LIRR president: 'No contingency plan' for Ryder Cup transit if strike halts service

Nearly 20,000 fans are expected to take the train to the Ryder Cup each day.

News 12 Staff

Sep 12, 2025, 4:40 PM

Updated 2 hr ago

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Long Island Rail Road President Rob Free sys there is "no contingency plan" for Ryder Cup transit if a strike halts service.
Free tells News 12 the MTA has met with unions twice since being released by the National Mediation Board. Little to no progress has been made.
The Locomotive Engineer’s Union will announce on Monday the results of its strike authorization vote.
Several LIRR unions are demanding a 16.5% raise over the next three years.
However, the MTA feels its 9.5% offer is fair.
Nearly 20,000 fans are expected to take the train to the Ryder Cup each day.
The LIRR originally planned extra train service and shuttle for the event.
However, Free says right now, there is no back up plan in place.
"We're ready to go, we've done all of our preparations for that service plans oversight, staffing -- unfortunately we cannot provide service for the Ryder Cup which really is a huge boom for Long Island in terms of economics and really making the state and Long Island look good,” said Free.
News 12 has also asked the Ryder Cup, state parks and the governor’s office about the plans. News 12 has not heard back.