On Time Performance Improves
We capped off 2007 by posting an On Time Performance (OTP) that was nearly one percent above 2006 and the highest in nearly 30 years of record keeping. The 2007 OTP (94.07%) beat the old number of 94.04% set in 2002, continuing a trend that started in 2000. "We're moving in the right direction," said LIRR President Helena E. Williams, "and are committed to achieving even better performances in the future, which is why we are moving ahead with plans for a Third Track. The LIRR needs a 'Third Track' to maintain on-time performance gains in the future and to be ready for the coming of East Side Access, when the LIRR will connect to Grand Central Terminal and our customers will be able to reach the East Side of Manhattan in a one-seat ride."

Port Washington Branch Shuttle
The LIRR has been providing shuttle service between Penn Station and Flushing-Main Street Station on the Port Washington Branch. This service is scheduled through the weekend of January 26 - 27, but could be extended by weather conditions.
The shuttle service is in support of NYC Transit 7 Line customers who will be impacted by infrastructure work that requires the suspension of their service. Normal Port Washington Branch weekend train schedules will be maintained throughout the project.
The shuttle trains will operate approximately every fifteen minutes in both directions beginning at 5 AM on Saturday through 1 AM on Sunday, and again at 5 AM on Sunday through 1 AM on Monday on the affected weekends. The shuttle will stop at Penn Station, Woodside and Flushing MainStreet. LIRR and NYC Transit personnel will be on hand at all affected stations to assist transferring customers. There is no charge for the shuttle service.

New Voices
Have you heard the familiar voices talking about watching the gap and cell phone manners on your LIRR station loudspeaker? While the new voices may seem out of place, we hope they are getting your attention. Some well-known media personalities are now helping to carry our important customer-related messages. As part of the LIRR's continuing efforts to improve safety and courtesy, CNBC's Maria Bartiromo, NBC's Al Roker and 1010 WINS' Juliet Papa donated their time and talent to record the messages that are being broadcast over the public address systems at Penn Station and line stations.

Syosset Platform Community Forum
A proposal to extend the platform at Syosset Station in an effort to reduce the size of the gap between trains and the platform will be discussed at a community forum at Syosset High School (70 Southwoods Road/Syosset) on the evening of February 13. LIRR officials will be available for discussion starting at 6 PM, with a presentation of the proposal, which calls for extending the existing platform up to 600 feet to the east, scheduled for 7 PM. Customers and residents are invited to attend and comment.

Discount for St. John's Hoops
College basketball fans, especially St. John's fans, can save money on select tickets to their upcoming games at Madison Square Garden with Pittsburgh (Wednesday, January 23), Georgetown (Wednesday, January 30), Villanova (Saturday, February 16), Marquette (Wednesday, February 20) and West Virginia (Saturday, March 8). Just mention the code "LIRR" at the time of purchase to receive up to 50% savings on game tickets. Customers are limited to eight (8) tickets per order and the offer is not valid on previously purchased tickets. Phone and internet sales are subject to Ticketmaster service charges.
So get busy buying your tickets ... and supporting The Red Storm.

Mail&Ride On The Web
Mail&Ride provides convenient, automatic home delivery of your monthly ticket. Payments can be automatically charged to your credit card, or deducted from a checking account. Subscribers save 2% on the price of a monthly ticket, and as much as 5% when adding an unlimited MetroCard. What's more, customers are automatically entered into our Free Monthly Ticket Sweepstakes.
To enjoy the convenience, save money on tickets and possibly be a winner, visit the LIRR homepage.

Coffee cups, napkins ... some old succotash
The Post ... a pastrami on rye.
Items that should have been dropped in the trash
One scratches one's head and asks, "Why?"
A bottle of beer rolls under your seat
It drips ... it caroms ... it clatters -
Crossing the aisle, its trip complete
When it strikes the wall and shatters.
Perfect.
Please take your stuff when you get off -
To those who do, our hats we doff.
And Best Wishes for the New Year.

On-Time Monthly Performance

BRANCH	AM Peak	PM Peak	Off- Peak	Total December 2007	Total December 2006
Babylon	92.6	94.2	96.2	94.9	93.2
Far Rockaway	95.0	96.1	99.0	98.2	97.4
Hicksville/Huntington	96.3	85.4	92.6	92.2	93.8
Hempstead	95.9	92.2	98.1	97.2	96.2
Long Beach	97.9	93.6	97.3	96.9	96.6
Montauk	93.1	90.0	93.1	92.3	93.6
Oyster Bay	97.1	87.5	92.1	92.3	93.8
Port Jefferson	91.9	91.4	88.7	89.5	93.2
Port Washington	92.5	95.0	96.4	95.7	96.0
95.3	92.3	91.6	92.3	92.3	93.3
West Hempstead	97.0	95.0	97.4	97.0	97.0
TOTAL	94.5	91.8	95.1	94.6	94.8

TrainTalk Archive