Crews ready for final leg of LIRR third track expansion project

MTA

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) announced eastbound service between New Hyde Park and Westbury will experience changes in August and September as crews begin incorporating the newly built third track to the LIRR Main Line by demolishing temporary platforms and completing track and signal systems work and testing.

For the past two years, eastbound riders at New Hyde Park, Merillon Avenue, Mineola, Carle Place, and Westbury have been using temporary wooden platforms to board trains. Underneath these platforms is the new third track. Before the LIRR can start running trains on the new track, the wooden platforms need to be removed, the track and signal systems need to be completed, and testing needs to be performed.

While work on the Third Track is being completed over the next few months, there will be significant changes to eastbound service at New Hyde Park, Merillon Avenue, Mineola, Carle Place, and Westbury stations, including track changes and substitute bus connections. 

Trains may run in both directions on the usual westbound track, especially at night and during the midday, to allow trains to make station stops while project crews work on the usual eastbound track at or near the stations.

At other times, trains may not be able to stop at these stations, so customers will connect with bus service at alternate stations to reach their destination. Crews anticipate the use of temporary shorter platforms requiring customers to be in the front of the train to exit.

Read more articles on track construction.