LIRR Schedule Changes Thread

[Jeff Smith]

If it's okay with LQ, I'm going to set up a schedule change thread going forward. LQ, if you'd prefer it not be a sticky, or would rather deal with it as events occur, let me know. It covers more than just ESA, Oyster Bay, and all that.

NBC New York

Changes coming to LIRR schedule starting Tuesday: What to know

Those who take Long Island Rail Road can expect new schedule changes to be implemented on Tuesday, most of which include more express trains to Manhattan and Brooklyn.

The MTA initially announced the changes earlier in the summer after riders complained about service, particularly after the opening of the Grand Central Madison station. Passengers at the time said they saw fewer trains going to Penn Station and Atlantic Terminal — so the transit agency said there will be increased service to the Manhattan hub, as well as more direct service to Brooklyn.

For the morning rush hour commute, direct service to Brooklyn from the Far Rockaway, Long Beach, Hempstead, and Huntington branches will be added, the MTA said. There will also be a change in which trains stop at certain stations in Queens — like Rosedale, Laurelton, Locust Manor, Queens Village and Hollis — as LIRR ridership data showed that more riders are traveling to Brooklyn from these locations, according to the MTA.
...

[Head-end View]

Good to see LIRR finally waking up to reality. At Jamaica this morning around 11am, I was surprised to hear an announcement for an express train to Brooklyn on Track-3. Good that improved Brooklyn service is spreading beyond the rush hour.

[MACTRAXX]

H-E View: After an absence from RR.Net of almost one month (August 25 was my last log-in) I have a LIRR subject to comment about...I wanted to check using both the current CTZ Atlantic Terminal and West Hempstead Branch schedules to see what the westbound AT late-morning service levels were -

I found that there is a one-hour gap in what is otherwise half-hourly service between Jamaica and AT during the late morning on weekdays - basically one through WH train and one Jamaica-AT shuttle -
From WH - Train #1717- Leave Jamaica 10:22 AM - Local to AT arrives 10:42 AM (Previous train 9:52 AM)
From WH - Train #1719 - Leave Jamaica 11:24 AM - Express to AT arrives 11:43 AM
Shuttle - Train #2895 - Leave Jamaica 11:26 AM - Local to AT arrives 11:46 AM

This is the one and only full-hour gap between Jamaica and AT in either direction between the AM and PM Peak hours on weekdays (which actually surprised me) along with a local following a non-stop express just two minutes later...There should be a Jamaica-AT train added at or around 10:52 AM to close this gap...

The two-minute short gaps between Jamaica-AT trains should at least be lengthened by a few minutes - 11:30 AM west could be a revised time as example for Train #2895...Midday WH trains run nonstop to AT with an all-stop local (East New York and Nostrand Avenue) shuttle train soon behind...

LIRR Branch schedule PDFs can be downloaded at: http://new.mta.info/agency/long-island- ... timetables

Interesting findings concerning Brooklyn service...MACTRAXX

[Jeff Smith]

https://new.mta.info/press-release/lirr ... den-events

Following a year of service increases and the opening of an East Side terminal, MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) today announced service changes beginning Monday, March 4.

In response to customer feedback and to optimize service, the railroad has eliminated some trains with low ridership and their cars will be reallocated to create two new trains from Penn Station after events at Madison Square Garden, giving riders additional service options and more space. These trains supplement the added late-night service implemented in the fall of 2023.

The schedules effective March 4 also include service adjustments to accommodate track work across the system. Among those projects is the next phase of a major reconfiguration of Harold Interlocking, which is a complex of switches located in Sunnyside, Queens, where LIRR tracks to Penn Station and Grand Central Madison interconnect with Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor to New England, and nearly 800 trains travel through per weekday. The work will improve reliability for both LIRR and Amtrak riders and prepare infrastructure for the upcoming reconstruction of the East River tunnels.

“The LIRR extensively studied the new ridership patterns brought on by the new east side terminal as well as customer feedback to create updated timetables that meet both operational and ridership needs,” said Acting LIRR President Rob Free. “The new schedules directly address some customer requests; more comfortable trips home following events at MSG.”

Many trains, including during peak hours, will depart Penn Station up to five minutes earlier or later. Stops at Woodside, Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, and St. Albans have also changed.

Major weekday changes are outlined below, and the trains are referenced by their current departure times.

Detailed schedules to help riders plan their trips are available on the TrainTime app and the LIRR’s schedules page.

The LIRR recommends that all riders check for possible minor changes that may affect their departure and/or transfer times.

Babylon Branch

The 12:37 p.m. train from Penn Station to Babylon will start in Jamaica due to Amtrak track work. Customers should take the 12:30 p.m. Ronkonkoma train from Penn Station and change at Jamaica.
The 5:28 p.m. train from Penn Station to Babylon will leave from Grand Central due to Amtrak track work. Customers should board the 5:25 p.m. Ronkonkoma train from Penn Station and change at Jamaica.
The 6:12 p.m. train from Atlantic Terminal to Freeport will no longer run due to low ridership. For service to Jamaica, customers should board the 6:10 p.m. train from Atlantic Terminal. Those seeking service to Freeport can board trains at 5:57 p.m. or 6:20 p.m. and change to a Wantagh-bound train at Jamaica.
The 6:47 p.m. train from Grand Central to Wantagh will instead leave from Atlantic Terminal due to Amtrak track work. Customers should board the 6:44 p.m. train to Long Beach and change at Jamaica.
The 7:32 p.m. train from Penn Station to Wantagh will no longer run due to low ridership. Customers should take the 7:47 p.m. train to Babylon instead. This equipment will become a new train leaving Penn Station at 10:14 p.m., stopping at Jamaica, Rockville Centre, and all stops to Babylon. This new train fills the one-hour gap in direct service from Penn Station to Babylon and relieves crowding on the 10:49 p.m. after MSG events.
As the track access phase of ADA work at Amityville, Copiague, Lindenhurst has finished, changes to weekday midday schedules will revert to previous service patterns and direct service to Grand Central will resume from stations east of Massapequa.

Weekend service at Bellmore, Massapequa, and Amityville will be reduced to two trains per hour to improve service reliability and on-time performance.

Far Rockaway and Long Beach Branches

In response to customer requests for more through service to Brooklyn, a new train will depart Island Park at 7:48 a.m. and make all stops to Atlantic Terminal.
The 7:48 a.m. train from Far Rockaway to Penn Station will no longer stop at Locust Manor, Laurelton, or Rosedale.
The 4:46 p.m. train from Atlantic Terminal to Far Rockaway will no longer stop at Locust Manor, Laurelton, or Rosedale to accommodate Amtrak track work. For service to those stations, customers should board the Long Beach train at Penn Station at 4:49 p.m.
Due to customer feedback and to reduce congestion, the 5:20 p.m. train from Far Rockaway will run to Atlantic Terminal.
The 5:34 p.m. train from Penn Station to Far Rockaway will leave from Grand Central and add stops at Locust Manor, Laurelton, and Rosedale due to Amtrak track work. Those customers should take the 5:34 p.m. Long Beach train from Penn.
The 5:37 p.m. train from Penn Station to Long Beach will now depart Penn three minutes earlier at 5:34 p.m. and no longer stop at Locust Manor, Laurelton, or Rosedale due to Amtrak track work.
Ronkonkoma Branch

The 4:21 p.m. train from Penn Station to Farmingdale will no longer run due to low ridership. Eliminating this train will help reduce congestion on the Main Line. To accommodate customers, the 4:10 p.m. train from Penn Station will add stops at New Hyde Park, Merillon Avenue, Mineola, Carle Place, and Westbury and the 4:34 p.m. train from Penn Station will add stops at Bethpage, Farmingdale, Wyandanch, and Deer Park.
The 4:57 p.m. train from Grand Central to Central Islip will no longer run due to low ridership. The 4:54 p.m. train from Grand Central to Ronkonkoma will make the combined stops of both trains.
The 7:14 p.m. train from Penn Station to Ronkonkoma will no longer run due to low ridership. This equipment will become a new train leaving Penn Station at 10:58 p.m., stopping at Jamaica, Mineola, Hicksville, and all stops to Ronkonkoma except Pinelawn and helps relieve crowding after MSG events.
Buses will replace trains between Ronkonkoma and Greenport from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays through mid-May due to rail replacement and grade crossing renewal between Ronkonkoma and Riverhead.

West Hempstead Branch

The 5:36 p.m. train from Grand Central to West Hempstead will leave from Atlantic Terminal due to Amtrak track work. Customers should take the Seaford train at 5:30 p.m. and change at Jamaica.
On weekdays, midday and evening West Hempstead Branch trains will run to and from Penn Station instead of Atlantic Terminal to improve reliability and relieve any delays that may be caused by multiple track work projects across the system.

Brooklyn Service
Starting at 9 p.m. westbound and 10 p.m. eastbound on weeknights, service between Jamaica and Brooklyn will be reduced to two trains per hour, from three, due to track work between East New York and Atlantic Terminal. The LIRR will provide additional trains after select events at Barclay’s Center.

[CTG]

https://new.mta.info/press-release/lirr ... den-events

....

Far Rockaway and Long Beach Branches

In response to customer requests for more through service to Brooklyn, a new train will depart Island Park at 7:48 a.m. and make all stops to Atlantic Terminal.

....

Interesting -- in about 40+ years of paying attention to Long Beach branch schedules, this is the first time I've ever noticed a train that originates anywhere other than Long Beach.

[Head-end View]

Ya' do have to wonder what the rationale is for originating a train at Island Park. Although there is precedent for putting in a rush-hour train at an intermediate stop. About fifty years ago, when the main-line was first electrified, there was a morning rush-hour train that began at Westbury. Though after a year or two, it was changed to start at Hicksville. And aren't there similar trains on the Babylon Line that begin or end at intermediate stops like Freeport and Wantagh?

[gamer4616]

Ya' do have to wonder what the rationale is for originating a train at Island Park. Although there is precedent for putting in a rush-hour train at an intermediate stop. About fifty years ago, when the main-line was first electrified, there was a morning rush-hour train that began at Westbury. Though after a year or two, it was changed to start at Hicksville. And aren't there similar trains on the Babylon Line that begin or end at intermediate stops like Freeport and Wantagh?

It's a timing issue. Trains originating in Long Beach Yard need to go to the bridge by Lead Tower, then reverse direction to a station platform in order to originate on a station track. So 5mph from a yard track to Lead Interlocking, then 5MPH back to a station platform. The last 170 feet of the reverse move back to the station platform, the train must stop, then proceed 2MPH to the bumper block. Its a time consuming process.

There might not be time or track space available to do the moves. So the train will follow train 823 and go straight to Island Park.

[CTG]

Ya' do have to wonder what the rationale is for originating a train at Island Park. Although there is precedent for putting in a rush-hour train at an intermediate stop. About fifty years ago, when the main-line was first electrified, there was a morning rush-hour train that began at Westbury. Though after a year or two, it was changed to start at Hicksville. And aren't there similar trains on the Babylon Line that begin or end at intermediate stops like Freeport and Wantagh?

It's a timing issue. Trains originating in Long Beach Yard need to go to the bridge by Lead Tower, then reverse direction to a station platform in order to originate on a station track. So 5mph from a yard track to Lead Interlocking, then 5MPH back to a station platform. The last 170 feet of the reverse move back to the station platform, the train must stop, then proceed 2MPH to the bumper block. Its a time consuming process.

There might not be time or track space available to do the moves. So the train will follow train 823 and go straight to Island Park.

That makes sense. It is interesting that there was almost a placeholder for this train in the existing schedule in that there was a gap in train numbers between 823 and 827, so this new train slots in neatly as 825. Since there is no train disappearing from the schedule later in the day, I wonder whether this train will originate in Long Beach yard, or if it will simply follow 812 east(south)bound and reverse ends just beyond Island Park station (and perhaps even extending a bit onto the bridge as I look at an aerial map).

[4behind2]

Whats old is new.
For decades there was a morning commute train originating at Plandome. It came off track one or two in Pt.Wash, Manhasset, Great neck, then Penn Sta. The Westbury train came off the north side in Hicksville after being an equipment train from Jamaica. And the train which originated in Valley Stream and went to Penn Sta.

The Island Park origination train most likely is coming off the high side in Long Beach Yard.