NEW YORK — The Long Island Rail Road is increasing rush hour service to Brooklyn, extending trains serving Penn Station and adding cars to all trains that exceeded capacity last week.
It is also promising to improve customer service at Jamaica Station.
As commutes peaked on Monday night, CBS2 saw a rush to board trains for journeys that some say are longer and busier.
It was another day, another round of LIRR changes.
“It doesn’t get any better,” said rider Kami Ohebshalom.
READ MORE: LIRR commuters hope Hochul, MTA live up to their word and next week’s changes improve service
Three commuter trains were rushed into service after days of chaos and stalled tracks due to schedule changes and the new Grand Central Madison terminal.
“If you miss a shuttle, you have to wait another 20 minutes,” said Wantagh’s Julia Saka.
“It’s just a tougher commute going in and out every day,” Baldwin’s Haynes Harris added.
Since our new schedule went into effect last week, we’ve been monitoring passenger numbers and listening to your feedback. based…
Posted by MTA LIRR on Sunday, March 5, 2023
While some told CBS2 they see service improvements, others described Monday as more of a mess.
“You need to straighten this out. People need to get to work,” says Laura Gorman of Northport.
Frustrated commuters share videos of train cars with no available seats and overcrowded platforms on social media.
The MTA added cars. Trains that had eight now have 10. Trains with 10 get 12, and so on, increasing the chance of seats.
Some riders said they were forced to change stations and travel times.
“I have to get up early and I go to work later,” said one woman.
“We are all outraged. The community is outraged,” said Oyster Bay supervisor Joe Saladino as he led a rally to demand better service. “Municipalities on the Oyster Bay line are already experiencing limited Long Island Rail Road service due to the miles of electrified track. The schedule changes are exacerbating an existing problem.”
MTA customer service agents are visible on platforms to answer questions, but what commuters are demanding are rollback schedules with more direct service from point A to point B, with no detours.
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