MTA New York City Transit to Cross-Honor LIRR Tickets as LIRR Anticipates Delays and Cancelations
Customers Advised to Check Train Car Crowding on LIRR Train Time App Before Boarding
As a result of the delay of work being performed by Amtrak to renew a complex of switches east of Penn Station, MTA Long Island Rail Road is advising customers to expect service disruptions during the morning rush hour of Monday, Oct. 26. No disruptions are anticipated for the afternoon/evening rush hour.
The Long Island Rail Road is anticipating systemwide delays of 10-15 minutes. It expects to cancel 10 (or 7.8%) of the 129 westbound morning rush hour trains, reroute four to Atlantic Terminal, Brooklyn, and terminate six at Jamaica. MTA New York City Transit will cross-honor LIRR tickets at Jamaica and Atlantic Terminal.
Customers should anticipate that Long Island Rail Road trains may arrive at platforms toward the southern end of Penn Station that are infrequently used by the LIRR.
The LIRR is advising customers to monitor service alerts distributed via email and text message (sign up at mymtaalerts.com) and via the MYmta and Long Island Rail Road Train Time apps. The LIRR Train Time App also allows customers to see how crowded arriving trains are.
LIRR weekday ridership is currently 28% of normal as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Amtrak’s switch renewal is part of Amtrak’s concerted program to renew tracks, switches and infrastructure at Penn Station that began in 2017. Penn Station’s tracks, platforms and tunnels are owned and maintained by Amtrak and used under a lease agreement by MTA Long Island Rail Road.