The
Long Island Rail Road or
LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of
Long IslandLong Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, New York. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving about 81.5 million passengers each year. Established in 1834 and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US railroad still operating under its original name and charter. There are 124 stations on the LIRR, and more than 700 miles (1,126.5 km) of track on its two lines to the two forks of the island and eight major branches. Each weekday, the LIRR provides more than 303,000 rides to customers. It is
publicly ownedA government-owned corporation, state-owned company, state-owned entity, state enterprise, publicly owned corporation, government business enterprise, or parastatal is a legal entity created by a government to undertake commercial activities on behalf of an owner government...
by the
Metropolitan Transportation AuthorityThe Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York is a public benefit corporation responsible for public transportation in the U.S...
, which has styled it
MTA Long Island Rail Road. The current LIRR logo combines the circular MTA logo with the text
Long Island Rail Road, and appears on the sides of trains.
The LIRR is the only commuter passenger railroad in the United States to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with significant off peak, weekend, and holiday service.
History
The Long Island Rail Road Company was chartered in 1834 to provide a daily train service between New York and Boston via a ferry connection between its
Greenport, New YorkGreenport is a village in Suffolk County, New York, United States. It is located on the north fork of Long Island. The population was 2,048 at the 2000 census....
, terminal on Long Island's North Fork and
Stonington, ConnecticutThe Town of Stonington is located in New London County, Connecticut, in the state's southeastern corner. It includes the borough of Stonington, the villages of Pawcatuck, Lords Point, Wequetequock, the eastern halves of the villages of Mystic and Old Mystic...
. This service was superseded in 1849 by the land route through Connecticut that was to become part of the
New York, New Haven and Hartford RailroadThe New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad , was a railroad that operated in the northeast United States from 1872 to 1968 which served the states of Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts...
. The LIRR refocused its attentions towards serving Long Island itself, in competition with other railroads on the island. In the 1870s railroad president
Conrad PoppenhusenConrad Poppenhusen was a German American philanthropist, entrepreneur, founder of College Point, Queens, and founder of the first free kindergarten in the United States....
and his successor
Austin CorbinAustin Corbin was a 19th-century American railroad executive and robber baron. He consolidated the rail lines on Long Island bringing them under the profitable umbrella of the Long Island Rail Road....
acquired all the railroads and consolidated them into the LIRR.
For much of its history the LIRR was a money loser, but in 1900 the
Pennsylvania RailroadThe Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
(PRR) bought a controlling interest as part of its plan for direct access to Manhattan which commenced on September 8, 1910. The wealthy PRR subsidized the LIRR during the first half of the new century, allowing much expansion and modernization.
By the end of the Second World War, however, the downturn in the railroad industry and dwindling profits caused the PRR to relinquish the LIRR from its payroll. The bankrupt LIRR went into
receivershipIn law, receivership is the situation in which an institution or enterprise is being held by a receiver, a person "placed in the custodial responsibility for the property of others, including tangible and intangible assets and rights." The receivership remedy is an equitable remedy that emerged in...
in 1949. The
State of New YorkAs in all 50 states, the head of the executive branch of the government of New York is a Governor. The legislative branch is called the Legislature and consists of a Senate and an Assembly. Unlike most states, New York electoral law permits electoral fusion; thus New York ballots tend to show a...
, realizing how important the railroad was to the future of Long Island, began to subsidize the railroad gradually throughout the 1950s and 60s. In 1966, New York State bought the railroad's controlling stock from the PRR and put it under the newly formed Metropolitan Commuter Transportation Authority (renamed Metropolitan Transportation Authority in 1968). With MTA subsidies, the LIRR modernized further and grew into the busiest commuter railroad in the United States.
The LIRR is one of the few railroads that has survived as an intact company from its original charter to the present day.
Major stations
The LIRR operates out of three western terminals in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. Jamaica Station in central Queens is the hub of all railroad activities. Expansion of the system into Grand Central Terminal is anticipated over the next few years. The list of major stations includes:
- Pennsylvania Station
Pennsylvania Station—commonly known as Penn Station—is the major intercity train station and a major commuter rail hub in New York City. It is one of the busiest rail stations in the world, and a hub for inbound and outbound railroad traffic in New York City. The New York City Subway system also...
, in Midtown ManhattanMidtown Manhattan, or simply Midtown, is an area of Manhattan, New York City home to world-famous commercial zones such as Rockefeller Center, Broadway, and Times Square...
, is the busiest of the LIRR's three western terminals, serving almost 500 daily trains. It is reached via the AmtrakThe National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
-owned East River TunnelsThe East River Tunnels are 4 single-track railroad tunnels that extend from the eastern end of Pennsylvania Station under 32nd and 33rd Streets in Manhattan and cross the East River to Long Island City in Queens. The tracks carry Long Island Rail Road and Amtrak trains travelling to and from Penn...
(the only LIRR-used trackage not owned by the LIRR) from the Main Line in Long Island City. The New York City Subway's 34th Street – Penn Station (IRT Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line) ( trains) and 34th Street – Penn Station (IND Eighth Avenue Line) ( trains) stations are next to the terminal.
- Atlantic Terminal, formerly called Flatbush Avenue, in Downtown Brooklyn
Downtown Brooklyn is the third largest central business district in New York City , and is located in the northwestern section of the borough of Brooklyn...
serves most other trains. It is next to the New York City Subway's Atlantic Avenue – Pacific Street station complex ( trains), providing easy access to Lower ManhattanLower Manhattan is the southernmost part of the island of Manhattan, the main island and center of business and government of the City of New York...
.
- A handful of weekday trains run to Hunterspoint Avenue
Hunterspoint Avenue is a Long Island Rail Road train station within the City Terminal Zone on the Main Line. It is at Hunters Point Avenue and Skillman Avenue in Long Island City, Queens...
or onward to Long Island CityLong Island City is a rail terminal of the Long Island Rail Road in Long Island City, Queens. Within the City Terminal Zone and located at Borden Avenue and 2nd Street, it is the westernmost LIRR station in Queens and the end of both the Main Line and the Montauk Branch...
on the East RiverThe East River is a tidal strait in New York City. It connects Upper New York Bay on its south end to Long Island Sound on its north end. It separates Long Island from the island of Manhattan and the Bronx on the North American mainland...
in Long Island CityLong Island City is the westernmost neighborhood of the borough of Queens in New York City. L.I.C. is notable for its rapid and ongoing gentrification, its waterfront parks, and its thriving arts community. L.I.C. has among the highest concentration of art galleries, art institutions, and studio...
. From Hunterspoint Avenue the Hunters Point AvenueHunters Point Avenue is a station on the IRT Flushing Line of the New York City Subway. Located at 49th Avenue and 21st Street in the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens, it is served at all times by the 7 train and the <7> train rush hours in the peak direction.This station has two...
subway station ( trains) can be reached for Midtown Manhattan access. The same subway trains can also be reached from Long Island City station at the Vernon Boulevard – Jackson Avenue subway station.
- Jamaica
Jamaica is a major hub station of the Long Island Rail Road, and is located in Jamaica, Queens, New York City. It is the largest transit hub on Long Island and is one of the busiest railroad stations in the country with over 200,000 daily passengers...
station is a major hub station and transfer point in Jamaica, QueensJamaica is a neighborhood in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York, United States. It was settled under Dutch rule in 1656 in New Netherland as Rustdorp. Under British rule, the Village of Jamaica became the center of the "Town of Jamaica"...
. Jamaica has eight tracks and five platforms, plus yardA rail yard, or railroad yard, is a complex series of railroad tracks for storing, sorting, or loading/unloading, railroad cars and/or locomotives. Railroad yards have many tracks in parallel for keeping rolling stock stored off the mainline, so that they do not obstruct the flow of traffic....
and bypass tracks (see image at right). At Jamaica, passengers can transfer between trains on all LIRR lines except the Port Washington BranchThe Port Washington Branch is an electrified two-track rail line and service owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York...
, leading to the saying echoed by generations of LIRR Conductors "Change at Jamaica." Transfer is also made to separate facilities for three subway services at the Sutphin Boulevard – Archer Avenue – JFK station ( trains), a number of bus routes, and the AirTrainAirTrain JFK is a 3-line, -long people mover system and elevated railway in New York City providing service to John F. Kennedy International Airport...
automated electric rail system to JFK Airport. The railroad's headquarters are next to the station.
- Access to a fourth major terminal is currently under construction. In 2016, the LIRR intends to start service to Grand Central Terminal
Grand Central Terminal —often incorrectly called Grand Central Station, or shortened to simply Grand Central—is a terminal station at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States...
via the East Side AccessEast Side Access is a public works project being undertaken by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York City, designed to bring the Long Island Rail Road into a new East Side station to be built below and incorporated into Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan...
project; provision was made for this route on the lower level of the 63rd Street Tunnel under the East RiverThe East River is a tidal strait in New York City. It connects Upper New York Bay on its south end to Long Island Sound on its north end. It separates Long Island from the island of Manhattan and the Bronx on the North American mainland...
, which currently carries the IND 63rd Street LineThe IND 63rd Street Line is a rapid transit line of the IND division of the New York City Subway system. It runs from the IND Sixth Avenue Line at 57th Street east under 63rd Street and the East River through the 63rd Street Tunnel to the IND Queens Boulevard Line in Queens...
( train) of the New York City Subway on its upper level. The East Side Access project will reduce congestion while increasing the number of trains during peak hours.
Passenger lines and services
The Long Island Rail Road system is made up of eleven passenger branches. Two main trunk lines, the
Main LineThe Main Line is a rail line owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. It begins in Long Island City and runs along the middle of Long Island about 95 miles to Greenport...
and
Montauk BranchThe Montauk Branch is a rail line owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. The branch runs the length of Long Island, 115 miles from Long Island City on the west to Montauk on the east...
es, spin off nine smaller branches. For scheduling and advertising purposes some of these branches are further divided into sections such as the case with the Montauk Branch, which is known as the
Babylon BranchThe Babylon Branch is a rail service operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. The term refers to the trains serving Montauk Branch stations from Valley Stream east to Babylon. The Babylon Branch is a rail service operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of...
service in the electrified portion of the line between Jamaica and Babylon, while the diesel service beyond Babylon to Montauk is referred to as the Montauk Branch service. All service, with the exception of the
Port Washington BranchThe Port Washington Branch is an electrified two-track rail line and service owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York...
, passses through
JamaicaJamaica is a major hub station of the Long Island Rail Road, and is located in Jamaica, Queens, New York City. It is the largest transit hub on Long Island and is one of the busiest railroad stations in the country with over 200,000 daily passengers...
; the trackage west of Jamaica (except to Port Washington) is known as the
City Terminal ZoneThe City Terminal Zone is the name given to a collection of rail lines of the Long Island Rail Road in New York City. Specifically, it refers to all stations that lie in fare zone 1 , which is the set of stations west of Jamaica.-Stations:- Routes : There are three routes that are considered part...
. The City Terminal Zone includes portions of the Main Line and Atlantic and Montauk Branches, as well as the
AmtrakThe National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
-owned
East River TunnelsThe East River Tunnels are 4 single-track railroad tunnels that extend from the eastern end of Pennsylvania Station under 32nd and 33rd Streets in Manhattan and cross the East River to Long Island City in Queens. The tracks carry Long Island Rail Road and Amtrak trains travelling to and from Penn...
to Penn Station. The passenger lines are:
- The Main Line
The Main Line is a rail line owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. It begins in Long Island City and runs along the middle of Long Island about 95 miles to Greenport...
runs from Long Island City east to Greenport; trains using the East River Tunnels from New York Penn Station join the line at Sunnyside YardSunnyside Yard is a large coach yard, a railroad yard for passenger cars, in Sunnyside, Queens in New York City.-Description:The yard is owned by Amtrak and is also used by New Jersey Transit. The shared tracks of the Long Island Rail Road Main Line and Amtrak's Northeast Corridor pass along the...
. It is electrified west of RonkonkomaRonkonkoma is a major railroad station and transportation hub along the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road in Ronkonkoma, New York. The station is the eastern terminus of the Ronkonkoma Branch and the western terminus of the Greenport Branch....
; limited diesel train service runs from this point to Yaphank, Riverhead or Greenport. The services that run along this line are named after the branches they use; trains beyond HicksvilleHicksville is a station on the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road located in Hicksville, New York. It is the busiest station east of Jamaica by combined weekday/weekend ridership...
(where the Port Jefferson Branch splits), are known as Ronkonkoma BranchThe Ronkonkoma Branch is a rail service operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. On LIRR maps and printed schedules, "Ronkonkoma Branch" refers to trains running along the railroad's Main Line from Hicksville east to the line's terminus at Greenport.The section of the...
and the Greenport Branch trains.
- The Montauk Branch
The Montauk Branch is a rail line owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. The branch runs the length of Long Island, 115 miles from Long Island City on the west to Montauk on the east...
runs from Long Island City to Montauk, meeting the Main Line at Long Island City and Jamaica. It is electrified from Jamaica east to BabylonBabylon is a station on the Long Island Rail Road in the village of Babylon, New York at Railroad Avenue west of Deer Park Avenue. It is on the Montauk Branch, and is the eastern terminus of the Babylon Branch service...
; only diesel trains use the "Lower Montauk" section west of Jamaica or the outer section east of Babylon. Only trains east of Babylon are considered part of the Montauk Branch service; the line from LynbrookLynbrook is a train station in Lynbrook, New York at Sunrise Highway and Peninsula Boulevard on the Long Island Rail Road. The station is elevated and is wheelchair accessible through elevator access.-History:...
to Babylon carries Babylon BranchThe Babylon Branch is a rail service operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. The term refers to the trains serving Montauk Branch stations from Valley Stream east to Babylon. The Babylon Branch is a rail service operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of...
trains.
- The electrified Atlantic Branch runs from Atlantic Terminal in Downtown Brooklyn
Downtown Brooklyn is the third largest central business district in New York City , and is located in the northwestern section of the borough of Brooklyn...
east to Jamaica, where it meets the Main Line, and then heads southeast to end at the Montauk Branch at Valley StreamValley Stream is a station on the Long Island Rail Road's Atlantic Branch serving the residents of Valley Stream, and is the first station in Nassau County. The station is located at Franklin Avenue and Sunrise Highway, west of Rockaway Avenue, and is 17.7 miles from Penn Station in Midtown...
. East of Valley Stream the Far Rockaway BranchThe Far Rockaway Branch is an electrified rail line and service owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. The branch begins at Valley Interlocking, just east of Valley Stream station; the Long Beach Branch also begins there, heading east and south to Long Beach,...
turns south, while the West Hempstead BranchThe West Hempstead Branch is an electrified rail line owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York.The branch separates from the Main Line just east of Jamaica Station, and runs southeastward to West Hempstead...
turns northward.
- The electrified Port Washington Branch
The Port Washington Branch is an electrified two-track rail line and service owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York...
, the only one that doesn't serve Jamaica, branches from the Main Line east of WoodsideWoodside is a railroad station on the Long Island Rail Road's Main Line in the Woodside neighborhood of Queens. It is the first station passed by eastward trains from Pennsylvania Station, and it is the only Queens station that serves both the Port Washington Branch and the other LIRR branches that...
and heads east and northeast to Port WashingtonPort Washington is the terminus of the Long Island Rail Road's Port Washington Branch in Port Washington, New York. The station is located on Main Street, between Haven Avenue and South Bayles Avenue, just West of Middle Neck Road, and is 19.9 miles from Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan...
.
- The Port Jefferson Branch
The Port Jefferson Branch is a rail line and service owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. The branch splits from the Main Line just east of Hicksville and runs northeast and east to Port Jefferson...
branches from the Main Line at Hicksville, with electric service to HuntingtonHuntington is a station on the Port Jefferson Branch of the Long Island Rail Road. It is located near New York Avenue and Broadway in Huntington Station, New York, but is also accessible from Lenox Road and Fairground Avenue near East Second Street....
and diesel service to Port JeffersonPort Jefferson is the terminus for the Port Jefferson Branch of the Long Island Rail Road. The station is located on New York State Route 25A , on the north side of the tracks, but is also accessible from Oakland Avenue , as well as Railroad Avenue and Union Street on the south side of the tracks...
. Until 1938, it continued east to Wading RiverWading River is a hamlet in Suffolk County, New York, USA, on the North Shore of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the CDP population was 7,719....
.
- The electrified Hempstead Branch
The Hempstead Branch is an electrified rail line and service owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. The branch begins at the Main Line at Queens Interlocking, just east of Queens Village station...
branches from the Main Line east of Queens VillageQueens Village is a station on the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road, located between 218th Street and Springfield Boulevard in Queens Village, Queens, New York City. It has two side platforms along the four-track line, and only serves Hempstead Branch trains. The two-story station house is...
(does not curve away from Main Line until Floral ParkFloral Park is a Long Island Rail Road train station in Floral Park, New York at Tulip and Atlantic Avenues, on the Main Line and Hempstead Branch just west of their split...
) and runs east to Hempstead. At Garden CityGarden City is one of five stations of the Long Island Rail Road that serves the Village of Garden City, New York. It is on the Hempstead Branch and is located at Seventh Street between Hilton and Cathedral Avenues, directly across the street from the Garden City Hotel. It is one of the few Long...
, the Garden City-Mitchel Field SecondaryThe Garden City-Mitchell Field Secondary is currently a lightly used freight branch of the Long Island Rail Road.-History:The trackage of the Garden City-Mitchell Field Secondary, originates back to the 1870s to the Central Railroad of Long Island...
curves off and goes to Mitchel Field.
- The electrified West Hempstead Branch
The West Hempstead Branch is an electrified rail line owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York.The branch separates from the Main Line just east of Jamaica Station, and runs southeastward to West Hempstead...
branches from the Montauk Branch at Valley Stream and runs northeast to West HempsteadWest Hempstead is the terminal station at the east end of the Long Island Rail Road's West Hempstead Branch serving West Hempstead, New York, United States. It is located at Hempstead Avenue and Hempstead Gardens Drive....
, originally continuing to junction the Hempstead Branch and the Oyster Bay Branch at the Main Line. There is no weekend service on this branch.
- The Oyster Bay Branch
The Oyster Bay Branch is a rail line and service owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. The branch splits from the Main Line just east of Mineola station, and runs north and east to Oyster Bay.-History:...
splits from the Main Line at MineolaMineola is a train station on the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road in the village of Mineola, New York. All trains for the Port Jefferson, Ronkonkoma, and Oyster Bay branches run through this station, as well as a few for the Montauk Branch. As of May 2011, 145 trains stop at this station...
and heads north and east to Oyster BayOyster Bay is the terminus on the Oyster Bay Branch of the Long Island Rail Road. The station is located off Shore Avenue between Maxwell and Larabee Avenues. It is a sheltered concrete elevated platform that stands in the shadows of the original station, which was accessible from the ends of...
. The first section to East WillistonEast Williston is the first station along the Oyster Bay Branch of the Long Island Rail Road, at Hillside Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue in East Williston, New York...
is electrified; only diesel trains run along the majority of the line to Oyster Bay.
- The diesel-only Central Branch
The Central Branch is a rail line owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York, extending from just east of Bethpage to just west of Babylon. It was built in 1873 as part of the Babylon Extension of the Central Railroad of Long Island , which was owned by...
runs southeast from the Main Line at BethpageBethpage Station is a station along the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road. It is located at Stewart Avenue and Jackson Avenue, in Bethpage, New York, and serves Ronkonkoma Branch trains...
to the Montauk Branch at BabylonBabylon is a station on the Long Island Rail Road in the village of Babylon, New York at Railroad Avenue west of Deer Park Avenue. It is on the Montauk Branch, and is the eastern terminus of the Babylon Branch service...
, giving an alternate route to the Montauk Branch east of Babylon. The Central Branch used to continue west from Bethpage to what include is now the Garden City–Mitchel Field Secondary.
- The electrified Far Rockaway Branch
The Far Rockaway Branch is an electrified rail line and service owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. The branch begins at Valley Interlocking, just east of Valley Stream station; the Long Beach Branch also begins there, heading east and south to Long Beach,...
splits from the Atlantic Branch at Valley Stream and runs south and southwest to Far RockawayFar Rockaway is the terminus of the Long Island Rail Road's Far Rockaway Branch in the Far Rockaway neighborhood of Queens in New York City...
. It used to continue west along what is now the New York City SubwayThe New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
's IND Rockaway LineThe IND Rockaway Line is a rapid transit line of the IND Division of the New York City Subway. It branches from the IND Fulton Street Line at Rockaway Boulevard, extending over the Jamaica Bay, into the Rockaways.-History:...
to Hammels and Rockaway Park.
- The electrified Long Beach Branch
The Long Beach Branch is an electrified rail line and service owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. The branch begins at Valley Interlocking, at Valley Stream station, where the Atlantic Branch tracks from the west are redesignated Long Beach Branch and the...
splits from the Atlantic Branch at Valley Stream but does not curve away from the Babylon Branch until just after LynbrookLynbrook is a train station in Lynbrook, New York at Sunrise Highway and Peninsula Boulevard on the Long Island Rail Road. The station is elevated and is wheelchair accessible through elevator access.-History:...
, where it turns south to end at Long Beach.
Former branches
The railroad has dropped a number of branches due to lack of ridership over the years. Some of these lines became part of the
IND Rockaway LineThe IND Rockaway Line is a rapid transit line of the IND Division of the New York City Subway. It branches from the IND Fulton Street Line at Rockaway Boulevard, extending over the Jamaica Bay, into the Rockaways.-History:...
of the
New York City SubwayThe New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
, while others were downgraded to freight branches, and the rest abandoned entirely.
Additional services
In addition to its daily commuter patronage, the LIRR also offers the following services:
- From April to October, the railroad runs an extensive number of extra trains on the Port Washington Branch to serve passengers traveling to see the New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
home games and the US Open (tennis) at the Mets – Willets Point station.
- Between May and October, the railroad runs The Cannonball, a special express train between Hunterspoint Avenue in Queens and Montauk. It is one of the few named trains operated by a commuter railroad in the United States. A hallmark of The Cannonball is its offering of Parlor Cars, all reserved seating with full bar service. In addition, during the winter months, the railroad runs an unnamed train that follows The Cannonball schedule without Parlor Car service.
- The railroad also operates during the summer season extra trains that cater to the Long Island beach trade. Special package ticket deals are offered to places like Long Beach
Long Beach is a city in Nassau County, New York. Just south of Long Island, it is located on Long Beach Barrier Island, which is the westernmost of the outer barrier islands off Long Island's South Shore. As of the United States 2010 Census, the city population was 33,275...
, Jones BeachJones Beach State Park is a state park of the U.S. state of New York. It is located in southern Nassau County, in the hamlet of Wantagh, on Jones Beach Island, a barrier island linked to Long Island by the Meadowbrook State Parkway, Wantagh State Parkway and Ocean Parkway .The park is renowned for...
, the Hamptons, MontaukMontauk [ˈmɒntɒk] is a census-designated place that roughly corresponds to the hamlet with the same name located in the town of East Hampton in Suffolk County, New York, United States on the South Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 3,851 as of 2000...
, and GreenportGreenport is a village in Suffolk County, New York, United States. It is located on the north fork of Long Island. The population was 2,048 at the 2000 census....
. Some of these packages require bus and ferry connections.
- From May through October, the railroad runs its daily train to Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...
during the racetrack's summer meets. Additionally on the day of the Belmont StakesThe Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5-mile horse race, open to three year old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds ; fillies carry 121 pounds...
horse race the railroad runs extra trains to accommodate the large amount of spectators attending the event.
- One special non-passenger service offered by the railroad is the yearly operation of the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus train between Long Island City and Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Uniondale, New York, United States. Home to the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League, the Coliseum is located approximately east of New York City on Long Island...
in Garden City. Highly publicized by the LIRR, this event draws large crowds of spectators.
Fare structure
Like
Metro-North RailroadThe Metro-North Commuter Railroad , trading as MTA Metro-North Railroad, or, more commonly, Metro-North, is a suburban commuter rail service that is run and managed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority , an authority of New York State. It is the busiest commuter railroad in the United...
and
New Jersey TransitThe New Jersey Transit Corporation is a statewide public transportation system serving the United States state of New Jersey, and New York, Orange, and Rockland counties in New York State...
, the Long Island Rail Road has a fare system that is based on the distance a passenger travels, as opposed to the
New York City SubwayThe New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
which has a flat rate throughout the entire system. The railroad is broken up in to eight numbered fare zones. Zone 1 includes all of the city terminals and stations west of Jamaica. Zone 3 includes Jamaica and all stations east of Jamaica within the boundaries of New York City, except Far Rockaway. Zones 4 and 7 include all the stations in Nassau County. Zones 9, 10, 12, and 14 includes all the stations in Suffolk County. Each zone contains many stations, and the same fare applies for travel between any station in the origin zone and any station in the destination zone.
Peak fares are charged during the week on trains that arrive at western terminals between the hours of 6 am and 10 am, and for trains that depart from western terminals between the hours of 4 pm and 8 pm. Any passenger holding an off peak ticket on a peak train is required to pay a step up fee. Passengers have the options of buying tickets from ticket agents or ticket vending machines (TVMs) or on the train from railroad conductors yet will incur an on-board penalty fee for doing so. This fee is waived for senior citizens and disabled passengers and also for passengers who board from stations where there are no ticket offices or TVMs.
There are several types of tickets: one way, round trip, peak, off-peak, AM peak or off-peak senior/citizen disabled, peak child, and off-peak child. On off-peak trains, passengers can buy a family ticket for children who are accompanied by a 18 year old for $0.75 if bought from the station agent or TVM, $1.00 if bought on the train from the conductor. Additionally senior citizen/disabled passengers traveling during the morning peak hours are required to pay the AM peak senior citizen/disabled rate. This rate is not charged during PM peak hours.
Daily commuters can also buy a peak or off-peak ten trip ride, a weekly unlimited or an unlimited monthly pass. Monthly passes are good on any train regardless of the time of day, but are only valid within the fare zones specified on the pass.
On weekends the railroad offers a special reduced-fare
CityTicketCityTicket is a program that was instituted on January 10, 2004 by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of New York. It allows weekend travel on the Metro-North Railroad or the Long Island Rail Road between any two points within the borders of New York City, for a reduced $3.75 fare. Tickets...
for those passengers who travel within Zones 1 and 3. City Tickets can only be bought from ticket agents or machines.
During the summer season the railroad offers special summer package ticket deals to places such as Long Beach, Jones Beach, the Hamptons, Montauk, and Greenport. Passengers traveling to the Hamptons and Montauk on the
Cannonball also have the option of buying a reserved ticket to sit in one of the train's all-reserved Parlor Cars. However, the LIRR suggests that these tickets be booked in advanced based on limited availability.
Train operations
The LIRR runs relatively isolated from the rest of the national rail system. In only two locations does the railroad connect with other railroad trackage:
West of Harold Interlocking in
Sunnyside, QueensSunnyside is a neighborhood in the western portion of the New York City borough of Queens, in New York state, in the United States. It shares borders with Hunters Point and Long Island City to the west, Astoria to the north, Woodside to the east and Maspeth to the south...
LIRR trains enter Amtrak territory leading to the
East River TunnelsThe East River Tunnels are 4 single-track railroad tunnels that extend from the eastern end of Pennsylvania Station under 32nd and 33rd Streets in Manhattan and cross the East River to Long Island City in Queens. The tracks carry Long Island Rail Road and Amtrak trains travelling to and from Penn...
. When this track was owned by the
Pennsylvania RailroadThe Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
trains of the PRR connected to the LIRR at Penn Station. During the 1920s and 1930s PRR and LIRR ran a through train, such as
The Sunrise Special which ran from Pittsburgh to Montauk.
In Glendale, Queens the LIRR connects with CSX’s Fremont Secondary, which leads to the
Hell Gate BridgeThe Hell Gate Bridge or Hell's Gate Bridge is a steel through arch railroad bridge between Astoria in the borough of Queens and Randall's and Wards Islands in New York City, over a portion of the East River known...
and
New EnglandNew England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, however, once trains leave the secondary they enter LIRR territory and fall under the guidance of the LIRR Book of Rules.
All movements on the LIRR are under the control of the Movement Bureau in Jamaica, which gives orders to the various train towers that control a specific portion of the railroad. Movements in Amtrak territory are controlled by Penn Station Central Control or PSCC, which is run jointly by the LIRR and Amtrak.
Power transmission
The LIRR's electrified lines are exclusively powered by 750 V DC
third railA third rail is a method of providing electric power to a railway train, through a semi-continuous rigid conductor placed alongside or between the rails of a railway track. It is used typically in a mass transit or rapid transit system, which has alignments in its own corridors, fully or almost...
with the contact shoe running along the top of the rail, similar to the
New York City SubwayThe New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
and
PATHPATH, derived from Port Authority Trans-Hudson, is a rapid transit railroad linking Manhattan, New York City with Newark, Harrison, Hoboken and Jersey City in metropolitan northern New Jersey...
trains. In comparison,
Metro-North RailroadThe Metro-North Commuter Railroad , trading as MTA Metro-North Railroad, or, more commonly, Metro-North, is a suburban commuter rail service that is run and managed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority , an authority of New York State. It is the busiest commuter railroad in the United...
uses a combination of under-running third rail on its electrified trackage and overhead catenary wires on the New Haven Line.
New Jersey TransitThe New Jersey Transit Corporation is a statewide public transportation system serving the United States state of New Jersey, and New York, Orange, and Rockland counties in New York State...
's electrified rail lines are powered by overhead catenary wires.
Equipment
The LIRR currently operates an electric fleet of 836
M7The M7 is an electric multiple unit railroad car built by Bombardier, with delivery beginning in 2002.The cars were ordered by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad . The M7 replaced the M1 railcars, which had previously provided electric...
and 170 M3
electric multiple unitAn electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages...
cars. These cars operate in married pairs, meaning each car needs the other one to operate, with each car containing its own engineer's operating compartment. Typical consists range from a minimum of 6 cars to a maximum of 12 cars.
Additionally the railroad uses 134
C3C3 The C3 is a bi-level coach railroad car built by Kawasaki. These cars began delivery in 1997, ordered by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for the Long Island Rail Road...
bilevel rail cars powered by 23 DE30AC diesel-electric locomotives and 22 DM30AC dual-mode locomotives.
Named trains
Despite serving a commuter patronage for the majority of its history, the LIRR did have many named trains some of which offered all first class seating, parlor cars, and full bar service. Many of these trains operated during the early part of the 20th Century, with many being discontinued due to the onset of World War II. Some of these trains were re-established after the war during the 1950s and 1960s as the railroad expanded its east end parlor car service after acquiring luxury coaches and Pullman cars from railroads that were discontinuing their passenger trains. Some of the railroads more notable trains were:
- The Cannonball (1899 – present) which runs from Long Island City to Montauk via Jamaica. The only currently named LIRR passenger train. Originally run in two sections: one to Greenport; and the other to Montauk; splitting from each other at Manorville along the Main Line. Greenport section was discontinued in 1942. Train survived into the MTA era and is currently operated on Friday evenings from May through October as a twelve car train offering two all reserved parlor cars with full bar service. Runs express between Jamaica and Westhampton Beach.
- Fishermans Special (1932–1973) which ran from Long Island City to Canoe Place Station and Montauk via Jamaica. April through October train with service terminating at Canoe Place station in April, and then extended on to Montauk in May. Served Long Island fishing trade.
- Peconic Bay and Shinnecock Bay Express (1926–1950) which ran from Long Island City to Greenport and Montauk via Jamaica. Two Saturday only trains running express to Greenport and Montauk respectively. Discontinued during World War II though revived for a few seasons afterwards.
- Shelter Island Express (1901–1903, 1923–1942) which ran from Long Island City to Greenport via Jamaica. Friday only summer express train that connected to Shelter Island ferries.
- Sunrise Special (1922–1942) which ran from Pittsburgh to Montauk via Penn Station, New York. Joint PRR and LIRR train that operated during the summer. Trains ran eastbound on Fridays and westbound Mondays. During 1926 summer season trains were run daily. After 1932 there was an additional eastbound trip on Thursdays. Complete first class train from 1932 to 1937.
Freight service
The LIRR and other railroads that became part of the system have always had freight service, though this has diminished over the years. The process of shedding freight service accelerated with the acquisition of the railroad by New York State.
In recent years there has been some appreciation of the need for better railroad freight service in New York City and elsewhere on
Long IslandLong Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
. Both areas are primarily served by trucking for freight haulage, an irony in a region with the most extensive rail transit service in the Americas as well as the worst traffic conditions. Proposals for a
Cross-Harbor Rail TunnelThe Cross-Harbor Rail Tunnel is a proposed freight rail transport tunnel under Upper New York Bay in the Port of New York and New Jersey between northeastern New Jersey and Long Island, including southern and eastern New York City.-Background:Direct connections for rail freight between Long Island...
for freight have languished more than a century.
In May 1997, freight service was franchised on a 20-year term to the
New York and Atlantic RailwayThe New York and Atlantic Railway is a short line railroad formed in 1997 to provide freight service over the tracks of the Long Island Rail Road, a public commuter rail agency which had decided to privatize its freight operations...
(NYAR), a short line railroad owned by the
Anacostia and Pacific CompanyAnacostia and Pacific Company is a transportation development and consulting firm responsible for the operations of several railroads:*Chicago SouthShore and South Bend Railroad*Louisville and Indiana Railroad*New York and Atlantic Railway...
. It has its own equipment and crews, but uses the rail facilities of the LIRR. To the east, freight service operates to the ends of the West Hempstead, Port Jefferson branches, to Bridgehampton on the Montauk branch, and to Riverhead on the Mainline. On the western end it provides service on the surviving freight-only tracks of the LIRR: the Bay Ridge and Bushwick branches; the nearly freight-only "Lower Montauk"; and to an interchange connection at Fresh Pond Junction in Queens with the CSX, Canadian Pacific, and Providence and Worcester railroads.
Freight branches
Some non-electrified lines are only used for freight:
- The Garden City-Mitchel Field Secondary
The Garden City-Mitchell Field Secondary is currently a lightly used freight branch of the Long Island Rail Road.-History:The trackage of the Garden City-Mitchell Field Secondary, originates back to the 1870s to the Central Railroad of Long Island...
is a short remnant of the Central Branch that splits from the Hempstead Branch at Garden City, running to Uniondale near Hofstra UniversityHofstra University is a private, nonsectarian institution of higher learning located in the Village of Hempstead, New York, United States, about east of New York City: less than an hour away by train or car...
and Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. This branch does not host any NYAR service. This branch is used by the Ringling Bros. Circus to transport animals, staff and equipment to the Nassau Coliseum.
- The Bushwick Branch
The Bushwick Branch, also called the Bushwick Lead Track, is a freight railroad branch that runs from Bushwick, Brooklyn, to Fresh Pond Junction in Queens, New York, where it connects with the Montauk Branch of the Long Island Rail Road...
runs west from the Montauk Branch at Maspeth to Bushwick Terminal. This originally was a passenger branch until the discontinuance of service in 1924.
- The Bay Ridge Branch
The Bay Ridge Branch is a rail line owned by the Long Island Rail Road and operated by the New York and Atlantic Railway in the U.S. State of New York...
runs south and west from the Montauk Branch at Fresh PondFresh Pond is a small neighborhood in Queens separated from Juniper Valley by the Lutheran and Mount Olivet cemeteries. Its main streets, Fresh Pond Road, Metropolitan Avenue, Eliot Avenue and 61st street, meet at the community's commercial center...
to Bay RidgeBay Ridge is a neighborhood in the southwest corner of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, USA. It is bounded by Sunset Park on the north, Seventh Avenue and Dyker Heights on the east, The Narrows Strait, which partially houses the Belt Parkway, on the west and 86th Street and Fort Hamilton on...
. At Fresh Pond, it meets CSX's Fremont Secondary, which goes over the Hell Gate BridgeThe Hell Gate Bridge or Hell's Gate Bridge is a steel through arch railroad bridge between Astoria in the borough of Queens and Randall's and Wards Islands in New York City, over a portion of the East River known...
towards Upstate New YorkUpstate New York is the region of the U.S. state of New York that is located north of the core of the New York metropolitan area.-Definition:There is no clear or official boundary between Upstate New York and Downstate New York...
and New EnglandNew England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
. This branch to also ran a passenger service until 1924.
Planned service expansions
Besides the long anticipated Eastside Access project, the LIRR has several other planned service expansions such as:
- The Third Main Line Track and electrification expansions which is planned in conjunction with the commencement of service to Grand Central Terminal. The third track on the Main Line will be between Floral Park and Hicksville to aid in relieving the crowding on the Main Line which is expected to grow after the East Side Access project is complete. It also includes the elimination of grade crossings. This project has drawn concern in adjoining communities about the effects of the construction and eventual increase in service. The railroad is also actively pursuing adding a second track along the Main Line between Farmingdale and Ronkonkoma to relieve the crowding on that portion of the Main Line (currently there is only one track with passing sidings between Farmingdale and Ronkonkoma.) If these projects are carried out the LIRR plans to extend electrification towards Yaphank in order to build a new yard facility to store MU trains. Stations on this portion of the Main Line were modified in the late 1990s for future electrification.
- The Lower Manhattan – Jamaica/JFK Transportation Project would expand the Atlantic Branch from Flatbush Avenue to a new terminal near the PATH station
The World Trade Center PATH station originally opened on July 19, 1909 as the Hudson Terminal. When the Hudson Terminal was torn down to make way for the World Trade Center, a new station was built, which opened in 1971...
at the former World Trade CenterThe original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
site. This project would include an expansion of the Air TrainAirTrain JFK is a 3-line, -long people mover system and elevated railway in New York City providing service to John F. Kennedy International Airport...
to Lower ManhattanLower Manhattan is the southernmost part of the island of Manhattan, the main island and center of business and government of the City of New York...
. As of 2008 this project has received low priority.
- Central Branch Electrification is also planned. This would reduce congestion on the Montauk Branch and allow for electric trains coming from Babylon to have an alternative route into Jamaica. Rail ties along this branch have been replaced over the years in anticipation of this service.
- Port Jefferson and Montauk Branch Electrification expansion has been planned over the years to Port Jefferson and to Patchogue and Speonk on the Montauk Branch, two diesel branches that have a significant commuter service. However, as recently as 2008 Newsday
Newsday is a daily American newspaper that primarily serves Nassau and Suffolk counties and the New York City borough of Queens on Long Island, although it is sold throughout the New York metropolitan area...
reported that, although electrification to Port Jefferson – and the building of an electric yard there – is desirable, the recent financial troubles of the MTA will likely delay this type of project for a few years. Additionally there are mixed feelings in the area about the side effects of increased service.
Passenger issues
The LIRR has a long history of rocky relations with its passengers, especially daily commuters. Various commuter advocacy groups have been formed to try to represent those interests, in addition to the state mandated
LIRR Commuters Council.
One criticism of the LIRR is that the railroad has not improved service to the "east end" of Long Island as the twin forks continue to grow in popularity as a year round tourist and residential destination. Demand is evidenced by flourishing for-profit bus services such as the
Hampton JitneyHampton Jitney is a for-profit bus company based in Southampton, NY, operating three primary routes from the East End of Long Island to New York City, as well as charter services, along with local transit bus service in eastern Suffolk County under contract with Suffolk County...
and the
Hampton Luxury LinerThe Hampton Luxury Liner is a private, for-profit bus company based in Bridgehampton, Long Island.Founded in 2001, the company's primary business is a line run between Manhattan, and the Villages of The Hamptons, between Southampton, and Amagansett....
and the early formative stages of a new
East End Transportation Authority. Local politicians have joined the public outcry for the LIRR to either improve the frequency of east end services, or turn the operation over to a local transportation authority.
Critics claim that the
on-time performanceIn transportation , schedule adherence or on-time performance refers to the level of success of the service remaining on the published schedule....
(OTP) calculated by the LIRR is manipulated to be artificially high. Because the LIRR does not release any raw timing data nor do they have independent (non-MTA) audits it is impossible to verify this claim, or the accuracy of the current On Time Performance measurement. The "percentage" measure is used by many other US passenger railroads but the criticism over accuracy is specific to the LIRR. As defined by the LIRR, a train is "on time" if it arrives at a station within 5 minutes and 59 seconds of the scheduled time. The criterion was 4 minutes and 59 seconds until the LIRR changed it because of a bug in their computer systems. Critics believe the OTP measure does not reflect what commuters experience on a daily basis. The LIRR publishes the current OTP in a monthly booklet called
TrainTalk. TrainTalk was previously known as "Keeping Track."
A more accurate way to measure delays and OTP has been proposed to the LIRR. Called the "Passenger Hours Delayed" index it can measure total person-hours of a specific delay. This would be useful in comparing performance of specific days or incidents, day-to-day (or week-to-week) periods, something the current measure cannot do. This 'PHD' index measure is used by some transportation research organizations and would be more meaningful to commuters. it has not been adopted. The two methods are not mutually exclusive and could be kept and published simultaneously.
2007 ridership was 86.1 million, up 4.9% over 2006. The all time highest ridership was 91.8 million in 1949.
Law enforcement
The former LIRR Police Department, which was founded in 1863, was absorbed along with the
Metro-North RailroadThe Metro-North Commuter Railroad , trading as MTA Metro-North Railroad, or, more commonly, Metro-North, is a suburban commuter rail service that is run and managed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority , an authority of New York State. It is the busiest commuter railroad in the United...
Police to form the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police (MTA Police) in 1998.
Allegation of pension and disability fraud
A
New York Times investigation in 2008 showed that more than 90% of Long Island Rail Road employees who had retired since 2000 were receiving disability payments from the federal Railroad Retirement Board, collectively totalling more than $250,000,000 over 8 years.
As a result, Railroad Retirement Agents from Chicago inspected the
Long IslandLong Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
office of the
Railroad Retirement BoardThe U.S. Railroad Retirement Board is an independent agency in the executive branch of the United States government created in 1935 to administer a social insurance program providing retirement benefits to the country's railroad workers....
on September 23, 2008. New York
Governor David PatersonDavid Alexander Paterson is an American politician who served as the 55th Governor of New York, from 2008 to 2010. During his tenure he was the first governor of New York of African American heritage and also the second legally blind governor of any U.S. state after Bob C. Riley, who was Acting...
issued a statement calling for
CongressThe United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
to conduct a full review of the Board's mission and daily activities. Officials at the Board's headquarters responded to the investigation stating that all Occupational Disability annuities were issued in accordance with applicable laws.
On November 17, 2008, former LIRR pension manager Frederick S. Kreuder was arrested and charged with corruption and official misconduct for assisting railroad employees in filing disability claims in exchange for money while on company pay. However, these charges were all dismissed by Supreme Court Judge Kase on December 11, 2009 on the grounds that the prosecution had misled the Grand Jury in the indictment.
A report produced in September 2009 by the
Government Accountability OfficeThe Government Accountability Office is the audit, evaluation, and investigative arm of the United States Congress. It is located in the legislative branch of the United States government.-History:...
stated that five federal agencies which investigated and audited the disability awards found no evidence of fraud or wrongdoing by either the Railroad Retirement Board or the retirees who applied for those awards.
Another series of arrests on Oct 27, 2011 included two doctors and a former union official.
See also
External links