LIRR plan service suspensions on 2 branches

As the Long Island Rail Road finishes work on a major signal modernization project, bus service will replace trains between Freeport and Babylon on the weekend of April 9 and 10, the commuter service said Monday.

Completion of the signal upgrade requires suspending train service on a 14-mile stretch of track for 42 hours, from 4 a.m. Saturday, April 9, to 10 p.m. on Sunday, the LIRR said. The track is between Freeport and Babylon, so in that time period buses will shuttle customers for a 25-minute ride on Sunrise Highway, according to a news release.

The Amityville-Wantagh Signal Improvement Project brings state-of-the-art technology to important switching locations on the Babylon branch by upgrading the current signal technology with a microprocessor-based system, according to the release. The new system is expected to improve reliability for trains on the service's busiest branch, thereby reducing customer delays. The project runs about $23 million, and funding is provided by the MTA LIRR Capital Improvement Program, the release said.

The LIRR said nine eastbound and nine westbound Montauk branch trains will operate normally, using the central branch that connects between Babylon and the main line, east of Bethpage.

Those customers using the Speonk/Patchogue local trains will have shuttle bus service for the portion of their trips between Freeport and Babylon, the release said. Montauk branch customers can avoid bus service by taking trains -- which are highlighted in the April 9-10 weekend Montauk branch timetable -- that are not affected, the release said.

Babylon branch customers who frequent stations between Babylon and Freeport can avoid the buses by taking LIRR train service to and from alternate stations -- Freeport, Hicksville, Farmingdale, and Bethpage, Wyandanch and Deer Park.

Train service at these stations will be operating normally on April 9-10.

SEE PHOTOSLIRR trains and commuters through the years

Extra LIRR personnel will be on duty April 9-10 to assist customers, the release said.

Here are the specific changes to the Babylon and Montauk branches:

Babylon

Eastbound customers will have regularly scheduled weekend train service to Freeport. Those traveling farther east will transfer at Freeport to buses for service to stations Merrick through Babylon. Increased travel time is expected to be up 25 minutes.

Westbound customers will take buses at stations Babylon through Merrick to Freeport, where connections to trains will be available. Westbound customers will depart up to 25 minutes earlier than normal.

Montauk

Eastbound customers can avoid bus service between Freeport and Babylon by taking one of nine highlighted eastbound trains in the special April 9-10 Montauk timetable. These trains will be routed on a connecting track that runs east of Bethpage on the main line to Babylon and then continues east on the Montauk branch. Some eastbound Montauk branch trains to Patchogue and Speonk will originate at Babylon with connections from Babylon trains departing western terminals 30 minutes earlier than normal and will require a transfer to a bus for service between Freeport and Babylon.

Westbound branch customers can avoid bus service between Freeport and Babylon by taking one of nine highlighted trains in the special April 9-10 Montauk timetable. These trains will be routed on a connecting track between Babylon and the main line east of Bethpage. Some other westbound trains from Speonk and Patchogue will end at Babylon, where customers will transfer to buses for stations Lindenhurst through Freeport.

For more information, visit mta.info/lirr or call the LIRR, 718-217-5477.