LIRR Strike Plan Update

The Long Island Rail Road has announced a plan in the event of a New York City Transit Strike. Seven morning and seven evening rush hour trains will be cancelled or combined. Supplemental shuttle trains will be provided for select LIRR stations within the City limits. LIRR contingency plans will go into effect 24 hours after a strike is announced. Diesel equipment will operate to Long Island City providing access to limited ferry service. The Hunterspoint Avenue terminal will be closed for the duration of the service disruption. Regular LIRR customers who commute to or from Queens stations other than Jamaica may have to change trains to reach their destinations. LIRR commuters are Jamaica, Kew Gardens, Forest Hills, and Woodside will be served by special shuttle trains.

Check www.mta.info for the MTA’s full contingency plan.

AFFECTED TRAINS

AM PEAK

• The 6:53 AM train from West Hempstead to Flatbush Avenue is cancelled. Customers should take the 7:17 AM from West Hempstead
• The 6:57 AM train from Freeport to Penn Station is cancelled. Freeport customers should use trains from Freeport at 6:55 AM or 7:05 AM. These trains will also make stops at Baldwin and Rockville Centre.
• The 6:59 AM train from Massapequa Park to Flatbush Avenue is cancelled. Customers should use a 6:43 AM train, or a train making an extra stop at 7:04 AM. This train will also stop at Massapequa Park, Massapequa, Seaford, Freeport, Baldwin, and Rockville Centre.
• The 7:28 AM train from Cold Spring Harbor to Penn Station is cancelled. Alternate service is available at 7:24 AM, 7:37 AM, and 7:42 AM
• The 8:08 AM train from Long Beach to Penn Station is cancelled. Customers should use the trains departing Long Beach at 7:56 AM or 8:03 AM.
• The 8:10 AM train from Freeport to Penn Station is canceled. Customers should use a train departing at 8:18 AM, which will also stop at Baldwin and Rockville Centre.
• The 8:43 AM train from Jamaica to Flatbush Avenue will be cancelled. Customers should use trains departing at 8:33 AM or 8:52 AM.

PM PEAK

• The 4:04 PM train from Penn Station to Babylon is cancelled. Customers should use either 3:46 PM or 4:12 PM trains. The connecting train from Babylon to Patchogue will be held.
• The 4:57 PM express train from Penn Station to Merrick, Bellmore, and Wantagh is cancelled. Passengers from these stations will be accommodated on the 5:01 PM train from Penn Station
• The 5:23 PM train from Penn Station to Long Beach in cancelled. Customers are asked to use either the 5:20 PM or 5:33 PM train instead.
• The 5:29 PM train from Flatbush Avenue to Huntington is cancelled. Passengers should take either the 5:23 PM or the 5:35 PM train from Flatbush to Jamaica, where they will transfer to the 5:35 PM train out of Penn Station
• The 5:41 PM train from Penn Station to Ronkonkoma is cancelled. Customers are advised to use either the preceding train at 5:22 PM or the following Ronkonkoma train at 5:33 PM. For passengers connecting east of Ronkonkoma the connecting eastbound 6:53 PM train to Greenport will be held.
• The 5:59 PM train from Penn Station to Babylon is cancelled. Passengers will be accommodated on the 6:05 PM train from Penn Station that will be adding stops from Seaford through Babylon for those customers.
• The 6:04 PM train from Flatbush Avenue to Ronkonkoma is cancelled. Customers should use either the 5:49 PM or the 6:18 PM trains.

The 5:29 PM train, normally from Hunterspoint Avenue to Ronkonkoma (arriving at 6:45 PM,) will instead originate in Penn Station at 5:22 PM.

Where to find your train

Penn Station:

• For trains to Woodside, Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, and Jamaica - line up at 7th Ave. and 32nd St.
• Eastern Queens and Hicksville, Huntington, Port Jefferson, Oyster Bay, Hempstead, West Hempstead Branches - 8th Ave. and 33rd St. Subway entrance
• Northern Queens and Ronkonkoma, Port Washington Branches - 8th Ave. and 33rd St. Amtrak entrance
• Southeast Queens and Babylon, Montauk, Long Beach, Far Rockaway Branches - taxi area under Madison Square Garden, 33rd St. between 7th Ave. and 8th Ave.

Jamaica Station:

• Regular Westbound service will run on tracks 1,2,&3
• Regular Eastbound service will run on tracks 6,7,&8
• Special Shuttle to Penn Station will run on tracks 4,&5

General Recommendations

• To ease crowding there will be street-level queuing at Penn Station, Flatbush Ave., Jamaica, and many other Queens stations.
• If possible, stagger your work hours to avoid travel at peak times. Avoid trains arriving at Penn Station, Jamaica, of Flatbush Avenue from 6 AM to 9AM, or departing from 4 PM to 7 PM
• Long Island Bus will largely operate regular service. Check www.mta.info for details.
• Paratransit services will continue to operate; expect delays in NYC; if possible limit travel to essential trips.
• A "Strike Fare" of $4 will be charged for travel within the City at all times. For fare information check www.mta.info
• Regular LIRR customers can use their existing tickets on shuttle train services.
• Reverse peak service will run on a regular schedule.

Back to Gridlock Sam's Transit Strike Survival Guide