TrainTalk ~ A Publication for MTA Long Island Rail Road Customers ~ April 2008

The Queens Interlocking - A Smoother Ride
The Queens InterlockingA smoother and quicker ride is on the way for customers using our Main Line ... but the track and switch work that are going to provide it will impact our service this summer. This construction project will modernize and reconfigure our switch and signal system between Queens Village and Bellerose, realigning tracks and allowing trains to switch from one track to another over a longer, smoother stretch.
The result will be less rocking as your train passes through this essential section of our track system, while maintaining an optimum speed. Quicker ... smoother ... who could ask for more?
Well, our Engineering Department.
They insisted that the new system also have a longer lifespan, which means that the new tracks and switches will do a better job of standing up to the tests of time and heavy use. And that means fewer impacts on your service in the future. When the work has been completed (in September) you will have a smoother ride while passing through this important part of the Railroad's system, and we will be able to increase both our capacity and train speed in the area. We thank you in advance for your patience during this project. Service details will be provided in May.


WiFi Waiting Room

Have a few minutes before your next train leaves? Want to spend some time on your laptop doing something constructive? Well you're in luck, because the Customer Waiting Room at Penn Station now has wireless access to the Internet. Part of an effort to enhance our customer communications, the new network access can accommodate up to 250 users at one time.


Port Jefferson Track Work

Starting Monday, April 21, important track work will require that buses replace some mid-day weekday trains that operate between Huntington and Port Jefferson. Both local and express buses will be provided for customers, providing either localized service to the affected stations, or express service. See the LIRR website for more information.


Take The Train To The Game

Mets fans will be LIRR fans after they see this offer! When you call to buy tickets ... just say "LIRR" and you can save $10 on Mezzanine Reserved and Upper Box tickets; or $5 on Upper Reserved tickets.
More details are available on the Mets website. Look under Tickets, Special Ticket Offers: "Take the Train to the Game" offer.


New Restrooms in Penn

New Restrooms in PennLIRR President Helena Williams is moving forward with renovation plans for our Penn Station restrooms, a $4.5 million project scheduled to get under way this summer. Among the highlights of the redesign are an expanded ladies room and a complete overhaul of the heating and ventilation systems for both restrooms. "Our customers deserve clean and well-kept accommodations at Penn Station and our restroom facilities are clearly in need of updating," said Williams. "If the riding public can bear with us during reconstruction, we promise major improvements and a maintenance program that ensures their comfort."
The work is scheduled to begin in July and is to be carried out in four phases with the new men's room opening by November. The completion of the larger ladies' room is expected in May 2009. During construction, the restroom facilities will remain open, but with fewer stalls and sinks available.


Customer Service Moves

The design of our new restrooms requires some additional space for the expansion of the Ladies' Room. So, on May 1, the Penn Station Customer Service office will be moving from its current location next to the restrooms, to a new spot around the corner and down the Connecting Concourse ... look for it near the entrance to One Penn Plaza. This temporary home will serve you until a new space can be developed and prepared in the Main Gate area.


Belmont Park Service

Belmont Park ServiceTally-Ho ... the 2008 Spring Racing season begins on Wednesday, April 30 and runs through Sunday, July 20. With special "Belmont Package" tickets ($11 round-trip from New York and Flatbush), the LIRR is one of the best ways to get to the track. These special tickets are required for travel to Belmont Park. Savvy customers avoid higher onboard fares by purchasing their tickets in advance ... leaving some extra cash to put down on their favorite pick of the day.


Courtesy Matters
The BeTrainSmart Campaign ...
It's in Phase 4!
Asking that you
Get yourself to the door
In a timely fashion,
With a moment to spare ...
And then exit in safety
Alert ... and aware.
Don't dawdle and fiddle.
Don't procrastinate.
Your Sudoku solution?
You know it can wait ...
Your train door is closing
Don't get there too late.


On-Time Monthly Performance
Our On Time Performance was 94.4% for the month of March ... our lowest monthly OTP thus far this year.

BRANCH AM
Peak
PM
Peak
Off-
Peak
Total
March
2008
Total
March
2007
Babylon 95.8 92.9 95.2 95.0 93.3
Far Rockaway 96.5 94.2 97.4 97.0 97.4
Hicksville/Huntington 93.7 89.8 93.8 93.3 93.4
Hempstead 99.1 93.1 95.4 95.6 96.6
Long Beach 94.4 93.5 95.3 94.9 93.9
Montauk 89.9 91.8 93.5 93.0 92.6
Oyster Bay 93.9 89.7 92.8 92.6 93.3
Port Jefferson 92.9 91.2 90.3 90.8 92.9
Port Washington 94.4 96.0 95.1 95.1 97.9
Greenport/Ronkonkoma 90.5 92.4 93.2 92.6 89.2
West Hempstead 95.2 96.0 97.8 97.2 97.9
TOTAL
94.4 93.0 94.7 94.4 94.3

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