LIRR schedule changes to take effect Monday
The MTA says the changes are to, "better reflect customer travel patterns and demand."
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Schedule changes are to take effect on the Long Island Rail Road starting Monday, Nov. 13.
"Yeah, I'm not happy about it," said Lucas, who commutes to Manhattan from Port Washington. "It's going to be very difficult for me. I'll get off at Woodside, I'll take the 7 train, I'll be a real New Yorker again,."
Lucas's morning train isn't the only one affected. Several other trains on the Port Washington, Ronkonkoma, and Babylon Branches will change too. All of the updates are listed below.
The MTA says the changes are to, "better reflect customer travel patterns and demand."
This isn't the first time this year that LIRR service has seen big changes. Service increased 41% back in February with the opening of Grand Central Madison.
"The bottom line is, they shouldn't have done 50/50 to Grand Central," said Ira Berger, of Port Washington.
Steve Cheevers, who also commutes from Port Washington, had a different outlook.
"It's not that bad. I mean, the new station area at the bottom of Grand Central is fantastic, it's amazing, it's convenient. I just think there's more pros than cons any way you look at it," he said.
Reaction to the new schedule changes has been split.
"The more express the better, we have all been spoiled here in Port Washington without having to go through Jamaica and the express train which is why a lot of people come here to commute," said commuter Howard Hecht.
"Those trains are packed every day, there's not even a seat open. And for someone to come back and say those trains are empty, that there's not enough volume, or that they're cutting back on the trains makes no sense," Lucas said.
Here are all of the changes as outlined by the MTA. Schedules are available in the TrainTime app and online at https://new.mta.info/schedules.
Port Washington Branch
The new schedules create more morning express service on the branch.
The 6:47 a.m. train from Port Washington will depart 5 minutes earlier at 6:42 a.m. and operate express from Great Neck arriving at Penn Station at 7:22 a.m. To accommodate customers, the 6:28 a.m. train from Great Neck will make added stops at Little Neck (6:31 a.m.) and Douglaston (6:33 a.m.) arriving at Grand Central at 7:05 a.m.
The 7:19 a.m. train from Port Washington will operate express from Great Neck and arrive at Penn Station at 7:54 a.m. (this train formerly operated to Grand Central Madison) To accommodate customers, the 7:02 a.m. train from Great Neck will make added stops at Little Neck (7:05 a.m.) and Douglaston (7:07 a.m.) and arrive at Penn Station at 7:40 a.m. (this train formerly departed Great Neck at 7:03 a.m.)
The 7:38 a.m. train from Little Neck will now originate from Great Neck at 7:35 a.m. This train will now operate to Grand Central Madison instead of Penn Station.
The 7:54 a.m. train from Port Washington will depart one minute earlier at 7:53 a.m. and make an added stop at Bayside at 8:08 a.m.
The 7:11 p.m. train from Port Washington will run to Penn Station instead of Grand Central.
On weeknights, the train that had departed Grand Central Madison at 8:44 p.m. will instead originate at Penn Station.
Ronkonkoma Branch
The 7:01 p.m. train from Grand Central Madison to Ronkonkoma (8:22 p.m.) and the 7:49 p.m. train from Grand Central Madison to Ronkonkoma (9:14 p.m.) will no longer operate.
Babylon Branch
The 5:24 a.m. train from Wantagh will originate in Babylon at 5:04 a.m., make local stops along the branch, and operate to Atlantic Terminal instead of Grand Central.
A 2:38 p.m. train from Penn Station stopping at Jamaica and making all local stops between Rockville Centre and Babylon will start operating every Monday through Friday.
The 7:24 p.m. train from Atlantic Terminal will operate to Jamaica where customers will transfer for a Babylon train for service further east.
The 7:40 p.m. train from Grand Central Madison will no longer operate.
Brooklyn Service
Two additional through trains will operate to Atlantic Terminal in the AM peak hours.
The 5:30 a.m. train from Ronkonkoma will operate to Atlantic Terminal instead of Grand Central Madison.
The 5:24 a.m. train from Wantagh will operate to Atlantic Terminal instead of Grand Central Madison.
