The arrival of full Long Island Rail Road service at Grand Central Madison on Monday means a whole new schedule for riders to get used to — and those traveling to-and-from Brooklyn say they’re not feeling the love.
While the Metropolitan Transportation Authority touts 30% more weekday trains at Atlantic Terminal under the new schedules, almost all Brooklyn service is now operating as a shuttle, requiring riders to transfer at Jamaica. Those from Long Island who had gotten used to a one-seat ride to Kings County say they’re not pleased.
“It’s certainly a lot different, and a little confusing,” said Ed Friedman, a resident of Merrick, Nassau County who arrived at Atlantic Terminal at 10 a.m. on Feb. 27. “Now there are no more direct trains here, so you have to change to another track all the way at the other end of the Jamaica station. So it’s very difficult, but it takes some getting used to.”
The long-awaited full opening of Grand Central Madison brings with it a 40% increase in service capacity on the LIRR, now totaling 936 trains including 296 into Grand Central, MTA officials have boasted.
The MTA says that service on the Brooklyn Branch is increasing, with 12-minute peak headways and 20-minute intervals during off-peak hours and weekends. All Brooklyn Branch trains will make stops at Nostrand Avenue and East New York, which the agency says increases service and reliability for commuters from those stops.
Nonetheless, those commuting from out east into Brooklyn say the transfer at Jamaica is cumbersome.
“It was okay today but it’s gonna change drastically because now I can’t take a direct train in from where I live,” said Jermaine, a Farmingdale, Nassau County resident who declined to provide his last name, en route to work in Boerum Hill. Jermaine said that the change feels “not too good,” but he’ll adjust to his new reality.
Maxine Campbell, a resident of St. Albans, Queens, was also not pleased with the new Brooklyn…
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