The Ronkonkoma Branch is a rail service operated by the Long Island Rail Road

Long Island Rail Road

The Long Island Rail Road or LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of Long Island, New York. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving about 81.5 million passengers each year. Established in 1834 and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US...

 (LIRR) in the U.S. state

U.S. state

A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...

 of New York

New York

New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

. On LIRR maps and printed schedules, "Ronkonkoma Branch" refers to trains running along the railroad's Main Line from Hicksville

Hicksville (LIRR station)

Hicksville is a station on the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road located in Hicksville, New York. It is the busiest station east of Jamaica by combined weekday/weekend ridership...

 (where the Port Jefferson Branch

Port Jefferson Branch

The Port Jefferson Branch is a rail line and service owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. The branch splits from the Main Line just east of Hicksville and runs northeast and east to Port Jefferson...

 leaves the Main Line) east to the line's terminus

Terminal Station

Terminal Station is a 1953 film by Italian director Vittorio De Sica. It tells the story of the love affair between an Italian man and an American woman. The film was entered into the 1953 Cannes Film Festival.-Production:...

 at Greenport

Greenport (LIRR station)

The Greenport Railroad Station is the terminus of the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road. It is officially located at Wiggins Street and Fourth Street in the Village of Greenport, New York, although the property spans as far east as 3rd Street and the Shelter Island North Ferry...

.

The section of the Main Line east of Ronkonkoma

Ronkonkoma (LIRR station)

Ronkonkoma is a major railroad station and transportation hub along the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road in Ronkonkoma, New York. The station is the eastern terminus of the Ronkonkoma Branch and the western terminus of the Greenport Branch....

 is not electrified and is sometimes referred to as the Greenport Branch. Nine trains travel along this eastern section on weekdays, using diesel-electric or electro-diesel locomotive

Electro-diesel locomotive

An Electro-diesel locomotive is powered either from an electricity supply or by using the onboard diesel engine...

s. Except for one morning train per day from Deer Park to Riverhead, all passengers travelling through Ronkonkoma change trains there.

Electrification

Electrified

Railway electrification system

A railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...

 service, which was extended from Hicksville to Ronkonkoma in 1987, ends at the enormous Ronkonkoma station. Two eastbound and three westbound Greenport Branch diesel-electric trains travel each weekday between Ronkonkoma and Greenport. An additional two westbound and one eastbound each weekday runs as far as Riverhead, and one eastbound each weekday runs as far as Yaphank. In addition, an eastbound runs between Deer Park and Riverhead in the morning, and is intended for use primarily by jurors. There is seasonal summer weekend service, consisting of two roundtrips to Greenport.

The line is presently single-tracked between the old Republic station (near Republic airport in East Farmingdale) and Deer Park, as well as between Brentwood and Greenport (with sidings at stations). As part of the capital plan the LIRR is discussing construction of a full second electrified track from Farmingdale to Ronkonkoma to ease congestion in Suffolk County at Pinelawn, Wyandanch, Central Islip, and the 5 mile stretch between Central Islip and Ronkonkoma. Plans may eventually include electrification further east, possibly as far as Riverhead, due to the possible construction of a new electrified yard in Yaphank.

East of Ronkonkoma service controversy

The LIRR has tried to discontinue service east of Ronkonkoma on several occasions, citing minimal service (three trains daily) due to low ridership. New York State has declined this request each time, as Long Island's population continues to grow eastward. As recently as 2010, the idea was once again entertained by the financially strapped MTA

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York)

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York is a public benefit corporation responsible for public transportation in the U.S...

 (the LIRR's parent company), who proposed that service be truncated to summer weekends only. This did not happen, but weekend service outside of the summer (defined as Memorial Day-Columbus Day) was discontinued.

Central Branch

Some LIRR maps also include as part of the Ronkonkoma Branch the non-electrified Central Branch

Central Branch (Long Island Rail Road)

The Central Branch is a rail line owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York, extending from just east of Bethpage to just west of Babylon. It was built in 1873 as part of the Babylon Extension of the Central Railroad of Long Island , which was owned by...

, which splits from the Ronkonkoma Branch east of Bethpage

Bethpage (LIRR station)

Bethpage Station is a station along the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road. It is located at Stewart Avenue and Jackson Avenue, in Bethpage, New York, and serves Ronkonkoma Branch trains...

 and connects with the more southern Montauk Branch

Montauk Branch

The Montauk Branch is a rail line owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. The branch runs the length of Long Island, 115 miles from Long Island City on the west to Montauk on the east...

, just west of Babylon

Babylon (LIRR station)

Babylon is a station on the Long Island Rail Road in the village of Babylon, New York at Railroad Avenue west of Deer Park Avenue. It is on the Montauk Branch, and is the eastern terminus of the Babylon Branch service...

. There are no stations along this stretch, and only about three trains use it per day, all with diesel-electric engines. No trains using this track appear on Ronkonkoma Branch schedules; they appear on Montauk Branch and Babylon Branch schedules, and some appear on schedules for Mineola and Hicksville on the Main Line, if a stop is scheduled there.

Stations

Station/ location	Miles (kilometers) to Penn Station Pennsylvania Station (New York City) Pennsylvania Station—commonly known as Penn Station—is the major intercity train station and a major commuter rail hub in New York City. It is one of the busiest rail stations in the world, and a hub for inbound and outbound railroad traffic in New York City. The New York City Subway system also...	Connections/notes
For continuing service to Jamaica Jamaica (LIRR station) Jamaica is a major hub station of the Long Island Rail Road, and is located in Jamaica, Queens, New York City. It is the largest transit hub on Long Island and is one of the busiest railroad stations in the country with over 200,000 daily passengers...  and points west, also see Port Jefferson Branch Port Jefferson Branch The Port Jefferson Branch is a rail line and service owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. The branch splits from the Main Line just east of Hicksville and runs northeast and east to Port Jefferson...
Hicksville Hicksville (LIRR station) Hicksville is a station on the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road located in Hicksville, New York. It is the busiest station east of Jamaica by combined weekday/weekend ridership...   Newbridge Road (Route 106 New York State Route 106 New York State Route 106 is a state highway in New York, running from NY 105 in North Bellmore to Oyster Bay. It runs through the Towns of Hempstead and Oyster Bay, including the hamlets of East Meadow, Levittown, Hicksville, Jericho, and East Norwich and the Villages of Brookville and... ) and West Barclay Street, Hicksville Hicksville, New York Hicksville is a hamlet and census-designated place located within the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population of the CDP was 41,547 at the 2010 census...	26.8 (43.1)	Transfer to Port Jefferson Branch Port Jefferson Branch The Port Jefferson Branch is a rail line and service owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. The branch splits from the Main Line just east of Hicksville and runs northeast and east to Port Jefferson...  trains Bus (MTA Long Island Bus MTA Long Island Bus MTA Long Island Bus is the name used by MTA Regional Bus for its bus network serving primarily Nassau County. It also serves parts of western Suffolk County as well as parts of Queens. Long Island Bus is the trading name of Metropolitan Suburban Bus Authority, a name which has not been used... ): N20, N22, N48, N49, N50, N73, N74, N78, N79, N80, N81
Grumman Grumman (LIRR station) Grumman was a station stop along the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road and was opened February 2, 1942 for employees of Grumman Aviation, at the Grumman Bethpage Airport. Wooden shelter sheds were built at the station which was relocated in 1951 when South Oyster Bay Road was realigned for the... Bethpage Bethpage, New York Bethpage is a hamlet located on Long Island within the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York, United States, as well as a census-designated place with borders slightly different from those of the hamlet...		closed November 1985
Bethpage Bethpage (LIRR station) Bethpage Station is a station along the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road. It is located at Stewart Avenue and Jackson Avenue, in Bethpage, New York, and serves Ronkonkoma Branch trains...   Stewart Avenue and Jackson Avenue, Bethpage Bethpage, New York Bethpage is a hamlet located on Long Island within the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York, United States, as well as a census-designated place with borders slightly different from those of the hamlet...	29.9	Central Branch Central Branch (Long Island Rail Road) The Central Branch is a rail line owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York, extending from just east of Bethpage to just west of Babylon. It was built in 1873 as part of the Babylon Extension of the Central Railroad of Long Island , which was owned by...  splits east of here Bus (MTA Long Island Bus): N81
Farmingdale Farmingdale (LIRR station) The Farmingdale Railroad Station is a historic railroad station along the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road. It is officially located off Secatogue Avenue, on Front Street and Atlantic Avenue, in Farmingdale, New York, however, the actual station is on Eastern Parkway...   Off Secatogue Avenue, on Front Street and Atlantic Avenue, Farmingdale Farmingdale, New York The Village of Farmingdale is an incorporated village on Long Island within the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York in the United States...	32.2	Bus (MTA Long Island Bus): N70, N72
Nassau County Nassau County, New York Nassau County is a suburban county on Long Island, east of New York City in the U.S. state of New York, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,339,532...  / Suffolk County Suffolk County, New York Suffolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York on the eastern portion of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,493,350. It was named for the county of Suffolk in England, from which its earliest settlers came...  border
Republic Republic (LIRR station) Republic was a station stop along the Ronkonkoma Branch for employees of the Fairchild Engine & Airplane Manufacturing Company on December 9, 1940. It was closed in 1986. This station was used by employees of the nearby Republic Airport... Farmingdale Farmingdale, New York The Village of Farmingdale is an incorporated village on Long Island within the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York in the United States...		closed 1987
Pinelawn Pinelawn (LIRR station) Pinelawn Station is a small railroad station along the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road. It is on Long Island Avenue, east of the Suffolk County Road 3 grade crossing, south of Melville, New York....   Wellwood Avenue and Long Island Avenue, Pinelawn Memorial Park	34.4	Bus (Suffolk County Transit): S31
Wyandanch Wyandanch (LIRR station) Wyandanch is a station along the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road. It is located on Straight Path and Long Island Avenue, off Acorn Avenue in Wyandanch, New York. All parking near the station is free, and maintained either by Suffolk County or the Town of Babylon.-History:Wyandanch Station...   Straight Path and Long Island Avenue, Wyandanch Wyandanch, New York Wyandanch is a hamlet and census-designated place in the town of Babylon in Suffolk County, New York. The population was 10,546 at the 2000 census.-History:...	36.6	Bus (Suffolk County Transit): S23, S33, 2A, 2B
Deer Park Deer Park (LIRR station) Deer Park is a station along the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road. It is officially located at Pineaire Drive, Executive Avenue, and Long Island Avenue near Deer Park, New York...   Pine Aire Drive and Long Island Avenue, Deer Park Deer Park, New York Deer Park is a hamlet and census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 27,745 at the 2010 census.-History:...	38.4	Bus (Suffolk County Transit): S27
Pineaire Deer Park Deer Park, New York Deer Park is a hamlet and census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 27,745 at the 2010 census.-History:...		closed October, 1986
Brentwood Brentwood (LIRR station) Brentwood is a station along the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road. It is officially located at Suffolk County Road 100 and Brentwood Road in Brentwood, New York. However, it has parking facilities and other amenities that are extended far beyond its given location...   Brentwood Road and Suffolk Avenue, Brentwood Brentwood, New York Brentwood is a hamlet of the Town of Islip in Suffolk County, New York. According to the 2000 Census, the population of Brentwood is 53,917.The colony was established on March 21, 1851, on 750 acres of land on Long Island, New York, by Josiah Warren and Stephen Pearl Andrews...	42.8	Bus (Suffolk County Transit): S27, S41, S45, 3A, 3B, 3D
Central Islip Central Islip (LIRR station) Central Islip is a station on the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road. It is at the southwest corner of Suffolk County Road 100 and Lowell Avenue in Central Islip, New York...   Lowell Avenue and Suffolk Avenue, Central Islip Central Islip, New York Central Islip is a hamlet and census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York, U.S.. The population was 31,950 at the 2000 census.-History and overview:...	45.3	Bus (Suffolk County Transit): S42, S45, 3C, 3D
Ronkonkoma Ronkonkoma (LIRR station) Ronkonkoma is a major railroad station and transportation hub along the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road in Ronkonkoma, New York. The station is the eastern terminus of the Ronkonkoma Branch and the western terminus of the Greenport Branch....   Hawkins Avenue and Johnson Avenue, Ronkonkoma Ronkonkoma, New York Ronkonkoma is a census-designated place on Long Island in the Town of Islip, Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 20,029 at the 2000 census...	50.3	Bus (Suffolk County Transit): S57, S59, 6A, 7A Shuttle van to Long Island MacArthur Airport Long Island MacArthur Airport Long Island MacArthur Airport, formerly known as Islip Airport is a public airport located on Long Island, in Ronkonkoma, Town of Islip, Suffolk County, New York, United States. It is seven miles northeast of the central business district of Islip hamlet...
Electrification ends at Ronkonkoma Station Ronkonkoma (LIRR station) Ronkonkoma is a major railroad station and transportation hub along the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road in Ronkonkoma, New York. The station is the eastern terminus of the Ronkonkoma Branch and the western terminus of the Greenport Branch.... . Line continues east as the Greenport Branch.
Holbrook Holbrook (LIRR station) Holbrook was a station stop along the Greenport Branch of the Long Island Rail Road. It first opened around 1907 and closed in June 1962, although the sheltered shed may have lasted as long as 1970. This station was located between Ronkonkoma and Holtsville Stations on Coates Avenue in Holbrook,... Holbrook Holbrook, New York Holbrook is a hamlet and census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 27,512 at the 2000 Census.-Geography:Holbrook is located at ....		closed June 1962 (date unconfirmed)
Holtsville Holtsville (LIRR station) Holtsville was a station stop on the Greenport Branch of the Long Island Rail Road. It was located off of Waverly Avenue between Long Island Avenue and Furrows Road in Holtsville, New York.-History:... Holtsville Holtsville, New York Holtsville is a hamlet in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 17,006 at the 2000 census....		closed March 16, 1998
Medford Medford (LIRR station) Medford is a station in the hamlet of Medford, New York on the Main Line of the Long Island Railroad. Medford is located on New York State Route 112 between Peconic Avenue and Long Island Avenue. Access to the station is available from a narrow curving roadway leading off Route 112...   Medford Avenue (New York State Route 112 New York State Route 112 New York State Route 112 is a New York state highway, entirely within the Town of Brookhaven in Suffolk County. It runs from Montauk Highway, formerly part of NY 27A, in the village of Patchogue to NY 25A in Port Jefferson Station. It is known locally as Medford Ave in Patchogue... ) and Long Island Avenue, Medford Medford, New York Medford is a hamlet in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 21,985 at the 2000 census.Medford is a community in the southwest part of the Town of Brookhaven...	56.1	Bus (Suffolk County Transit): S61
Yaphank Yaphank (LIRR station) Yaphank is a station in the hamlet of Yaphank, New York on the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road. It is located on Park Street near Suffolk County Road 21 . It is also accessible from streets in and around Suffolk County. The distance between Yaphank and the next station, Riverhead, is the...   Yaphank Avenue and Park Street, Yaphank Yaphank, New York Yaphank is a census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 5,025 at the 2000 census.Yaphank is a community in the south part of the Town of Brookhaven...	60.6	Bus (Suffolk County Transit): S71
Manorville Manorville (LIRR station) Manorville was a railroad station on the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road. in Manorville, New York. The station was built in 1845 and closed in 1968.Manorville Station originally opened on June 14, 1845 as "St... Manorville Manorville, New York Manorville is a census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 11,131 at the 2000 census.Manorville is served by the Eastport-South Manor Central School District...		closed 1968
Calverton Calverton (LIRR station) Calverton was a station stop along the Greenport Branch of the Long Island Rail Road in Calverton, New York. It was originally built around 1880 as Baiting Hollow. The depot closed and moved to undisclosed location around 1922 and second depot built further east around same year, which was located... Calverton Calverton, New York Calverton is a hamlet in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 5,704 at the 2000 census.The community is on the border of the Town of Riverhead and the Town of Brookhaven.-History:...		The station closed c. 1958 A spur to the Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant Calverton Executive Airpark Calverton Executive Airpark is a public-owned private-use airport located three miles west of the central business district of the Calverton hamlet, in the Town of Riverhead, Suffolk County, New York, United States...  used by Grumman closed in the early 1990s. In February 2010, plans were announced to reactivate the spur in a $3.5 million rehabilitation for freight trains of the New York and Atlantic Railway New York and Atlantic Railway The New York and Atlantic Railway is a short line railroad formed in 1997 to provide freight service over the tracks of the Long Island Rail Road, a public commuter rail agency which had decided to privatize its freight operations...  to serve an industrial park Industrial park An industrial park is an area zoned and planned for the purpose of industrial development...  at the airport. Funds come from the federal stimulus funding American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, abbreviated ARRA and commonly referred to as the Stimulus or The Recovery Act, is an economic stimulus package enacted by the 111th United States Congress in February 2009 and signed into law on February 17, 2009, by President Barack Obama.To... . The spur parallels Connecticut Avenue to the airport.
Riverhead Riverhead (LIRR station) Riverhead is a station along the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road. It is located on Osborne Avenue and Railroad Street in Riverhead, New York, north of NY 25 and the Suffolk County Court House.-History:...   Osborne Avenue and Railroad Street, Riverhead	75.3	Bus (Suffolk County Transit): S58, S62, S90, S92, 8A
Aquebogue Aquebogue Aquebogue, New York Aquebogue is a census-designated place roughly corresponding to the hamlet by the same name in the town of Riverhead in Suffolk County, New York, United States...		closed 1967(date unconfirmed)
Jamesport Jamesport Jamesport, New York Jamesport is a census-designated place that roughly corresponds to the hamlet by the same name in the town of Riverhead in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The CDP's population was 1,526 at the 2000 census. Jamesport is known for its quaint downtown area including antique shops and...		closed February 4, 1985http://www.trainsarefun.com/lirrphotos/LIRR%20STATION%20HISTORY.pdfhttp://rides.webshots.com/photo/2518132450034126691JqvCgs
Laurel Laurel Laurel, New York Laurel is a census-designated place roughly corresponding to the hamlet in Suffolk County, New York, United States. It is in the towns of Southold and Riverhead. The population was 1,188 at the 2000 census.- History :...		closed 1967
Mattituck Mattituck (LIRR station) Mattituck is a station on the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road. It is located on Love Lane and Pike Street, north of New York State Route 25 in Mattituck, New York....   Love Lane and Pike Street, Mattituck Mattituck, New York Mattituck is a census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 4,198 at the 2000 census.Mattituck CDP roughly corresponds to the hamlet by the same name in the town of Southold.- History :...	84.4	Bus (Suffolk County Transit): S92
Cutchogue Cutchogue (LIRR station) Cutchogue was a station stop along the Greenport Branch of the Long Island Rail Road. It was located on Depot Lane in Cutchogue, New York, a street that was named for the station. Cutchogue Station first appeared on an issued timetable on June 14, 1845 and discontinued as a station stop around... Cutchogue Cutchogue, New York Cutchogue is a census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York . The population was 2,849 at the 2000 census.Cutchogue CDP roughly represents the area of Cutchogue hamlet in the town of Southold.-Geography:...		closed 1962
Peconic Peconic (LIRR station) Peconic was a station stop along the Greenport Branch and first appears as Hermitage around 1848 but it is later renamed Peconic. Shelter was built and placed around 1942 and the station stop itself was discontinued around 1970. It was located between Cutchogue and Southold Stations.-References:... Peconic Peconic, New York Peconic is a census-designated place that roughly corresponds to the hamlet by the same name in the town of Southold in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The CDP population was 1,081 at the 2000 census.- History :...		closed 1970
Southold Southold (LIRR station) Southold is a station along the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road. It is located on Youngs Avenue and Traveler Street, just north of NY 25 in Southold, New York, and is the last LIRR station to be located north of NY 25....   Youngs Avenue and Traveler Street, Southold Southold, New York Southold is one of ten towns in Suffolk County, New York, United States. It is located in the northeastern tip of the county, on the North Fork of Long Island. The population was 20,599 at the 2000 census...	92.1	Bus (Suffolk County Transit): S92
Greenport Greenport (LIRR station) The Greenport Railroad Station is the terminus of the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road. It is officially located at Wiggins Street and Fourth Street in the Village of Greenport, New York, although the property spans as far east as 3rd Street and the Shelter Island North Ferry...   Wiggins Street and 4th Street, Greenport Greenport, Suffolk County, New York Greenport is a village in Suffolk County, New York, United States. It is located on the north fork of Long Island. The population was 2,048 at the 2000 census....	96.3	Bus (Suffolk County Transit): S92 Ferry to Shelter Island Shelter Island (town), New York Shelter Island is a town and island at the eastern end of Long Island in the U.S. state of New York. It forms the tip of Suffolk County and is separated from the rest of the county by water. The population was 2,228 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...