LIRR: Bus service at times on Montauk branch

Commuters on the Montauk branch of the Long Island Rail Road will be using buses for a part of their off-peak travel on two separate days next week because of rail inspections, the service said.

Bus service replaces trains between Babylon and Speonk on Monday and between Babylon and Patchogue on Thursday so track inspections can be made using the Sperry rail car, the LIRR said in a news release.

The inspections, using ultrasonic and induction test equipment designed to find internal rail defects not readily visible to the eye, will run from 9:15 a.m. to noon each day, according to a news release.

The Sperry rail car is used twice a year to inspect about 500 miles of LIRR track.

The rail service said customers should allow for up to 40 minutes additional travel time each day, depending on destination.

Here are details about Monday's altered schedule:

Eastbound: Customers traveling to Bay Shore, Islip, Great River, Oakdale, Sayville, Patchogue, Bellport, Mastic-Shirley and Speonk will take trains to Babylon, where buses will take them to their final destinations. Allow up to 23 minutes additional travel time.

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Westbound: Customers who usually board trains at Patchogue, Sayville and Patchogue will instead travel by bus to Babylon, where train service will resume. Buses will depart up to 12 minutes later than usual train departure times and arrive at their destinations up to 40 minutes later.

Here are details about Thursday's altered schedule:

Eastbound: Customers traveling to Bay Shore, Islip, Great River, Oakdale, Sayville, Patchogue, Bellport, Mastic-Shirley and Speonk will go by train to Babylon, where buses will take them to their final destinations. Up to 23 minutes additional travel time is to be expected.

Westbound: Customers who usually board trains at Patchogue, Sayville, Oakdale, Great River, Islip and Bay Shore will instead take buses to Babylon, where train service will resume. Buses will depart up to 12 minutes later than usual train departure times and arrive at their destinations up to 40 minutes later.

Additional information is available in special Babylon and Montauk branch timetables or by calling 511, the New York State Travel Information Line (say, Long Island Rail Road). Customers can also go to mta.info/lirr.