LIRR warns of major service disruptions this weekend

Before stepping onto a Long Island Rail Road platform this weekend, know what you're getting yourself into - namely, one of the largest service disruptions in years.

That was the message from LIRR president Helena Williams Thursday as she issued a final reminder to riders that the railroad will run "extremely limited service" this weekend and the weekend of Nov. 6-7.

Riders should add up to 70 minutes to their typical travel, Williams said. She advised people to travel from unaffected stations and to consider car pooling.

"Our very simple message to customers: Know before you go," Williams said. "We want our customers to know that train service is available. But this is the weekend to assess what are your alternatives."

The Port Washington Branch is the only one of the LIRR's 11 lines that does not travel through Jamaica and will not see reduced service. On that line, the LIRR actually is adding trains, providing additional service from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Customers traveling to or from Penn Station on the Huntington/Port Jefferson, Oyster Bay and Hempstead branches will have to take a bus and subway for portions of their trip. There will be some direct service to and from Penn Station on the Montauk, Ronkonkoma, Long Beach and Far Rockaway lines, but trains will run on a reduced schedule.

Some stations - including all of those in Brooklyn - will have no LIRR service.

Before you ride

Travel information for people taking the LIRR this weekend and Nov. 6-7:

• Service in and out of Penn Station will be cut from about nine trains an hour to about three.