No Train Service Between New Hyde Park, Hicksville This Weekend

NEW HYDE PARK, NY — Once again, the MTA is canceling weekend train service between New Hyde Park and Hicksville. The change, announced Monday, comes after Saturday service was suspended between the two stations three times in September.

The latest service change stems from a bridge replacement project on Nassau Boulevard in Garden City, the MTA said. The project is part of the Long Island Rail Road's expansion project. At just 11-feet-6-inches, the low-hanging bridge has been the site of many truck-strikes over the years. The crashes cause train delays in both directions as LIRR inspectors determine whether the bridge is safe and structurally sound.

The new bridge will be 14 feet high to allow trucks to safely pass underneath.

As such train service will be suspended between New Hyde Park and Hicksville during the weekend of Oct. 5-6.

"Please plan ahead," the MTA said. "Special weekend timetables will be in effect for ALL branches on Saturday and Sunday, October 5-6."

The MTA is adding a third track along nearly 10 miles of right-of-way between Floral Park and Hicksville, officials said. The project is designed to increase capacity, improve reliability and create new service opportunities.

Here's a summary of weekend service changes, according to the MTA:

Port Jefferson Branch:

• Port Jefferson-Huntington: Two-hour service intervals
• Huntington-Hicksville: Hourly service intervals
• New Hyde Park, Merillon Avenue, Carle Place, Westbury Stations: No train service
• Mineola Station: Train service to/from Oyster Bay only
• Note: LIRR tickets will be cross-honored on the N22/N24 NICE Bus routes for LIRR customers traveling between Mineola and Hicksville

Ronkonkoma Branch

• Ronkonkoma-Hicksville: Hourly service intervals
• Ronkonkoma-Greenport: Service level unchanged, but westbound trains will depart Greenport 4-7 minutes earlier than regularly scheduled train times; connecting eastbound service to Greenport will depart up to 70 minutes earlier than normal train times
• Bethpage Station: Service provided by shuttle trains between Babylon and Hicksville

Oyster Bay Branch

• Two-hour service intervals between Oyster Bay and Mineola only; transfer to/from buses for Hempstead

Hempstead Branch

• Service increased from hourly to half-hourly intervals, alternating between Penn Station and Atlantic Terminal

All Other Branches

• Adjusted schedules due to changes in connecting service

Service Patterns

Oyster Bay Branch:
Trains will operate between Oyster Bay and Mineola only.

• Westbound: Transfer to NICE buses (N40/N41) at Mineola (LIRR tickets will be cross-honored) for service to Hempstead, and resume train service at Hempstead for points west. Hempstead Branch service will be increased from hourly to half-hourly. Visit nicebus.com for schedules.
• Eastbound: Transfer to a free shuttle bus at Hempstead for service to Mineola, where connecting Oyster Bay trains will run every two hours. Customers can also use their LIRR tickets to travel to Mineola on the N40/N41 bus routes, but there will be no connecting train service.

Sunday morning only, 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.: Buses replace trains between Locust Valley and Oyster Bay for the Runner’s Edge TOBAY Triathlon.
Port Jefferson/Ronkonkoma Branches:

• Westbound: Trains will operate from Port Jefferson and Huntington to Hicksville, and from Ronkonkoma to Hicksville. Connect to a shuttle train to Babylon, then transfer to an express train to Penn Station. Express trains will stop at Jamaica for connections to Brooklyn and points west.
• Eastbound: Board a train to Babylon, transfer to a shuttle train to Hicksville, and transfer again for train service to points east, including Huntington, Port Jefferson and Ronkonkoma.
• Bethpage Station: All service to and from Bethpage Station will be provided by the shuttle trains between Babylon and Hicksville. The shuttle will be a diesel-powered train with bi-level cars. Electric trains will not stop at Bethpage Station.

Alternate Stations & Weekend

Parking Availability
Oyster Bay Branch
To reduce additional travel time and transfers, consider traveling via nearby stations on the Port Washington Branch:

• Port Washington: Approximately 1,000 spaces (no restrictions on weekends/holidays)
• Manhasset: Approximately 650 spaces ($10 daily fee without Manhasset Park District (MPD) permit)
• Douglaston: Approximately 120 spaces ($7.50 daily fee)
• Little Neck: Approximately 110 spaces ($7.50 daily fee)

Port Jefferson/Ronkonkoma Branches
To reduce additional travel time and transfers, consider traveling via the Hempstead, Babylon or Montauk branches. Key stations to consider for weekend parking include:

• Floral Park: No restrictions on weekends/holidays for the approximately 110 spaces under the viaduct, and the approximately 120 spaces available in the lot on the south side of station, east of Carnation Avenue. All other parking at this station requires permits and/or fees on weekends/holidays. Note: No parking between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m., daily.
• Hempstead: Approximately 700 spaces (Village of Hempstead Resident or Non-Resident permit or fee required) (Parking rate: 50 cents/hour)
• Hicksville: Approximately 2,500 spaces (no restrictions on weekends/holidays)
• Freeport: Approximately 1,600 spaces (no restrictions on weekends/holidays)
• Merrick: Approximately 1,600 spaces (no restrictions on weekends/holidays)