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Babylon (LIRR station)
Encyclopedia
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(Suffolk CR 34). It is on the Montauk Branch
, and is the eastern terminus
of the Babylon Branch
service. To the west is the junction (Belmont Junction) with the Central Branch
, which heads northwest to join the Main Line
at Beth Interlocking southeast of the Bethpage
station. Babylon station is elevated with two island platform
s and is wheelchair accessible
through elevator
access. The electrified portion of the Montauk Branch ends east of the station. Babylon is 38.9 miles from Penn Station (in Manhattan, New York City), and travel time is 50 minutes to 1 hour 13 minutes, depending on the number of stops.
had once planned an extension to the Great South Bay
and Fire Island
which was never built, and a horse car and later trolley line was provided by the Babylon Rail Road
company as a substitute. The second depot opened on July 2, 1881, and was razed in 1963 as part of the grade elimination project that was taking place along the entire Babylon Branch during the post-war era. The new elevated third station opened on September 9, 1964. East of the station, a train washing canopy existed in West Islip
until 2005. In June 2010, the LIRR broke ground on a new environmentally friendly train wash canopy, since Ronkonkoma
station had the only train wash on the east end. This new train wash is be able to recycle water already used using filters and is capable of washing up to 180 electric multiple unit cars a day (equivalent to 15 twelve-car trains, 18 ten-car trains, about 22 eight-car trains, or 30 six-car trains.)
As budgeted in the 2008–2013 Capital Plan
, station rehabilitation over the next five years will include the demolition of the existing platforms and design and construction of a new platform as well as replacement of platform waiting rooms, escalators, and elevators. The project is projected to cost $
39 million and will replace infrastructure that has existed since 1964.
s. The Montauk Branch has three tracks here, with the north platform between Tracks 1 and 2 and the south platform between Tracks 2 and 3.
Suffolk County Transit
MTA Long Island Bus
Trailways Transportation System
:
Note: The S29 is the only bus that serves Babylon station but does not terminate there.
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
on 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...
in the village of Babylon, New York
Babylon (village), New York
Babylon is a village in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 12,615 at the 2000 census.Its official name is The Incorporated Village of Babylon...
at Railroad Avenue west of Deer Park Avenue(Suffolk CR 34). It is on the 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...
, and is the eastern 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:...
of the Babylon Branch
Babylon Branch
The Babylon Branch is a rail service operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. The term refers to the trains serving Montauk Branch stations from Valley Stream east to Babylon. The Babylon Branch is a rail service operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of...
service. To the west is the junction (Belmont Junction) with the 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 heads northwest to join the Main Line
Main Line (Long Island Rail Road)
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 in Long Island City and runs along the middle of Long Island about 95 miles to Greenport...
at Beth Interlocking southeast of the 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...
station. Babylon station is elevated with two island platform
Island platform
An island platform is a station layout arrangement where a single platform is positioned between two tracks within a railway station, tram stop or transitway interchange...
s and is wheelchair accessible
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is a law that was enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1990. It was signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H. W. Bush, and later amended with changes effective January 1, 2009....
through elevator
Elevator
An elevator is a type of vertical transport equipment that efficiently moves people or goods between floors of a building, vessel or other structures...
access. The electrified portion of the Montauk Branch ends east of the station. Babylon is 38.9 miles from Penn Station (in Manhattan, New York City), and travel time is 50 minutes to 1 hour 13 minutes, depending on the number of stops.
History
Babylon Station originally opened as a South Side Railroad of Long Island depot on October 28, 1867. It was briefly renamed Seaside station in the summer of 1868, but resumed its original name of Babylon station in 1869. The Central Railroad of Long IslandCentral Railroad of Long Island
Central Railroad of Long Island is a former railroad on Long Island built by Alexander Turney Stewart, who was also the founder of Garden City. The railroad was established in 1871, was merged with the Flushing and North Side Railroad in 1874 to form the Flushing, North Shore, and Central Railroad,...
had once planned an extension to the Great South Bay
Great South Bay
Great South Bay is a lagoon situated between Long Island and Fire Island, in the State of New York. It is approximately long. It's protected from the Atlantic Ocean by Fire Island, a barrier island, as well as the eastern end of Jones Beach Island and Captree Island.Robert Moses Causeway adjoins...
and Fire Island
Fire Island, New York
Fire Island is one of the outer barrier islands adjacent to the south shore of Long Island, New York. It is approximately long and varies between broad. Fire Island is part of Suffolk County. It comprises a number of hamlets, census-designated places , and villages, all of which lie within the...
which was never built, and a horse car and later trolley line was provided by the Babylon Rail Road
Babylon Rail Road
The Babylon Rail Road was a horsecar line in Babylon Village, New York, later converted to a trolley line. It was opened in 1871 and ceased operations in 1920....
company as a substitute. The second depot opened on July 2, 1881, and was razed in 1963 as part of the grade elimination project that was taking place along the entire Babylon Branch during the post-war era. The new elevated third station opened on September 9, 1964. East of the station, a train washing canopy existed in West Islip
West Islip, New York
West Islip is a hamlet and CDP, located in Suffolk County, New York, USA. Situated on the south shore of Long Island, the population of the CDP was 29,907 at the time of the 2000 census.-Geography:West Islip is located at ....
until 2005. In June 2010, the LIRR broke ground on a new environmentally friendly train wash canopy, since 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....
station had the only train wash on the east end. This new train wash is be able to recycle water already used using filters and is capable of washing up to 180 electric multiple unit cars a day (equivalent to 15 twelve-car trains, 18 ten-car trains, about 22 eight-car trains, or 30 six-car trains.)
As budgeted in the 2008–2013 Capital Plan
MTA Capital Construction
MTA Capital Construction was formed in July 2003 to manage major capital projects for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York, USA. It mainly focuses on improving transportation infrastructure and facilities in the New York City, the Hudson Valley, and Long Island areas.-External...
, station rehabilitation over the next five years will include the demolition of the existing platforms and design and construction of a new platform as well as replacement of platform waiting rooms, escalators, and elevators. The project is projected to cost $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
39 million and will replace infrastructure that has existed since 1964.
Platforms and tracks
The station has two 12-car-long high-level island platformIsland platform
An island platform is a station layout arrangement where a single platform is positioned between two tracks within a railway station, tram stop or transitway interchange...
s. The Montauk Branch has three tracks here, with the north platform between Tracks 1 and 2 and the south platform between Tracks 2 and 3.
Bus connections
The station is also an inter-modal transportation hub with connections to several bus lines.Suffolk County Transit
- S20: to Westfield SunriseWestfield SunriseWestfield Sunrise, formerly known as Sunrise Mall, is a shopping mall located in East Massapequa, New York. The mall originally opened on August 30, 1973 as the first 2-level shopping center on Long Island. It later underwent a major remodel in 1991 and it was acquired by the Westfield Group in...
. - S23: to Walt Whitman MallWalt Whitman MallWalt Whitman Shops is a shopping mall located in Huntington Station, New York on Walt Whitman Road and Jericho Turnpike . It has many stores including main anchors Bloomingdale's, Lord & Taylor, Macy's and Saks Fifth Avenue...
. - S25: to Northwest Babylon.
- S27: to Hauppauge.
- S29: to Walt Whitman MallWalt Whitman MallWalt Whitman Shops is a shopping mall located in Huntington Station, New York on Walt Whitman Road and Jericho Turnpike . It has many stores including main anchors Bloomingdale's, Lord & Taylor, Macy's and Saks Fifth Avenue...
. - S40: to Patchogue.
- S42: to Central Islip.
- S47: to Robert Moses State ParkRobert Moses State Park (Long Island)Robert Moses State Park - Long Island is a state park that is located in the state of New York.The park lies in southern Suffolk County on the western end of Fire Island, one of the central barrier Islands off the southern coast of Long Island...
(summer service only).
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...
- N19: to Freeport.
- N72: to Hempstead (Monday-Saturday).
Trailways Transportation System
Trailways Transportation System
The Trailways Transportation System is an American group of 80 independent bus companies that have entered into a franchising agreement. The company is headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia.- History :...
:
- Adirondack Trailways
- Pine Hills Trailways
Note: The S29 is the only bus that serves Babylon station but does not terminate there.
External links
- Babylon Station (The SubwayNut)
- Arrt's Arrchives
- The Unofficial LIRR History Website
- Babylon Station (Steve Lynch's LIRR Maps, Photos, Charts, etc.,) (TrainsAreFun.com)
- Station from Google Maps Street View
