LIRR to perform tie replacement work, rail inspection

New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority Long Island Rail Road will begin tie replacement trackwork on the Montauk Branch between Babylon and Sayville, N.Y., starting September 12 and continuing through November 6. The work will affect six midday, weekday trains, three eastbound and three westbound, that operate between Babylon and Speonk, N.Y. Additionally, on September 14 and 15 only, rail inspection will be performed between Patchogue and Montauk, N.Y., which will result in bus service being substituted for four other midday trains, two eastbound and two westbound, on the Montauk Branch east of Patchogue, N.Y., September 14 and east of Speonk, N.Y., September 15. This replacement bus service for the rail inspection is in addition to the alternate bus and train service already replacing some midday trains between Babylon and Speonk, N.Y., for the track tie replacement work. On Wednesday, September 14 and Thursday, September 15 only, rail inspection will be performed on the stretch of track between Patchogue and Montauk, N.Y., using the special Sperry Rail Inspection Car. The Sperry Rail Car, which will be performing the specialized track inspection, is fitted with ultrasonic and induction test equipment and it's designed to detect internal rail defects not readily visible to the eye. Defects that are found will be corrected immediately by a crew of LIRR track maintenance workers. The Sperry Rail Car is used twice a year to inspect approximately 500 miles of LIRR track.