LIRR Scores an Ace with U.S. Tennis Open Service

US Open Tennis Timetables

The U.S. Tennis Open is an annual tradition in the metropolitan area and the best way to score an ace in getting to the action is the MTA Long Island Rail Road. The LIRR will be providing additional service for the Open's qualifying rounds, Arthur Ashe Kid's Day and the Open itself. The LIRR's Shea Stadium Station is adjacent to the home of the U.S. Open - the Arthur Ashe Tennis Stadium at Flushing Meadows. The dates are Tuesday, August 19 through Sunday, September 7. The train ride is just 16 minutes from Penn Station to the Stadium. For those traveling on the LIRR from Long Island, the tennis stadium is just six minutes from Woodside, 15 minutes from Great Neck and 25 minutes from Port Washington.

Beginning Tuesday, August 19 for the Qualifying Rounds, for Arthur Ashe Kid's Day on *Saturday, August 23 (rain date, August 24) and continuing through Sunday, September 7, the following LIRR trains will make added stops at Shea Stadium for the U.S. Open:

August 19-August 22 (Qualifying Rounds)

• Eastbound trains departing Penn Station approximately every half-hour from 9:20 AM through 1:22 AM the following morning.
• Westbound trains departing Port Washington approximately every half-hour from 9:40 AM through 1:39 AM the following morning, and departing Great Neck at 9:25 AM, 5:44 PM, 6:20 PM and 6:44 PM.

August 23-Arthur Ashe Kid's Day (Saturday, rain date-August 24)

• Eastbound trains departing Penn Station approximately every half-hour from 7:19 AM through 1:22 AM the following morning.
• Westbound trains departing Port Washington approximately every half-hour from 6:40 AM through 1:40 AM the following morning.

*SPECIAL NOTE*
Hempstead, Oyster Bay, Port Jefferson and Ronkonkoma Branch customers are reminded that on the weekend of August 23-24 buses will replace train service between Mineola and Jamaica as work on a major switch and signal improvement project, between Queens Village and Bellerose, is completed.

Affected customers should pick up special weekend timetables for their branch and plan for additional travel time of up to 45 minutes. To avoid lengthy delays, travelers can use the Babylon, Far Rockaway, Long Beach, Montauk, Port Washington and West Hempstead Branches.

August 25-August 29 & September 2-September 5 (weekdays)

• Eastbound trains departing Penn Station approximately every half-hour from 8:21 AM through 1:22 AM the following morning.
• Westbound trains departing Port Washington approximately every half-hour from 9:40 AM through 1:39 AM the following morning, and departing Great Neck at 8:58 AM, 9:25 AM, 5:44 PM, 6:20 PM and 6:44 PM.

August 30, 31, September 1 (Labor Day) & September 6-September 7 (weekends)

• Eastbound trains departing Penn Station approximately every half-hour from 7:19 AM through 1:22 AM the following morning.
• Westbound trains departing Port Washington approximately every half-hour from 6:40 AM through 1:40 AM the following morning.

Customers traveling to Shea Stadium from branches other than Port Washington can take the LIRR to Woodside Station, then transfer to a Port Washington Branch train. Since Shea Stadium is located in Fare Zone One, tickets to that zone from outlying stations are valid to Shea. However, customers must hold onto their ticket stubs and inform ticket collectors of their intention to travel to Shea.

Since on-board fares are higher, customers are advised to buy tickets in advance at ticket offices, ticket machines, or on-line through the LIRR's WebTicket service (allow five business days for delivery). Customers planning to attend more than one match, or planning to travel with other tennis fans, may want to purchase a Peak or Off-Peak Ten-Trip ticket.

Customers should pick up a copy of the LIRR's special US Open Timetable, dated August 19-September 7, at terminals and stations. For additional information, customers can contact the LIRR's 24-hour Travel Information Center, in Suffolk County at 631-231-LIRR, in Nassau County at 516-822-LIRR or in New York City at 718-217-LIRR. The Travel Information Center's TDD telephone number for the hearing impaired is 718-558-3022.