The Metropolitan Transportation Authority tweaked Long Island Rail Road schedules and added more cars to some trains on Monday, one week after the launch of full service into Grand Central Madison brought new timetables that outraged riders.
But the changes were not enough for some Long Islanders who said they were upset about transferring at Jamaica Terminal in Queens for a commute that used to offer a one-seat ride to or from Penn Station in Manhattan.
“I don’t know one person who’s not affected by the timetable,” LIRR commuter Maya Charland said at Jamaica Terminal on Monday evening. “I’ve not heard one person that’s like, ‘Hey, it’s better.’”
MTA officials heralded the launch of full service into Grand Central Madison as a 40% service boost on weekdays for the LIRR. But the change also moved dozens of trains that used to run to or from Penn Station to the new terminal on Manhattan’s East Side.
In the race to make a transfer at Jamaica on Monday evening, one woman fell down a set of stairs. She declined to give her name — but said she missed her connection, and would have to wait another 40 minutes at the Queens terminal.
MTA officials said they’ve started holding trains at Jamaica to make the connections easier — and noted they’ve deployed dozens of employees to help guide riders through the changes.
“There was less crowding on trains this morning, passenger flow at Jamaica was much better due in part to Penn and Grand Central trains coming in on nearby platforms for easier transfers, and many trains that had been more crowded last week got added cars,” said Catherine Rinaldi, interim Long Island Rail Road president and president of Metro-North. “[Gov. Kathy Hochul] challenged us to deliver the kind of service our customers want and deserve and we are making progress with an improved service plan.”
MTA officials on Monday said the longer trains would help reduce crowding on the LIRR, and noted the changes reduced peak headways…
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