Main Line (Long Island Rail Road)

rdf:langString Main Line (Long Island Rail Road)

rdf:langString LIRR Main Line

rdf:langString LIRR Main Line

rdf:langString The Main Line near Jamaica, which is visible in the foreground.

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rdf:langString Operational

rdf:langString The Main Line is a rail line owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. It begins as a two-track line at the Long Island City station in Long Island City, Queens, and runs along the middle of Long Island about 95 miles (153 km) to the Greenport station in Greenport, Suffolk County. A mile east of the Long Island City station (east of Hunterspoint Avenue), the four tracks of the East River Tunnels join the two tracks from Long Island City; most Main Line trains use these tunnels rather than running to or from Long Island City. Continuing east, five branches split from the Main Line. In order from west to east, they are: * Port Washington Branch (at Harold Interlocking in Long Island City, Queens) * Hempstead Branch (at Queens Interlocking along the Queens/Nassau County border) * Oyster Bay Branch (at Nassau Interlocking, east of Mineola station) * Port Jefferson Branch (at Divide Interlocking, east of Hicksville station) * Central Branch (at Beth Interlocking, east of Bethpage station)—single non-electrified track with no stations, connecting the Main Line to the Montauk Branch The Main Line contains four tracks between Harold and Queens Interlockings, and two tracks to the west and three tracks to the east of these points. Public timetables refer to the Main Line east of Hicksville as the Ronkonkoma Branch. The Ronkonkoma Branch continues eastward as a two-track electrified branch to Ronkonkoma station, where it was double-tracked in between Farmingdale and Ronkonkoma in 2018. It used to be mostly an electrified single-track branch. Trains on the Main Line between Long Island City and Ronkonkoma are governed by Automatic Block and Interlocking Signals and by Automatic Train Control (which the LIRR refers to as Automatic Speed Control). East of Ronkonkoma, trains operate in non-signaled dark territory, with all train movements being governed by timetable and train order authority. Several projects have been underway to expand the Main Line's train capacity, including the Third Track project between the Floral Park station and Divide Interlocking, completed in 2022; the Double Track project along the Ronkonkoma Branch, completed in 2018; and the reconstruction of Harold Interlocking.