New LIRR timetables for off-peak service

The Long Island Rail Road will introduce new timetables Monday, including temporary new off-peak schedules so it can carry out needed maintenance work, officials said.

Those off-peak changes will affect travel on the Long Beach, Oyster Bay, Ronkonkoma and Babylon branches. The railroad said it usually schedules maintenance work during off-peak periods, such as midday, overnight or weekends, to minimize the impact on commuters.

The work will include installation of new rail ties, grade crossing renewals and other types of maintenance.

Officials advise that off-peak customers should "allow extra travel time" because of the work. The schedule changes, covering the time period from Monday to May 13, include:

Long Beach branch. The installation of new rail ties between Jamaica and Valley Stream during weekday off-peak hours will result in eastbound Long Beach trains departing three minutes later and westbound trains departing three minutes earlier.

Oyster Bay branch. The renewal of railroad crossings during weekday off-peak hours at three locations -- Sea Cliff Avenue in Sea Cliff, I.U. Willets Road in Albertson and Duck Pond Road in Glen Cove -- will necessitate the cancellation of one eastbound off-peak train and one westbound off-peak train and result in Oyster Bay branch trains running every two hours instead of hourly until peak service resumes.

Ronkonkoma branch. The renewal of the railroad crossing at Wicks Road in Brentwood overnight on three weekends will result in three overnight westbound trains having their schedules adjusted between 13 and 27 minutes.

SEE PHOTOSLIRR trains and commuters through the years

Babylon branch. Weekend track work between Freeport and Wantagh will result in train schedules being adjusted up to nine minutes.

For those who are hearing-impaired, service is available at the 711 relay to connect to the LIRR. For the most up-to-date information on train service, commuters also can sign up for LIRR E-alerts and text messages at www.mymtaalerts.com. Project and service information is also available on the LIRR's Facebook page at facebook.com/mtalirr?ref+nt and on Twitter at twitter.com/LIRRScoop.