RDE (and Everyone):
Thanks for the information concerning changes in LIRR service beginning in September.
These changes on the Montauk and Port Jefferson Branches again show the limitations of the C3 car fleet.
The SFCC service only uses one set of equipment (no more than 4 cars) to provide the extra service between
Speonk and Montauk. The SFCC schedule is strategically operated along with regular trains.
Oyster Bay Branch weekend service to be every two hours is not only due to lower ridership during the
time periods that hourly service operated - it is due to ongoing Third Track Project work between Mineola
and Floral Park. For alternate LIRR service Oyster Bay Branch riders can use the Port Washington Branch
(Albertson, Roslyn to Glen Cove segment) and Syosset (Glen Cove, Locust Valley and Oyster Bay).
The afternoon PM Peak train to Speonk mentioned is train #2742 (6:27 PM from Penn Station stopping at
Jamaica, Babylon then all stops to Speonk) which will go back to a change at Babylon service.
The two Port Jefferson Branch weekend through dual mode trains were a good option - and should return
to the schedule when Third Track Project work is further along and if equipment is available.
Two observations that I will mention from the weekend of 7/20-21 (the Urban Avenue Bridge Project) is
that Oyster Bay trains are running every two hours - a possible prelude to the proposed weekend timetable
and two "eight sets" (an "eight set" is eight C3 cars along with two DM30 locomotives that provide through
service to Penn Station from Port Jefferson and Speonk - two sets each from both branches during weekday
peak hours) are being used for the two shuttle trains (16 C3 cars) operating Hicksville-Bethpage-Babylon.
MACTRAXX
EXPRESS TRAIN TO NEW YORK PENN STATION-NO JAMAICA ON THIS TRAIN-PLEASE STAND CLEAR OF THE CLOSING TRAIN DOORS