Two Trains Added, One Train to Operate 16 Minutes Earlier to Close Gaps in Service
Changes Go Into Effect March 17
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) today announced two new trains and a schedule adjustment to another on the Oyster Bay branch that will go into effect Monday, March 17. One eastbound and one westbound train will be added to the schedule and an eastbound train will depart Penn Station 16 minutes earlier, reducing a gap in nighttime service.
The extra trains will also be a boon to customers who need to get home from Manhattan after seeing a Broadway Show, dining with friends and family, and attending concerts and sporting events.
These changes are in addition to the new LIRR timetables that launched on Monday, March 3, and run through Sunday, May 18.
“The best way to create an amazing customer experience is to provide reliable, convenient, and frequent service to our customers,” said Long Island Rail Road President Rob Free. “These new trains create more travel opportunities for people to experience all that Long Island and NYC have to offer in the evening.”
“Running trains more frequently is always a good thing,” said Representative Tom Suozzi. “We need to keep pushing to decrease travel times and increase frequency for Long Islanders traveling to and from New York City.”
“I am very pleased to learn about these improvements to service on the Oyster Bay branch,” said Assembly Member Charles D. Lavine. “I thank LIRR president Rob Free for his leadership and ongoing commitment to make things better for North Shore riders.”
Beginning on Monday, March 17, the following service changes will be implemented:
Evening Eastbound Service
The 10:58 p.m. train from Penn Station to Oyster Bay will depart 16 minutes earlier at 10:42 p.m. and arrive at Oyster Bay at 12:09 a.m.
A new train will depart Penn Station at 11:17 p.m., arriving Oyster Bay at 12:44 a.m.
The added train combined with the earlier departure time of the other closes the current 79-minute gap in current Oyster Bay service.
Evening Westbound Service
A new train will depart Oyster Bay at 7:09 p.m. arriving at Penn Station at 8:35 p.m.
This additional train cuts the current 2-hour 24-minute gap in Oyster Bay service by more than half.
In September 2024 the LIRR – for the first time in its history – doubled the number of morning trains that run from Oyster Bay directly to Penn Station.