LIRR service this weekend 'extremely limited' again

The Long Island Rail Road is promising another weekend of "extremely limited service" as it completes a switch and signal modernization project at Jamaica on Saturday and Sunday. And adding a further complication is Sunday's ING New York City Marathon.

The LIRR advises customers to allow for up to 70 additional minutes of travel time this weekend, as the LIRR runs about a third of its usual service into and out of Penn Station. Buses replace trains between Mineola and Jamaica, and some customers will be directed to take the E subway line.

There is no service at all to and from some stations, include all in Brooklyn.

The service disruptions come as the LIRR completes testing for its big Jamaica cutover project. The $56 million project calls for replacing the LIRR's century-old, manual, lever-operated switching and signal system with a state-of-the-art computerized system.

LIRR officials have worked hard to spread the word about the service outages, including to runners planning to participate in Sunday's marathon.

The marathon begins in Staten Island, but goes through Manhattan, where many spectators set up. Some runners also go to Manhattan to board shuttle buses to the starting line.

"We've been working closely with the organizers of the NYC Marathon to make sure attendees are informed about the available travel options this weekend," an LIRR spokesman said. "We are recommending customers take the Port Washington, Babylon or Long Beach branches to avoid busing or subway transfers to Penn."

LIRR officials said there is not typically a significant increase in ridership on the day of the marathon.

Jeff Decker, spokesman for the New York Road Runners, which helps organize the marathon, said the LIRR has been "very helpful" in getting word out to runners and their families about the limited train service.

Decker said his group personally contacted about 1,200 runners living in areas on Long Island affected by the disruptions. The Road Runners have chartered some buses to help accommodate those runners.

"Hopefully we've provided them with an option that is going to work and is going to take some of the stress off them on race morning," he said, adding he had no ill will toward the LIRR for scheduling the project over the day of the race. "When is a good time to schedule construction, really? This is the city that never sleeps, and something is always going to be affected by something like this."

Other runners' groups also offer charter buses to and from the marathon. Bob Cook, owner of the Runner's Edge store in Farmingdale, expects more runners than usual on his buses - some of them frustrated with the LIRR's timing.

"I think everyone is saying, 'Why are they doing that?' " Cook said.

With John Hanc

LIRR service this weekend

Service in and out of Penn Station will be cut from about nine trains an hour to about three.

LIRR advises marathoners to use Babylon, Long Beach and Port Washington Branches for direct Penn Station service.

Various runners' groups are offering charter bus service from LI to the marathon. Check with your local group.

North Shore LIRR branches will be affected more than South Shore lines.

South Shore trains will go through Jamaica and in and out of Penn Station at reduced schedules.

Service on Port Washington branch will increase, running half-hourly 9 a.m.-1 p.m. westbound and 4-8 p.m. eastbound.

Between Mineola and Jamaica, buses will replace trains.

At Jamaica, westbound riders will be directed to the E subway line; LIRR tickets will be honored.

No LIRR service at Forest Hills, Hollis, New Hyde Park, Kew Gardens, Laurelton, Locust Manor, Merillon Avenue, Rosedale, St. Albans and all Brooklyn stations.

Free, unrestricted parking will be offered at LIRR stations including Manhasset, Little Neck, Oceanside, Lynbrook, Lindenhurst, Copiague, Massapequa, Massapequa Park, Seaford, Wantagh, Bellmore, Merrick, Freeport and Baldwin.

- Compiled by Alfonso Castillo