Goes into Effect September 3
By Hank Russell
Starting September 3, the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) station at Oyster Bay will be getting a second direct train to Penn Station during rush hour. This will mean morning commuters will no longer have to wait through a series of stops before reaching the city.
According to the LIRR, the 7:17 a.m. weekday train from Oyster Bay will be extended to Penn Station. Customers can change at Jamaica for service to Hunterspoint Avenue, Grand Central or Atlantic Terminal. It joins the 5:58 a.m. direct train in giving riders a second direct option in the morning. For specific details of all trains on the Oyster Bay branch, riders are asked to go to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) website or the TrainTime app.
“The LIRR continues to focus on providing the best customer experience every day as we bring thousands of Long Islanders to work, school and local entertainment,” said LIRR President Rob Free in a statement. “By monitoring customer riding patterns and acting on the feedback that they provide, the LIRR has created new timetables with the focus on safety, reliability and the customer experience.”
New York State Assemblyman Charles Lavine (D-Glen Cove) and Glen Cove City Councilman Danielle Fugazy Scagliola worked with LIRR and MTA officials to bring a second direct train to Oyster Bay.
“This additional direct train to Penn in the morning represents a major step in the right direction for North Shore riders of the LIRR,” Lavine said. “We have a great relationship with the MTA and LIRR and I look forward to continuing to work with our partners in those agencies to find ways to enhance service and make life a little more convenient for residents who rely on the convenience of taking the train as a mode of transportation.”
“I am thankful that the LIRR is making adjustments to be more accommodating to Oyster Bay riders,” Fugazy Scagliola added. “Adding another direct westbound train in the morning is another step in the right direction. I look forward to continuing to work with the LIRR, Chuck Lavine, and the ridership to create more positive change for our commuters. I am hopeful we will now turn our attention toward improving our evening eastbound commutes.”