Additional LIRR shuttle trains to Brooklyn during morning rush begin Monday
The LIRR is adding three shuttle trains to Brooklyn starting Monday. Credit: Craig Ruttle
The MTA released new details Sunday of its plan to alleviate the misery experience by many LIRR commuters last week, including by adding cars to the most crowded Penn Station trains and shortening wait times for rush hour Brooklyn shuttle trains.
The changes follow the chaotic launch of full service to the Long Island Rail Road’s new Grand Central Madison station last week, which entailed a major service overhaul that included fewer trains to Penn Station, shorter trains, and requiring Brooklyn riders to transfer to a shuttle train at Jamaica.
The changes resulted in intense crowding on trains and platforms, long delays, and confusion and frustration among commuters — the majority of whom were not traveling to or from Grand Central.
Although LIRR interim president Catherine Rinaldi on Thursday announced plans to lengthen trains and bolster Brooklyn service, on Sunday the MTA, in a statement, said the changes were coming “at the direction” of Gov. Kathy Hochul.
"Customers deserve a world-class commuting experience, and that's what we are working hard to accomplish with these changes,” Hochul said in a statement. “We are committed to continuing to listen, monitor, and make changes to deliver high-quality service, communication, and consistency to New Yorkers."
Starting Monday, the LIRR will add cars to 17 Penn Station trains “that exceeded capacity” last week, according to the railroad. The railroad is also adding two extra train sets to the Brooklyn shuttle service — one Monday and another on Tuesday — to increase the frequency of trains during the rush hours to around every 8-9 minutes, from around 12 minutes.
The railroad will also have more personnel in Jamaica to assist customers. Full details of the changes are available on the MTA’s TrainTime mobile app.
The railroad suggested that its first weekend under its new service plan went smoothly, with on-time performance remaining steady at 97.85, even as service increased by 28%.
With Dandan Zou
Alfonso Castillo has been reporting for Newsday since 1999 and covering the transportation beat since 2008. He grew up in the Bronx and Queens and now lives in Valley Stream with his wife and two sons.
