Everyone: After reading the new proposal to extend Amtrak service to the center of Long Island - my reply is:
"Do we actually now need new Amtrak service to Mineola, Hicksville and Ronkonkoma?" - I do NOT think that
this is necessary - taking note to the increased LIRR service that has been implemented since the opening of
Grand Central (Madison) and with the (earlier) completion of the Main Line Third Track Project in the past year...
Service to Ronkonkoma is on average half-hourly about 19 hours per day - seven days per week...
Service to Mineola and Hicksville have four trains per hour during that same 19 hour period...
Service is more frequent during weekday peak periods...For LIRR current PDF timetables see:
(New schedules effective January 22 to March 3, 2024)
https://new.mta.info/agency/long-island ... timetables
*Port Jefferson Branch* and *Ronkonkoma Branch* are the two schedules serving the proposed route...
I see NO point about getting into an argument over Amtrak equipment types that are as of now multiple
years from being built let alone being tested and accepted and finally turning a wheel in revenue service...
I read the latest proposal news posted by JS and decided to look over location along with local transit to the
college campuses listed since **NONE ** will be served *DIRECTLY* by this new proposed service as written...
- SUNY Stony Brook: Stony Brook Station-Port Jefferson Branch; Suffolk Transit #51 Bus runs to both
Ronkonkoma and Patchogue LIRR via Smith Haven Mall (half hourly weekdays, hourly on weekends)
- Long Island University CW Post Campus: Served by NICE Bus N20H Route from Hicksville - Closest
LIRR stops are either Greenvale or Glen Head on the Oyster Bay Branch in terms of distance...
- SUNY Farmingdale: Farmingdale Station LIRR - About two miles to Campus. NICE route N70 Bus is
available within walking distance (Main and Conklin Streets) but runs indirectly to Campus...
- Adelphi University and Hofstra University are both served by the LIRR Hempstead Branch:
The Adelphi Campus is located between the Nassau Boulevard and Garden City Stations S of the LIRR.
- Hofstra University (Uniondale) is accessible by NICE Bus routes N70, N71 and N72 from the Rosa Parks
Bus Terminal in Hempstead - across the street from the Hempstead LIRR Station...
- SUNY Old Westbury would be closest in distance (5 miles?) to Westbury and Hicksville respectively...
There is no connecting bus service available to SUNY OW Campus...
- St. John's University Main Campus (Hillcrest, Queens) is served by three NYC Transit Bus routes:
Q46 (Union Turnpike) to Kew Gardens E/F Subway (UT/KG) -and- Q30/31 to Jamaica (LIRR Station area)
Closest LIRR Stations - Jamaica or Kew Gardens in distance...
- NYU and Columbia Universities are both in Manhattan served by NYCT Subway connections from NYP
- Fordham University is in the Bronx served by MNCR through Fordham Station and NYCT Bronx routes...
Reading all 11 pages in review of this topic was quite interesting again...I still say that the need for any
new Amtrak service is NOT there - especially if the cost is substantially more than what the LIRR already
offers for frequent (connecting) service to NYP or NYG...MACTRAXX
EXPRESS TRAIN TO NEW YORK PENN STATION-NO JAMAICA ON THIS TRAIN-PLEASE STAND CLEAR OF THE CLOSING TRAIN DOORS