Amended Peak Service Will Meet Reduced Ridership Levels, Improve Operational Efficiency, and Support Infrastructure Renewal and Upgrades
Off-Peak Fares Remain in Effect at All Times
The Long Island Rail Road today posted train schedules that will take effect on Monday, Jan. 25, that are available online and via the LIRR Train Time app and the MYmta app. As announced last month, service changes – which will be limited to peak hours on nine of the LIRR’s 11 branches – will align train service more closely with current ridership levels. They will allow the LIRR to operate more efficiently and meet levels of demand that have been reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Select peak hour trains will be lengthened to better accommodate riders and stops will be added strategically to ensure convenient connections.
Off-peak service levels are not changing, but customers who travel during those times should continue to check the LIRR’s apps and website for the possibility of small timing changes and modifications to connections and stops.
LIRR ridership is currently 25% to 30% of normal levels, with most of the reduction in ridership taking place during peak hours.
“During this entire pandemic, our workforce has ensured that essential workers and other customers who need to use our system have robust and reliable service to get where they need to go,” said LIRR President Phil Eng. “As we continue to support the essential workers who form our core ridership, we are sizing our schedules to meet current demand and support critical infrastructure work to renew, upgrade and expand the LIRR’s infrastructure. We continuously monitor ridership closely and we are ready to adjust our scheduled as necessary to meet demand as it continues to evolve.”
Peak period schedules will be changing for service between New York City and Babylon, Far Rockaway, Hempstead, Huntington, Long Beach, Oyster Bay, Port Washington and Ronkonkoma, and intermediate stations. No major schedule changes are anticipated on the Montauk Branch or West Hempstead Branch, or at stations between Huntington and Port Jefferson or between Ronkonkoma and Greenport.
Off-peak fares remain in effect at all times.
Train departure times are available via the LIRR Train Time app and MYmta app, and timetables will be posted at MTA.info/lirr/Timetable. The LIRR encourages customers to use the capacity tracking feature of the LIRR Train Time app to help determine which cars of an approaching train are less crowded and have more seating available.
Many Channels for Services Updates
Information about the schedule changes noted in this press release will be available through the LIRR’s real-time service information sources:
LIRR TrainTime app - The LIRR encourages customers to download and use the newly revamped LIRR TrainTime app, the best source of real-time train information including where a particular train is currently located, track assignments, seating capacity, schedules, and a host of other helpful tools, including push notifications, to help plan your trip safely. The app is available for free on both iOS and Android devices.
Email and text message service updates – Customers are urged to sign up to receive the alerts by visiting MyMTAAlerts.com. To avoid unwanted messages, a user can tailor the messages to the specific branch, and the specific times of day.
Social Media – Twitter users can follow @LIRR to receive updates of a similar nature to the email and text alerts, shortened to fit Twitter’s format.
The above communications channels can be accessed while at home or on the go. For customers who are located at stations, the LIRR will post the latest service updates on digital signs at station platforms and will make audio announcements over public address systems, and on-board announcements made by train crews.
For those who prefer the telephone, information is available from the LIRR’s Customer Service Center by calling 511, the New York State Travel Information Line, and saying: “Long Island Rail Road” Those who are deaf or hard of hearing can use their preferred service provider for the free 711 relay to reach the LIRR at 511.