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Summer’s Almost Here - Extra Service for Memorial Day
Memorial Day is almost here and with it the unofficial start of the summer season. Many LIRR customer thoughts will turn to the beach and to the East End.  Memorial Day weekend marks the start of the LIRR’s additional service to the Hamptons, Montauk and Greenport.We’ll be adding eight additional holiday eve trains departing Penn Station between 2:08 PM and 3:48 PM on Friday, May 25 for those desiring to start the holiday a bit earlier. There will be three additional trains on the Babylon and Port Jefferson Branches, one additional train on the Port Washington Branch and one additional train on the Far Rockaway Branch. 

We will also provide a 1:45 PM train from Penn to Jamaica with a Montauk connection. The 3:58 PM train from Penn to Jamaica connects to the Cannonball. The LIRR will offer the North Fork Wine Train again this year as part of a continuing effort to support the local economy. On summer Fridays, the Railroad will offer a selection of Long Island wines by-the-glass on Greenport-bound trains. This effort to promote the North Fork Wine Region was established in partnership with the Long Island Wine Council and the North Fork Promotion Council. Don’t forget the LIRR’s 12 discounted Beach Getaways and special “Summer Getaways” that begin on the holiday weekend. For further summer service details please consult the LIRR website or get a copy of the May 14-September 3 branch timetables available at stations and terminals.

 

Ahoy Sailors and Landlubbers!
There’s a one-of-a-kind LIRR Getaway Package available only during the Memorial Day Holiday weekend that’s great for high seas adventurers or anyone wanting to be one. The LIRR Greenport Tall Ships Package not only gets you to the action without the hassle of parking, but saves you $10! On Long Island for the first time, on Saturday and Sunday, May 26 and May 27, the Tall Ships Challenge Race comes to Greenport. 

The extraordinary sailing vessels participating in this event will travel from Georgia to Greenport to Rhode Island, and then on to Halifax, Nova Scotia. This year’s Tall Ship Challenge commemorates the War of 1812 bicentennial. The LIRR Tall Ships Package includes round trip rail to/from Greenport and a discounted Tall Ships admission ticket. Ticket holders gain admission to the historic vessels and get to meet crew members. Entertainment, exhibits and displays will enhance the festive atmosphere in the Village of Greenport during this special weekend event.

 

Weekend Overnight Alcohol Ban
Beginning the weekend of May 18-19 the Long Island Rail Road will initiate a pilot program banning alcoholic beverages on our property between midnight and 5 AM Friday night and Saturday night. The ban includes all trains operating during those overnight hours as well as LIRR platforms at Penn Station, Jamaica and at all other stations. MTA Police will enforce this restriction, which is being implemented to maintain orderly travel for our customers. Please pass the word along to relatives and friends who may use the trains on weekends. Thank you for your cooperation.

 

Ronkonkoma Track Work
A reminder to Ronkonkoma Branch mid-day customers.  A track tie replacement program will affect some customers on 12 trains (6 eastbound and
6 westbound) weekdays through June 22.  Between approximately 9 AM and 3 PM each day eastbound customers will board buses at Brentwood station for Central Islip and Ronkonkoma stations.  Travel time will increase by about 19 minutes. Westbound customers will board buses at Central Islip and Ronkonkoma stations up to 19 minutes earlier than normal and transfer to trains at Brentwood to complete their trips. Eastbound mid-day customers traveling to stations east of Ronkonkoma will board express buses at Brentwood or Central Islip for stations Medford through Greenport. Westbound mid-day customers from stations east of Ronkonkoma will board their regular trains at their stations and transfer to buses at Ronkonkoma then transfer to trains at Hicksville to complete their trips.  Expect additional travel time in both directions. For further details consult the LIRR website or the May 14-July 22, 2012 Ronkonkoma Branch timetable.

 

Meet The Managers
There’s another opportunity for railroad customers to meet the managers who help to run the LIRR.  Meet The Managers will take place on May 22, between 4 PM and 7 PM at Penn Station’s 34th Street Concourse area.  This time the focus will be on the Oyster Bay, Port Jefferson and Ronkonkoma Branches.  We look forward to your input.

 

Commuters Council Event
LIRR customers can meet the members of the Long Island Rail Road Commuters Council (LIRRCC) on June 5, 4 PM – 7 PM, at Penn Station in the main gate area.  The LIRRCC is the official customer advocacy organization for railroad riders.  Say hello to council members at this event and discuss your LIRR experiences with them.

 

OTP
April overall on-time-performance was 95.74%. 

Monthly OTP BRANCH	AM Peak	PM Peak	Off- Peak	Total April 2012	Total April 2011
Babylon	97.8%	87.9%	96.3%	95.3%	96.4%
Far Rockaway	97.8%	92.6%	98.7%	97.9%	98.1%
Hicksville/Huntington	95.6%	86.7%	94.9%	93.9%	95.2%
Hempstead	99.5%	91.5%	98.5%	97.8%	98.0%
Long Beach	98.3%	94.3%	96.9%	96.8%	98.0%
Montauk	92.9%	88.1%	92.8%	92.3%	90.1%
Oyster Bay	98.6%	92.1%	97.8%	97.1%	97.9%
Port Jefferson	94.6%	89.8%	95.0%	94.2%	92.0%
Port Washington	98.7%	95.0%	97.7%	97.4%	96.4%
Ronkonkoma/Greenport	89.7%	96.6%	94.7%	94.0%	94.1%
West Hempstead	99.1%	93.7%	98.7%	97.8%	97.5%
TOTAL	96.4%	91.5%	96.4%	95.7%	95.9%

 

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