Juror train finally on track in Riverhead

The Long Island Rail Road started a new commuter train from Riverhead Monday, and several elected officials and East End transportation advocates were at the station to praise the development.

And a few people were on hand to ride the train, officially the 9:21 to Pennsylvania Station, with a transfer at Ronkonkoma. Actually, the train isn't new. It just started opening its doors to let passengers get on.

The train is the return trip of what's known as the juror train, a weekday morning train from Ronkonkoma to Riverhead to get jurors to State Supreme and County courts on time. "It was running back [to Ronkonkoma] empty," said Suffolk Legis. Edward P. Romaine (R-Center Moriches). "We said: 'Are you nuts?' We finally convinced them to run it back with people." The juror train, which started operating in September, is projected to carry 100 passengers a day when a central jury pool is fully operating in Riverhead later this year.

LIRR spokesman Salvatore Arena said getting passengers onto the new 9:21 a.m. westbound wasn't just a matter of opening a few doors. Though no extra staff was needed, he said, the train had to be fitted into the overall railroad schedule.

When it reaches Ronkonkoma, there is a five-minute wait for the train to Manhattan. That wait will expand to 20 minutes in September, when the schedule will change because of track maintenance.

Until Monday, there was only one scheduled westbound train leaving Riverhead in time for people who want to spend a day in Manhattan -- at 6:08 a.m. "If you wanted to go to the city to see a matinee, you'd have to get up at 4:30 in the morning," Romaine said. Three other westbound trains depart in the afternoon and evening.

He said one of the handful of riders boarding the new train told him that the bus he takes had broken down, and "he came here without even knowing the schedule."

SEE PHOTOSLIRR trains and commuters through the years

In the afternoon, Evan Simon, 30, was getting on the 3:58 for a trip to Merrick and said the new service would definitely benefit him. "My girlfriend lives out here," he said, adding that commuting has become a big part of his life. "It's love," he said.