Long Island Rail Road 2008 Service Initiatives

[Trainspotter]

Long Island Rail Road 2008 Service Initiatives

 

MTA Long Island Rail Road is planning a number of new initiatives and enhancements funded through the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s 2008 budget that are aimed at improving customer service in a very tangible way.

 

Realizing the full benefit of its 836 new M7 electric train car fleet purchased through the MTA/LIRR Capital Program, the LIRR is in the unique position to add service to various branches, as well as improve customer seating opportunities.

 

In an initiative started in mid-2007 and continuing into 2008 the LIRR has added the following service enhancements:

 

Additional AM Peak Train Service

• Additional service opportunity and more seats at Lynbrook Station on the Babylon Branch.
  
• Added stops for Hicksville and Merillon Ave stations on the Port Jefferson Branch
  
• Added stops at Little Neck, Douglaston and Auburndale stations on the Port Washington Branch.
  
• Additional service opportunity at Locust Manor, and Nostrand Avenue stations on the Far Rockaway Branch.

Additional PM Peak Service

• Rescheduled underused evening rush train from Flatbush Avenue to Ronkonkoma to instead originate from Penn Station.
  
• Additional stops at Massapequa, Massapequa Park, Amityville, Copiague, and Lindenhurst on the Babylon Branch.
  
• Additional stops at Islip, Great River, and Oakdale stations on the Montauk Branch.
  
• Additional stops at Nostrand Avenue, Locust Manor, and Laurelton on the Far Rockaway Branch.

Evening/Weekend Service Improvements

• Added late evening service on the Port Jefferson Branch serving stations New Hyde Park through Huntington.
  
• Added summer weekend Freeport Express Service on the Babylon Branch providing connections to both Jones Beach buses at Freeport, and Montauk trains Added Service to Shea Stadium, supplementing the limited parking available at the stadium while the new stadium is under construction.

The LIRR is expanding the use of credit and debit cards for the purchase of tickets to include station ticket office windows by late summer of this year. This convenient payment feature was previously available only through the ticket selling machines at stations. The LIRR is also installing 15 credit/debit-only ticket selling machines at high-volume stations to supplement the ticket machines already in service.

 

The MTA’s 2008 financial plan would allow the LIRR to launch a Life Cycle Maintenance program for the interior car body amenities and components in both the electric train cars and diesel coaches.