Inspections to delay weekend Ronkonkoma branch trains

Track inspections will affect four eastbound and westbound overnight trains on the Long Island Rail Road on the Ronkonkoma branch on Saturday.

Railroad officials said customers should be prepared to ride buses between Farmingdale and Ronkonkoma between midnight and 6 a.m.

The track in that area will be shut down as the Sperry Rail Car inspects track between the stations.

The affected trains will be as follows, officials said.

- Eastbound. Customers on the 12:14 a.m., 1:16 a.m., 2:53 a.m. and 4:43 a.m. trains from Penn Station to Ronkonkoma will transfer to buses at Hicksville for travel to stations from Wyandanch to Ronkonkoma. Bethpage and Farmingdale customers will stay on these trains.

- Westbound. Customers on the 12:44 a.m., 2:10 a.m., 3:45 a.m. and 5:40 a.m. trains from Ronkonkoma will board buses at their stations through Wyandanch and transfer to a train at Hicksville to complete their commute. Bethpage and Farmingdale customers will board their normally scheduled trains at their stations.

All customers should expect up to 36 minutes additional travel time, officials said.

The bright yellow Sperry car is used to conduct ultrasonic and induction tests, which detect rail defects.

For additional travel information, customers can contact the LIRR's Travel Information Center in Suffolk at 631-231-LIRR, in Nassau at 516-822-LIRR or in New York City at 718-217-LIRR. The Travel Information Center's TDD telephone number for the hearing-impaired is 718-558-3022.

Customers can also consult the LIRR's website at mta.info.