What Happened
A person was struck by a Long Island Rail Road train near Central Islip on Sunday afternoon, July 26, 2026, triggering service delays across the Ronkonkoma Branch, according to News 12 Long Island. The incident was first reported at 2:21 PM by News 12 journalist Brendan O’Leary, and the story remained developing at the time of publication.
The MTA confirmed that westbound trains running from Ronkonkoma to Hicksville were being delayed as a direct result of the strike. The affected corridor is one of the busiest commuter rail segments on Long Island, and disruptions along it ripple broadly across the LIRR’s service network. No specific station or milepost location along the Ronkonkoma Branch was pinpointed beyond the Central Islip area, per the News 12 report.
The condition of the person struck by the train was not immediately known at the time of reporting. No information regarding the individual’s identity, age, or hometown had been released. It was also not specified whether the incident occurred at a grade crossing, a station platform, or along the open right-of-way near Central Islip.
The MTA urged all affected customers to visit its website for the most up-to-date service information as crews and emergency personnel responded to the scene. News 12 indicated it would continue to follow the story as additional details became available.
Location & Road Context
The incident occurred along the LIRR’s Ronkonkoma Branch near Central Islip, a stretch of commuter rail that connects eastern Suffolk County to New York Penn Station and Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn. The branch serves as a primary artery for daily commuters and weekend travelers moving between the East End and New York City.
This is not the first time the Ronkonkoma Branch has seen service disruptions in recent weeks. On July 14, 2026, a mulch fire caused widespread disruptions on the LIRR’s Ronkonkoma Branch, compounding an already challenging summer of service for riders on that line. The Central Islip area sits roughly mid-branch, meaning disruptions there affect both eastern and western portions of the corridor.
Broader Impact
Westbound commuters traveling from Ronkonkoma toward Hicksville — a key transfer point for riders connecting to other LIRR branches and services — faced the most direct impact from Sunday’s delays. The MTA’s guidance to check its website reflects standard protocol during active service disruptions, but riders on the Ronkonkoma Branch have faced an unusually frequent string of incidents this summer. Passengers are encouraged to monitor the MTA’s real-time service alerts and allow additional travel time for westbound trips through the Central Islip corridor until service is fully restored.