Long Island Rail Road branches face delays and cancellations: What you need to know for tonight's commute.

Long Island Rail Road commuters should brace for delays and cancellations during this evening’s rush hour, thanks to what the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has described as Amtrak "switch trouble" east of Penn Station. The Babylon, Ronkonkoma, and Port Washington branches face significant delays and cancellations. 

Here's what you need to know. Alternatively, you can check out schedule changes here:

Babylon Branch Commuters - Here Are Your Schedule Updates: 

3:38 PM train to Babylon is canceled. Take the 3:45 PM train to Massapequa, which will make local stops to Babylon.

4:25 PM train to Babylon is canceled. Take the 4:37 PM train to Wantagh, which will make local stops to Babylon.

5:16 PM train to Babylon is canceled. Take the 5:19 PM train to Wantagh, which will make local stops to Babylon.

5:41 PM train to Babylon is canceled. Take the 5:44 PM train to Wantagh, which will make local stops to Babylon.

6:31 PM train to Babylon is canceled. Take the 6:34 PM train to Wantagh, which will make local stops to Babylon.

7:00 PM train to Babylon is canceled. Take the 7:23 PM train to Babylon.

7:47 PM train to Babylon is canceled. Take the 7:59 PM train to Babylon.

Port Washington Branch Commuters -  Here Are Your Schedule Updates: 

4:16 PM train to Port Washington is canceled. Take the 4:19 PM train to Great Neck, making all local stops to Port Washington.

5:04 PM train to Port Washington is canceled. Take the 5:10 PM train to Great Neck, making all local stops to Port Washington.

5:50 PM train to Port Washington is canceled. Take the 5:53 PM train to Great Neck, making all local stops to Port Washington.

6:25 PM train to Port Washington is canceled. Take the 6:37 PM train to Great Neck, making all local stops to Port Washington.

Ronkonkoma Branch Commuters - Here Are Your Schedule Updates: 

4:34 PM train to Ronkonkoma is canceled. Take the 4:45 PM train from Penn Station to Ronkonkoma.

5:56 PM train to Ronkonkoma is canceled. Take the 6:01 PM train from Penn Station to Ronkonkoma.

6:40 PM train to Ronkonkoma is canceled. Take the 6:53 PM train from Penn Station to Ronkonkoma.

Boarding Change:

Expect track changes at Ronkonkoma and Central Islip stations from March 10 - 14 (Monday to Friday). Use the TrainTime app to confirm your train's departure track and allow extra time to cross platforms if necessary.

What is 'switch trouble' anyhow?

If you’re scratching your head at what “switch trouble” actually means—here’s the lowdown. A railroad switch is a mechanical device that enables trains to move from one track to another, like a traffic light for trains. 

When a switch malfunctions, it can prevent trains from accessing necessary routes, leading to delays, cancellations, and significant disruptions across multiple lines. The malfunction in an Amtrak-operated switch east of Penn Station did just that.

These transit troubles aren't new 

This isn’t the first time Amtrak and LIRR have faced trouble on shared tracks. A similar issue popped up just a few weeks ago, with signal problems causing widespread delays across New York’s entire rail system.

Have an opinion on this article, send an email to LIRR reporter Juan Lasso at jlasso@liherald.com.