Fewer Delays
The LIRR Expansion Project will mean fewer delays for LIRR customers. Today, with two tracks being used at capacity, a single incident or delay can severely hamper train service.
Building a third track will address the delays and congestion along the Main Line that currently affect tens of thousands of commuters. The track will provide the kind of redundancy required for optimal railroad operations, allowing trains to avoid track and signal problems and to bypass disabled equipment.
Less Crowding
A third track will bring the flexibility needed for better train scheduling to and from Manhattan, which will help to ease crowding. More frequent service at evenly spaced intervals that will give customers – especially at the westernmost stations along the line - a better chance at finding a seat during the morning commute.
Faster Commutes
The LIRR Expansion Project is the key piece in a multi-pronged, system-wide effort that will ultimately increase the Railroad’s capacity into Manhattan and speed rail travel throughout Long Island. The end result will be faster, direct service to the East Side of Manhattan, saving up to 40 minutes off commuting times for many customers, and reduced crowding on trains headed in and out of Penn Station. In addition to the LIRR Expansion Project, other ongoing efforts that will improve your commute include:
- East Side Access – Direct LIRR service to Grand Central Terminal
- Farmingdale to Ronkonkoma – Double Track Project
- Great Neck – New pocket track to support future East Side Access service increases
- Port Washington — Track extensions to support future East Side Access service increases
- Jamaica Capacity Improvements – Track & switch upgrades to reduce the “Jamaica Crawl”
- Mid-Suffolk and Huntington/Port Jefferson yards to support fleet and service growth
Two-Directional Service
The LIRR’s Main Line carries 40 percent of all riders using just two tracks, which greatly limits its ability to serve Nassau and Suffolk Counties. This creates huge challenges for customers traveling to jobs on Long Island, customers traveling within Long Island and customers bound for New York City at night, ultimately forcing many of them into their cars. In addition to making LIRR more reliable, with faster service and fewer delays, this project will enable reverse-commute train service for the first time.
Enhanced Intra-Island Service
Family, friends, sports teams, concerts, culture, airports, beaches, vineyards, and more will be easier to reach, no matter what time of day you’re traveling or which direction you’re heading.
Access to More Places
Two-directional and enhanced intra-Island service will not only improve your commute but will connect you with more destinations when you want to go.
The LIRR Expansion Project will make it even easier to connect with AirTrain JFK for fast, convenient service to and from John F. Kennedy International Airport. Skip the Van Wyck traffic and head straight to Jamaica Station to hop the AirTrain. Then you’ll be at the terminal in minutes. And coming soon is AirTrain LaGuardia, which will provide convenient connections from Mets-Willets Point to a new, state-of-the-art airport.
