LIRR to finish track renewal interrupted by Hurricane Irene

A track modernization project that Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Long Island Rail Road was unable to complete in August because of Hurricane Irene is scheduled to resume this coming weekend, October 29-30, and continue on the following weekend, November 5-6. The work taking place on the mainline will result in some cancellations and service adjustments on the Huntington-Port Jefferson, Oyster Bay, Ronkonkoma, Far Rockaway and Babylon branches. LIRR personnel will be performing surfacing and railroad tie renewal, welding repairs and installing some new running rail between Queens Village and Carle Place on October 29-30 and between New Hyde Park and Hicksville on November 6-7. When finished, work will provide a smoother ride and more reliable service. Since one of two mainline tracks will be out of service during the project, the LIRR has revised weekend service on trains that travel the mainline to accommodate the track work.