New Schedule Starts Monday - June 16
It might not make your Summer Reading List, but the new schedule that goes into effect next Monday (June 16), which includes the many changes required for this summer's track work, is a "must read."
The most important of these programs is the Queens Interlocking Switch and Signal Improvements Project, which will impact our service and schedules between June 16 and September 1. During this period, we will upgrade our switch technology at a track point between Queens Village and Bellerose, installing state-of-the art technology and switches in this essential section of the Railroad.
While this work will result in a smoother ride and fewer maintenance-related track outages, it will also involve significant schedule changes as the work is being conducted. They will include AM and PM Peak train cancellations on the Hempstead, Port Jefferson and Ronkonkoma branches - and schedule adjustments throughout the system.
In order to assist you in navigating and adapting to these changes, we have developed a brochure that is designed to provide both an explanation of the work being done and an overview of its impact on service ... including for our reverse commuters.
We strongly encourage you to review this brochure. It is available on our website ... as well as in printed format (PDF) at stations and terminals around the system.
As always, if you have any questions, please call our Public Affairs Office at 718-558-8228 ... our staff will be happy to assist you.
Special Note: the Hempstead Branch will be shut down over the weekend of June 21-22. Buses will replace all trains between Hempstead and Jamaica.

Chairman's Safety Award & E.H. Harriman Award
For employee safety achievements, the LIRR received the Chairman's Sustained Achievement in Safety Award, while the Maintenance of Equipment Department was awarded the MTA's Outstanding Group Safety Award. In addition, the LIRR received an E.H. Harriman Memorial Awards Institute Certificate of Commendation for the most improved employee accident rate (down 13%) in its railroad class. Last year, the Railroad was awarded the Harriman Award Bronze Medal in recognition of safety performance. The LIRR reached this milestone while serving a record number of customers, 86.1 million, and achieving record on time performance levels.
On the passenger safety side, the LIRR has been awarded two bronze Best of Long Island (BOLI) certificates of excellence by the Long Island Advertising Club for its "Be TrainSmart" safety campaign. This informational campaign focuses on reminding LIRR customers to be careful of the gap between trains and platforms and to allow customers to exit trains before getting aboard. Other "Be TrainSmart" safety campaign messages center on the proper use of escalators, child safety, train door safety and grade crossing safety. "I am extremely proud of these awards. A safe work environment requires a continuous conscientious effort by LIRR employees, as these awards show," said LIRR President Helena Williams. "A safe environment for our customers goes hand-in-hand with employee safety."

July 4th Weekend Getaway Trains
This year the Railroad will be providing extra getaway service on the afternoon of Thursday, July 3rd in order to help our customers get started on their Independence Day holiday.
The added getaway service will consist of eight extra holiday eve trains, including three trains on the Babylon Branch; three trains on the Port Jefferson Branch; one train on the Port Washington Branch; and one train on the Far Rockaway Branch. Please check your schedule for details.
We will also be providing an additional express train from Penn Station to Jamaica at 3:58 PM that will allow customers to connect with the Cannonball.

Bus Connections at Hicksville
Until further notice, apparent structural damage has closed the Town of Oyster Bay parking garage at the LIRR's Hicksville Station. If a lack of parking presents a problem for you, we suggest that you review your options by visiting Take LI Bus to the LIRR. LI Bus offers a safe and reliable travel alternative to driving ... and this page will provide you with the options that are available.

Beach Packages
The LIRR's season of summer discounted beach package tickets to Jones Beach, Long Beach and Fire Island has begun, and four new packages have been added this year. Go to 2008 Long Island Beach Packages to learn all about the Kismet/Fire Island Lighthouse, the Cherry Grove and Fire Island Pines, and the Davis Park packages we're offering. Our beaches are as diverse as our customers ... just choose the beach that's best for you ...and we'll get you there.

The Subway Series June 27/28/29
Segment 2 of the Subway Series will be conducted on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 27/28/29. While both of the teams are struggling to live up to our high expectations, the heat and excitement generated when the Yanks and the Mets square off is still there. And this year we will have the novelty (once again) of a home-and-home, same-day, double-header! We'll be adding service to try to get everybody there on time. Check our website for the details. Please note: the Shea Stadium Station is not wheelchair accessible.

Let's talk about purses n clutches n such
Attaches, luggage and sacks ...
Items that often occupy seats
Instead of the overhead racks.
Folks ... dear friends ... the Railroad's riders
We ask that you lend us a hand.
Your carry-ons simply can't have a seat
While other customers stand.
Courtesy dictates and manners require
That your cargo go down with your feet ...
Or up in the racks, perhaps on your lap
But never on somebody's seat.
Thanks.

Monthly OTP
May's OTP of 95.96% was the best-ever for the month of May in 30 years of record keeping ... beating the old record of 95.35% set in 2002.

BRANCH	AM Peak	PM Peak	Off- Peak	Total May 2008	Total May 2007
Babylon	97.7	95.7	95.4	95.8	94.4
Far Rockaway	97.4	98.9	97.7	97.8	97.3
Hicksville/Huntington	99.1	93.2	95.3	95.6	94.1
Hempstead	97.4	97.9	96.6	96.8	97.0
Long Beach	97.2	98.7	97.3	97.4	95.4
Montauk	97.0	94.6	95.1	95.3	94.3
Oyster Bay	97.3	94.4	95.8	95.8	92.4
Port Jefferson	98.8	90.5	91.5	92.6	93.5
Port Washington	94.7	97.0	95.7	95.7	92.9
Greenport/Ronkonkoma	97.6	95.9	93.7	94.7	91.9
West Hempstead	95.2	100.0	98.6	98.4	96.4
TOTAL	97.3	96.1	95.7	96.0	94.4

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