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LIRR Announces Travel Options for 'Summer of Hell'


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#1 CNJRoss

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Posted 12 June 2017 - 12:50 PM

The New York Times,​ 6/12/17:

L.I.R.R. Announces Travel Options for ‘Summer of Hell’

 

 

 

More than two dozen rush-hour trains on the Long Island Rail Road will be canceled or rerouted at Pennsylvania Station in New York this summer as commuters brace for a “summer of hell,” officials said on Monday.

 

Starting in July, the number of trains leaving Penn Station during the evening commute will be reduced by about 20 percent, according to officials at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which runs the Long Island Rail Road. Several trains will also be canceled or rerouted to Jamaica Station in Queens and Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn during the morning commute.

 

The agency will offer bus and ferry service to accommodate some of the thousands of riders who will be affected by the disruptions.

​Continue here.

 



#2 CNJRoss

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Posted 12 June 2017 - 12:52 PM

NY MTA LIRR:  PENN STATION EMERGENCY REPAIR WORK MITIGATION PLAN



#3 Sloan

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Posted 13 June 2017 - 07:59 AM

 

 

LIRR summer plan aims to take the heat off commuting during Penn Station repairs

 

Amid widespread criticism and even a commuter lawsuit spawned by Amtrak’s planned repairs to New York Penn Station, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Monday released a plan to maintain Long Island Rail Road rush-hour commuter capacity to and from Manhattan and minimize delays for commuters.

http://www.railwayag...html?channel=55



#4 CNJRoss

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Posted 22 June 2017 - 07:53 AM

NY MTA news release, 6/20/17:

 
MTA Announces LIRR Fare Reductions During Amtrak Construction at Penn Station
 
 
During Amtrak Summer Repair Work, MTA to Provide Discount Averaging 25% to Commuters Who Use Key Transfer Hubs at Atlantic Terminal and Hunterspoint Avenue; Discount to Remain in Place for Duration of Amtrak July-August Disruptions
 

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today responded to Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s call for a discount for Long Island Rail Road riders as a result of Amtrak’s summer service cuts at Penn Station. The Long Island Rail Road will offer on average, a 25% fare reduction for all passengers traveling to Hunterspoint Avenue and Atlantic Terminal during Amtrak’s repair work. The discounts apply to all passengers traveling to Atlantic Terminal and Hunterspoint Avenue - including those on trains diverted to these stations from Penn Station. All LIRR riders will be given a free transfer during the morning rush to New York City subways at Atlantic Terminal and Hunterspoint Avenue which have direct and easy connections to multiple subway lines. The reductions – which are based on the distance passengers are traveling – will be in effect from July 10 to the completion of Amtrak repair work.

 

The discount will apply to monthly, weekly and daily tickets. Starting today, Tuesday, June 20, the discounted monthly tickets will be available via ticket windows, ticket vending machines and mail and ride. Discounted tickets will be available via MTA eTix starting on July 1.

 

“Governor Cuomo has asked us to provide greater value to our customers while Amtrak conducts repairs this summer. In response we’re adding to the mitigation measures we’ve already announced by providing a discount that will give customers who travel to key transportation hubs an average discount of 25%,” said MTA Interim Director Ronnie Hakim. “We believe that this move will mitigate the inconvenience that our customers may experience, and have the added benefit of drawing customers away from Penn Station while Amtrak performs repair work.”

 

The discount will also be available to customers traveling to Long Island City, Nostrand Avenue and East New York.

 

The discounted fares are in addition to the previously released transportation plan that restores rush-hour commuter capacity to and from Manhattan, and alleviates anticipated delays and disruptions for LIRR commuters (link: http://nymta.civicco...IRR-PennStation).

 

Free Subways Transfers During Morning Rush

As previously announced, LIRR ticket holders who take trains to Atlantic Terminal, Jamaica, and Hunterspoint Avenue will also be able to transfer to the subway for free during the morning rush hours.

 

At Atlantic Terminal riders will be able to use the 2   3   4   5   B   D   N   Q   R.

 

At Hunterspoint Avenue riders will be able to use the 7.

 

At Jamaica riders will be able to use the E   J   Z.

 

Customer Outreach

The MTA is alerting customers to the discount through a wide range of platforms, including e-mails alerts; twitter messages; Facebook posts; electronic signs located in outlying stations; electronic message boards located in key terminals, including Penn Station, Jamaica Station and Atlantic Terminal; messaging on the Train Time app. In addition ticket clerks will alert customers to the discount at ticket windows.

 

Mail and Ride customers will receive an email letting them know that they can return unused mail and ride tickets for a full credit by simply placing the unused tickets in the return envelope, and placing it in Mail and Ride drop box at Penn Station, Atlantic Terminal or Jamaica Station. They can then purchase a discounted ticket to Atlantic Terminal or Hunterspoint Avenue at a ticket window or a ticket vending machine.

 



#5 CNJRoss

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Posted 12 July 2017 - 12:33 PM

LIRR  news release 7/12/17:

 
LIRR Updates Summer Schedule Based on Customer Needs
 
 
  • LIRR service changes caused by Amtrak repairs working well with most commuters opting to continue to travel by train
  • Added train cars designed to expand capacity are serving the vast majority of commuters’ needs
  • Alternative transportation options will remain in place and be tailored to reflect consumer demand

As a result of Amtrak’s emergency repairs at Penn Station, the MTA has implemented a comprehensive transportation plan that provides a variety of transit options for LIRR customers impacted by service disruptions. The plan provides a seat for every customer potentially affected by the summer changes, and includes a wide range of alternative travel options and support services, such as free bus and ferry transport, reduced fares and commercial tolls and free subway transfers at key transfer points for LIRR ticket holders.

 

To date most commuters have elected to continue to travel by train on altered routes with expanded capacity. While the MTA is committed to offering commuters a range of options, some adjustments will be made to reflect consumer demand, beginning Thursday, July 13.

Effective Thursday, July 13, there will no longer be temporary bus service from the following stations:

  • North Hempstead Beach Park (Alternative PNR: Nassau Coliseum)
  • Roosevelt Field Mall (Alternative PNR: Nassau Coliseum)
  • Bethpage State Park (Alternatives PNRs: Melville or Seaford Kiss & Ride)

The five alternative Park & Ride facilities wiil remain in place for commuters who opt to travel by bus during the Amtrak related service disruption. Buses will depart every half hour between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. in the morning and will drop-off first on the east side at 34th Street and 3rd Avenue, with a second stop on the westside at Penn Station (34th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues).

 

In the evening, bus service will return to the Park & Rides every half hour between 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. picking up first on the westside at Penn Station (34th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues), with a second pickup on the eastside at 34th Street between Lexington and 3rd Avenues.

Full schedules are available at www.LIRRsummerschedule.com.

 

 



#6 KevinKorell

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Posted 13 July 2017 - 01:40 AM

It's interesting that the substitute buses are making a stop on the East Side, which isn't served by the LIRR now.  If anything it demonstrates the demand that will be there when LIRR begins its East Side Access service to Grand Central Terminal, whenever that may ultimately be.



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#7 CNJRoss

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Posted 21 July 2017 - 08:16 PM

LIRR news release  7/21/17:

 
LIRR Timetables Change July 24 to Add Peak-Hour Connections to Brooklyn During Amtrak Track Work at Penn Station, and to Enable Off-Peak Babylon Branch Track Work
 
Three Brooklyn-Bound AM Peak Trains Will Stop at Jamaica to Receive Passengers; Mid-Day Service Goes from Half-Hourly to Hourly at Four Babylon Branch Stations for Four Weeks for Track Work
 

 

 

New Long Island Rail Road timetables going into effect on Monday, July 24, will make adjustments to train schedules to add connections to AM peak-hour Brooklyn-bound trains during the remaining weeks of reduced capacity resulting from Amtrak’s track work at Penn Station. During off-peak hours, mid-day schedule changes to the Babylon Branch will allow crews to ramp up track renewal between Wantagh and Babylon. There will be no changes to weekend train schedules.

 

New timetables are available at this link: http://web.mta.info/lirr/Timetable/

 

Rush Hour Schedule Changes

In the morning, the LIRR will make changes to improve connections to Brooklyn and to reduce congestion for Port Washington Branch trains.

 

Better Connections to Brooklyn

To allow more opportunities for customers to transfer for Brooklyn-bound service, three trains are adding stops at Jamaica, East New York and Nostrand Avenue.

  • The 6:57 a.m. train from Freeport will add stops at Jamaica (arriving at 7:19 a.m.), East New York at 7:29 a.m. and Nostrand Avenue at 7:34 a.m. It will arrive at Atlantic Terminal at 7:39 a.m.
  • The 7:29 a.m. train from Freeport will add stops at Jamaica (arriving at 7:49 a.m.), East New York at 7:58 a.m., and Nostrand Avenue at 8:03 a.m. It will arrive at Atlantic Terminal at 8:08 a.m.
  • The 8:10 a.m. train from Freeport will add stops at Jamaica (arriving at 8:29 a.m.), East New York at 8:37 a.m., and Nostrand Avenue at 8:42 a.m. It will arrive at Atlantic Terminal at 8:48 a.m.

On the Port Washington Branch, three trains are being adjusted to improve performance and reduce congestion in the crowded corridor between Woodside and Penn Station.

  • The 8:08 a.m. train from Port Washington will depart one minute earlier from Manhasset (at 8:15 a.m.) and two minutes earlier at Great Neck (at 8:17 a.m.) and will arrive at Penn Station two minutes earlier, at 8:42 a.m.
  • The 8:24 a.m. train from Great Neck will depart between one and four minutes earlier from Great Neck through Bayside, arriving one minute later at Woodside, and three minutes later at Penn Station, at 9:02 a.m. New departure times are Great Neck at 8:20 a.m., Little Neck at 8:24 a.m., Douglaston at 8:28 a.m., Bayside at 8:32 a.m., and Woodside at 8:49 a.m.
  • The 8:18 a.m. train from Port Washington will depart one to two minutes later at Little Neck (it will now depart at 8:33 a.m.) and Douglaston (8:37 a.m.) and will arrive at Penn Station three minutes later, at 9:05 a.m.

In the evening rush hour, selected trains will arrive at their final destinations between one and four minutes later. Train departure times from Penn Station, Atlantic Terminal or Hunterspoint Avenue are not being adjusted.

 

Mid-Day Track Work on the Babylon Branch

On the Babylon Branch train service will be adjusted between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. to allow crews to perform mechanized tie replacement between Wantagh and Babylon. The LIRR will take one of the Babylon Branch’s two tracks out of service so crews can replace 7,080 wood ties along the 10-mile stretch between Wantagh and Babylon.

 

“We are keeping our tracks in a state of good repair to ensure the continuing safety and reliability of train service for years to come,” said Patrick Nowakowski, President of the Long Island Rail Road. “To improve service we need to temporarily impact service, and we thank our customers for bearing with us for this off-peak four-week project. We have configured schedules to minimize the impact to our customers.”

 

Eastbound

Service at Amityville, Copiague, Lindenhurst and Babylon will be reduced to one train per hour from the current two trains per hour. The semi-express trains that depart Penn Station at 9:22 a.m., 10:22 a.m., 11:22 a.m., 12:22 p.m., and 1:22 p.m. will make all usual stops to Wantagh, where they will terminate. (These trains will add a stop at Freeport.) Customers looking for train service to Amityville, Copiague or Lindenhurst should board the local trains departing Penn Station at :05 minutes past every hour from 9:05 a.m. to 2:05 p.m. Customers for Babylon can take those trains or existing additional trains as noted in timetables.

 

On the Montauk Branch, departure times for some connecting trains that operate from Babylon to Patchogue or Speonk will be adjusted by up to three minutes.

 

Westbound

Between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., train service at Lindenhurst, Copiague and Amityville will be reduced to once per hour from twice per hour. At these and other Babylon Branch stations, departure times of westbound local and express trains are adjusted between 23 and 30 minutes later.

 

Departure times of some Montauk Branch trains that originate in Speonk or Patchogue and connect with Babylon Branch trains at Babylon are being adjusted by up to 41 minutes later, to ensure connections.

 

Other Branches

Departure times of certain mid-day trains on other branches are being adjusted by one to four minutes to ensure connections with Babylon Branch trains that are being adjusted for the track work. The LIRR encourages customers of all branches to look to the online schedules posted at mta.info/lirr.

 

 

 



#8 CNJRoss

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Posted 30 July 2017 - 11:27 AM

LIRR news release 7/29/17:

 
LIRR Updates Summer Schedule Based on Customer Demand
 
Alternative Transportation Options Tailored to Reflect Consumer Ridership and Needs; Added Train Cars Designed to Expand Capacity Are Serving Vast Majority of Commuters’ Needs
 

 

Today the MTA announced that effective Wednesday, August 2, there will no longer be temporary ferry service from Long Island City, and temporary bus service will be reduced to an hourly frequency during rush periods.

 

As a result of service disruptions caused by Amtrak’s emergency repairs at Penn Station through September 1, the MTA implemented a comprehensive transportation plan that provides a variety of transit options for impacted LIRR customers. To date, most commuters have elected to continue to travel by train on altered routes with expanded capacity and fare reduction incentives. While the MTA is committed to offering commuters a range of options, adjustments continue to be made to reflect consumer demand and ridership patterns throughout the first three weeks of the LIRR Summer Schedule.

 

FERRY SERVICE CHANGES, Effective Wednesday, August 2:

  • No temporary ferry service to and from Long Island City; no ferry shuttle from Hunterspoint.

As an alternative, customers are encouraged to use the 7.png Train at Hunters Point Ave. Ferry service to and from Glen Cove will remain unchanged.

 

BUS SERVICE CHANGES, Effective Wednesday, August 2:

  • AM service: Buses depart 6:00 a.m., 7:00 a.m., 8:00 a.m., and 9:00 a.m., from each of the five Park & Ride facilities
  • PM service: Buses depart 3:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m., from Penn Station

The five alternative Park & Ride facilities will remain in place for commuters who opt to travel by bus during the Amtrak related service disruption. Buses will depart every hour on the hour between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., including 9:00 a.m., in the morning and will drop off first on the east side at 34th Street and 3rd Avenue, with a second stop on the westside at Penn Station (34th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues).

 

In the evening, bus service will make return trips to the Park & Rides every hour on the hour between 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., including 7:00 p.m., picking up first on the westside at Penn Station (34th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues), with a second pickup on the eastside at 34th Street between Lexington and 3rd Avenues.

 

The MTA continues to evaluate customer travel options during Amtrak’s emergency repair work at Penn Station this Summer. Last week, effective Monday, July 24, the LIRR adjusted train schedules to add connections to AM peak-hour Brooklyn-bound trains, with three trains adding stops at Jamaica, East New York and Nostrand Avenue. On the Port Washington Branch, three trains were adjusted to improve performance and reduce congestion in the crowded corridor between Woodside and Penn Station.

 

Full schedules and travel options are available at www.LIRRsummerschedule.com.

 

 



#9 CNJRoss

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Posted 15 September 2017 - 06:32 PM

LIHerald.com, Garden City, NY 9/14:

 

Editorial

 

On the trains, no summer of hell

 

 

Spring was a season of frustration for Long Island Rail Road commuters. Two trains derailed in March and April, crippling LIRR service for days. Later in April, the New York City Police Department, fearing for commuters’ safety, was forced to partially shut down Penn Station because it had become so packed with disgruntled passengers.

 

So commuters braced for the worst when Amtrak, which owns and operates Penn Station, announced plans to close several tracks at the station this summer for major repairs. Gov. Andrew Cuomo gave the repair period an ominous name: the summer of hell.

 

But over the past three months, there has been no fire or brimstone.

 

SNIP

 

Full LIRR service was restored on Sept. 5, but questions about Penn Station’s viability remain. We encourage Amtrak to continue to be transparent about repair and construction projects. Hundreds of thousands of people depend on it.

 

More here.






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