. westbound train from Ronkonkoma will have five additional minutes of travel time between Hicksville and Penn Station. On both Saturday and Sunday, the 5:10 a.m. from Ronkonkoma will leave 30 minutes later and the 2:23 a.m. and 4 a.m. from Ronkonkoma will leave 14-16 minutes earlier.

Far Rockaway

On Sunday, the 12:16 a.m. train from Penn Station, which normally connects to the Far Rockaway train at Jamaica is adjusted. Instead, Far Rockaway customers should board the 12:01 a.m. Babylon train at Penn Station and change at Jamaica for the Far Rockaway connection.