Extremely Limited Service On LIRR For The Weekend
NEW YORK (CBS 2/WCBS 880/1010 WINS) -- For the second time this fall, there will be extremely limited service on the Long Island Rail Road.
LIRR President Helena Williams said due to the limited service this weekend, riders need to have a plan.
LINK: Complete Details from the LIRR
The transit authority's message to riders is a simple one -- "know before you go."
Williams said the instillation of the new switching system is mostly complete, but there is still work to be done, WCBS 880's Peter Haskell reported.
"During the final installation of this equipment, more than one thousand tests must be performed," Williams said.
Williams is confident the project will be finished this weekend.
The authority could be criticized for some unfortunate timing.
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1010 WINS' John Montone reports
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WCBS 880 Long Island Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs with rider reaction
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WCBS 880's Peter Haskell on the disruptions
This weekend's disruption coincides with one of the city's most popular events -- the ING New York City Marathon.
Transit officials have promised it will be worth the wait and aggravation.
"If we have a problem like the fire we had here in Jamaica in August, it gives us a way to work around that problem," said LIRR spokesman Joe Calderone.
It's just going to get worse before it gets better.
This weekend, the only trains with direct service to Penn Station will be the Long Branch, Babylon and Port Washington branches. Spectators and runners in the New York City Marathon are advised to use these options.
Many trains will stop at Jamaica Station, where riders will have to use the E subway train to get into Manhattan.
Commuters taking the Huntington/Port Jefferson, Oyster Bay, Hempstead and Ronkonkoma branches will have to take buses for part of their trip.
