Weekend inspections on Ronkonkoma line

Track inspections on the Ronkonkoma line will disrupt train service this weekend, the LIRR said.

Buses will replace early morning weekend Long Island Rail Road train service for the Ronkonkoma line on Saturday, according to the LIRR news release. The Sperry Rail Car Service will inspect the tracks.

Commuters going east 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 have to transfer to buses at the Hicksville station. The buses will stop at the stations from Wyandanch to Ronkonkoma. Bethpage and Farmingdale commuters will stay on these trains to their stations. Eastbound commuters should expect up to 24 minutes of additional travel time.

Commuters going west on the 12:44 a.m., 2:10 a.m., 3:45 a.m. and 5:37 a.m. trains will take buses to stations from Ronkonkoma to Wyandanch. The buses will travel to Hicksville, where commuters can transfer to a train there. Bethpage and Farmingdale commuters will travel on their regularly scheduled trains at their stations. Commuters should expect up to 40 minutes of additional travel time.

The Sperry car will detect internal rail defects not readily visible to the eye, according to the LIRR news release. LIRR crew maintenance workers will immediately repair any defects. The Sperry Rail Car is used twice a year and inspects up to 500 miles of track.

For more information, customers can contact the LIRR's Travel Information Center at 718-217-5477 (718-217-LIRR). The deaf or hard of hearing can call the free 711 relay to reach LIRR at 718-217-5477.