The MTA has not put an exact date for when passengers can expect to first use the new terminal that is actually below the original Grand Central, but said it will be before the end of 2022, and that it could save LIRR riders 30 minutes on commutes. NBC New York’s Andrew Siff reports.
A series of schedule changes are coming to the Long Island Rail Road -- and the MTA would like to remind riders that they take effect Monday.
The agency announced the looming changes earlier this month, saying they were needed to accommodate crews as they complete work on the Main Line Expansion Project and other projects, including the Jamaica Capacity Improvement project.
The changes impact both off-peak and peak services, effective May 23. The MTA says there are additional changes, too, and recommends checking the LIRR TrainTime app or Long Island Rail Road PDF Timetables (mta.info), for the most up-to-date changes.
Plus you can always get the latest real-time transit updates from all your key commute sources, including the LIRR, NYC subway, NJ Transit and more, right here.
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PEAK CHANGES
According to the MTA, peak changes include:
- The 6:07 p.m. from Atlantic Terminal to Babylon has been restored;
- A new train departs Jamaica at 7:37 a.m., operating express to Atlantic Terminal, with connecting transfers from Hempstead, Babylon, Ronkonkoma and Oyster Bay Branch trains;
- The 6:09 p.m. train from Penn Station to Babylon will return to its normal schedule and stop at Rockville Centre, Baldwin, and Freeport only;
- The 7:12 a.m. train from Huntington to Penn Station will have an added Hicksville stop at 7:29 a.m.;
- The 6:21 p.m. weekday train from Penn to Ronkonkoma will now depart at 6:16 p.m.
OFF-PEAK
The MTA informed that off-peak changes include:
- Weekend service between Penn Station and Huntington will operate hourly. Connecting service to/from Port Jefferson will be every 2 hours. Eastbound trains to Huntington will depart up to 13 minutes later;
- Midday weekday Ronkonkoma Branch westbound trains will depart up to 25 minutes later. Overnight eastbound trains will depart up to 29 minutes earlier;
- Midday eastbound trains to Oyster Bay will depart up to 26 minutes earlier;
- The 8:06 a.m. train from Jamaica to Oyster Bay will now depart at 7:53 a.m.;
- A new weekday train departs Atlantic Terminal at 8:22 a.m. making all stops to Jamaica;
- The 11:21 a.m. train from Farmingdale to Penn station will be canceled;
- The 10:25 p.m. train from Penn Station to Huntington will be canceled. Customers should take the 10:37 p.m. train to Ronkonkoma and transfer at Hicksville for the Port Jefferson-bound train;
- The 11:14 p.m. train from Penn Station to Ronkonkoma will depart from Hicksville at 12:31 a.m. Customers should take the 11:39 p.m. train from Penn Station to Huntington to connect with this train;
- The 11:22 p.m. train from Huntington to Penn Station will terminate at Hicksville, where customers can transfer to the 11:48 p.m. train to Penn Station, with added stops.
The MTA also noted that summer-only trains on the Long Beach, Montauk, and Ronkonkoma branches will start again on Memorial Day weekend.
