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LIRR To Run Extra Trains For New Year’s

Posted by
on December 29th, 2009 at 4:44 pm

Just a few minutes ago, the Long Island Rail Road sent me a press release to talk about their service plans for New Year’s Eve & Day. The agency will be providing extra service on both days along with off peak fares. Here are the complete details:

The MTA Long Island Rail Road will provide additional trains to and from Penn Station for the New Year’s holiday. The extra service includes 13 additional eastbound afternoon trains on New Year’s Eve, Thursday, December 31; 18 additional westbound evening trains on New Year’s Eve and 14 additional eastbound trains from Penn Station on New Year’s Day, Friday, January 1.

Off-peak fares will be in effect for the entire weekend (January 1-January 3). The deeply discounted Family Fare Program will also be in effect this long weekend where up to four children ages 5-11 can ride off-peak trains for the advance purchase fare of 75-cents per child each way from 12 noon when accompanied by fare-paying parent or guardian. Weekly and monthly ticket holders just pay for the kids. Children under 5 ride free.

As in prior years, alcohol will not be allowed on LIRR trains, stations and platforms from 12 noon on New Year’s Eve, December 31 2009 through 12 noon on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2010. MTA Police will enforce this restriction and confiscate any alcohol brought onto trains, station and platforms.

The 13 additional early afternoon eastbound trains (from Penn Station) on New Year’s Eve are as follows:

Thursday, December 31, New Year’s Eve:

Eastbound (12:55 PM-3:48 PM)

Ronkonkoma Branch:

• 12:55 PM stopping at Woodside, Jamaica, Mineola, Hicksville and all stops to Ronkonkoma.

• 1:58 PM stopping at Woodside, Jamaica, Mineola, Hicksville and all stops to Ronkonkoma.

====

Babylon Branch:

• 1:30 PM express to Rockville Centre, then all stops to Babylon.

• 1:53 PM stopping at Jamaica, Rockville Centre, then all stops to Babylon.

• 2:12 PM express to Rockville Centre, then all stops to Babylon.

• 2:22 PM express to Lynbrook, then all stops to Babylon.

• 3:00 PM stopping at Jamaica, Rockville Centre, then all stops to Babylon.

• 3:31 PM express to Rockville Centre, then all stops to Babylon.

====

Port Jefferson Branch (to Huntington):

• 2:09 PM stopping at Jamaica, Carle Place, then all stops to Huntington.

• 2:26 PM stopping at Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Jamaica, New Hyde Park, then all stops to Huntington.

• 3:24 PM stopping at Jamaica, Mineola, Westbury and Hicksville.

====

Port Washington Branch (to Great Neck):

• 3:40 PM stopping at Woodside, Flushing-Main Street, then all stops to Great Neck.

====

Far Rockaway Branch:

• 3:48 PM stopping at Locust Manor, Laurelton, Rosedale, Valley Stream, then all stops to Far Rockaway.

The 5:59 PM from Penn Station to Babylon will not operate on New Year’s Eve. Customers will be accommodated by the 6:05 PM from Penn Station, which will make all stops from Merrick to Babylon on New Year’s Eve.

_____________

The 18 additional evening westbound trains (to Penn Station) on New Year’s Eve are as follows:

Thursday, December 31, New Year’s Eve

Westbound (4:55 PM-8:39 PM)

Port Jefferson Branch:

• Leave Huntington at 4:55 PM, stopping at Cold Spring Harbor, Syosset, Hicksville, Jamaica and Penn Station.

• Leave Hicksville at 6:59 PM, making all stops to Jamaica and Penn Station.

• Leave Port Jefferson at 7:10 PM, making all stops to Huntington, then Hicksville, Jamaica and Penn Station

• Leave Hicksville at 7:33 PM, making all stops to Jamaica, then Penn Station.

• Leave Huntington at 7:35 PM, making all stops to Jamaica, then Penn Station.

• Leave Huntington at 8:25 PM, making all stops to Jamaica, then Penn Station.

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Babylon Branch:

• Leave Babylon at 6:23 PM, making all stops to Rockville Centre, then Jamaica and Penn Station.

• Leave Freeport at 7:24 PM, stopping at Baldwin, Rockville Centre, then Jamaica and Penn Station.

• Leave Babylon at 8:03 PM, making all stops to Rockville Centre, then Jamaica and Penn Station.

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Montauk Branch:

• Leave Speonk at 8:30 PM, making all stops to Babylon, then Jamaica and Penn Station.

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Port Washington Branch:

• Leave Great Neck at 7:07 PM, making all stops to Woodside, then Penn Station.

• Leave Port Washington at 8:36 PM, making all stops to Woodside, then Penn Station.

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Long Beach Branch:

• Leave Long Beach at 5:57 PM, making all stops to Lynbrook, Valley Stream, then Jamaica and Penn Station.

• Leave Long Beach at 7:23 PM, making all stops to Lynbrook, Valley Stream, then Jamaica and Penn Station.

• Leave Long Beach at 8:14 PM, making all stops to Lynbrook, Valley Stream, then Jamaica and Penn Station.

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Hempstead Branch:

• Leave Hempstead at 6:48 PM, making all stops to Jamaica, then Penn Station.

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Ronkonkoma Branch:

• Leave Ronkonkoma at 7:42 PM, making all stops to Wyandanch, then Farmingdale, Bethpage, Hicksville, Mineola, Jamaica, then Penn Station.

• Leave Ronkonkoma at 8:39 PM, making all stops to Wyandanch, then Farmingdale, Bethpage, Hicksville, Mineola, Jamaica, then Penn Station.

_____________

The 14 additional eastbound trains (from Penn Station) on New Year’s Day are as follows:

Friday, January 1, New Year’s Day:

Eastbound (12:42 AM-4:17 AM)

Port Washington Branch:

• 12:42 AM stopping at Woodside, Flushing-Main St., then all stops to Port Washington.

• 2:19 AM stopping at Woodside, Flushing-Main St., then all stops to Port Washington.

• 4:19 AM stopping at Woodside, Flushing-Main St., then all stops to Port Washington.

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Long Beach Branch:

• 2:44 AM stopping at Jamaica, Valley Stream, Lynbrook, then all stops to Long Beach.

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Ronkonkoma Branch:

• 12:45 AM stopping at Jamaica, Mineola, Hicksville, then all stops to Ronkonkoma.

• 2:03 AM stopping at Jamaica, Mineola, Hicksville, then all stops to Ronkonkoma.

• 3:54 AM stopping at Jamaica, Mineola, Hicksville, then all stops to Ronkonkoma.

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Port Jefferson Branch:

• 2:14 AM stopping at Jamaica, New Hyde Park, then all stops to Huntington.

• 3:12 AM stopping at Jamaica, New Hyde Park, then all stops to Port Jefferson.

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Babylon Branch:

• 1:11 AM stopping at Jamaica, Lynbrook, then all stops to Babylon.

• 2:11 AM stopping at Jamaica, Lynbrook, then all stops to Babylon.

• 2:59 AM stopping at Jamaica, Lynbrook, then all stops to Babylon.

• 3:29 AM stopping at Jamaica, Lynbrook, then all stops to Babylon.

====

Montauk Branch:

• 1:29 AM stopping at Jamaica, Rockville Centre, then all stops to Speonk.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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MTA NYCT New Year’s Eve Service Info

Posted by
on December 29th, 2009 at 3:37 pm

Within the past 5 minutes, MTA New York City Transit sent out a press release to talk about their plans for New Year’s Eve service. Here are the complete details:

MTA New York City Transit is the best way for revelers to Times Square to ring in the New Year and go home afterwards. Customers will not have to wait long for trains, as we will have additional service on all subway lines in and around Times Square; these trains will run every 6-12 minutes until approximately 3 a.m.

Customers heading to Times Square for the celebration should avoid using the Times Square-42nd Street complex, since they may not be allowed to exit onto the street. In addition, 1NR trains will begin bypassing the 50th Street and 49th Street stations from as early as 7:00 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. Customers are advised to use stations along 34th Street, 57th Street and 59th Street to get to Times Square.

As an added convenience, most part-time station entrances will remain open during the events. Also, the 42nd Street S shuttle will operate all night. While we do not recommend revelers using buses to get to Times Square due to numerous closed streets, additional buses will be put into service in the area, where possible, after the event.

A much smaller New Year’s Eve celebration is planned in Prospect Park in Brooklyn. The Grand Army Plaza 23 station is the closest station to this event.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Service Diversions 12-24

Posted by
on December 24th, 2009 at 7:32 pm

I just updated the “Service Diversions” page with the latest plans scheduled for this weekend & following week (beyond in some cases). I suggest you print out a copy to carry with you or access the page directly from your portable device while out traveling. May all of you have safe travels during the holiday season. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!

xoxo Transit Blogger

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NYCT Testing Real Time Info Boards On The 6

Posted by
on December 24th, 2009 at 6:12 pm

NYCT Arrival BoardNewly installed PA/CIS Board at the 143rd Street-St. Mary’s Street station. Photo courtesy of MTA New York City Transit.

Earlier this morning, MTA New York City Transit issued a press release to officially announce they are testing real time info boards (PA/CIS) at several Bronx stations on the 6 Train. Here are the complete details:

Real-time train arrival messages are now available in five stations along the Pelham 6 Line in the Bronx. Though still in the initial testing phase, this marks an important milestone in the effort to provide MTA New York City Transit’s subway customers with up-to-date travel information employing 21st Century technology. This is a major component of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s effort to substantially upgrade customer communications across its entire network.

Designed to take the guesswork out of waiting for a train, the Public Address Customer Information Screen (PA/CIS) provides train arrival messages in audio and video. The messages indicate when the next two trains are due to arrive at the station and their destinations.

“Based on information provided by the subway’s electronic monitoring system, these signs are extremely flexible and customer friendly,” explained NYC Transit President Thomas F. Prendergast. “Our customers have long been accustomed to having to guess when the next train will arrive and, of course, we are well aware of the complaints about poor quality public address systems in the subway. With this system we are taking a quantum leap forward in customer communications and the information we are offering.”

Aside from train arrivals, the system also allows NYC Transit to provide both audio and visual messages to customers, keeping them fully informed about service delays or emergency situations. The system will be rolled out incrementally throughout the next year with 152 stations on the numbered lines operational by the first quarter of 2011. PA/CIS was first introduced along the Canarsie L line in January 2007.

The information distributed through the PA/CIS system originates from NYC Transit’s Rail Control Center (RCC). From the RCC, Customer Service Agents provide subway customers with service status and other information either as audio only, visual only, or as synchronized audio and visual information.

The messaging equipment is now operational in the Brook Avenue, Cypress Avenue, E.143rd Street-St. Mary’s Street, E. 149th Street and Longwood Avenue Stations. The system includes signs and speakers which are located on the platforms and in the fare control areas prior to entering the station.

This is one of many long overdue technological upgrades needed for our aging system. For a system which is the most diverse & important in the entire world, it sure is light years behind others in terms of technological advances. While in many cases comparing the NYC system to any other is like comparing apples with oranges, technology is usually one of the rare areas where the comparison is equal.

Hopefully the test pilot program is a success but make no mistake about it, more needs to be done & in a timely manner. Anything else should be considered unacceptable.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Extra LIRR Service For Christmas Holiday

Posted by
on December 24th, 2009 at 10:50 am

I apologize for not posting this yesterday when I initially received the press release. As to be expected, the Long Island Rail Road is providing extra service & off peak fares for the Christmas holiday weekend. Here are the complete details:

The MTA Long Island Rail Road wishes its customers a safe, joyous and stress-free holiday season. Toward that end, the LIRR is offering an economical and convenient alternative to car travel this coming Christmas Holiday weekend by providing extra trains and discount fares.

Thirteen extra trains will depart Penn Station on Christmas Eve (Thursday, December 24) between 12:55 PM and 3:49 PM, and off-peak fares will be in effect for the entire weekend (December 25 through December 27). The deeply discounted Family Fare program will also be in effect throughout the weekend; up to four children ages 5-11 can ride off-peak trains for the advance purchase fare of 75-cents per child each way when accompanied by a fare-paying parent or guardian. Weekly and monthly ticket holders just pay for the kids. Children under 5 ride always ride free on the LIRR.

Following is the extra service for Thursday, December 24:

Ronkonkoma Branch:

• 12:55 PM stopping at Woodside, Jamaica, Mineola, Hicksville and all stops to Ronkonkoma

• 1:58 PM stopping at Woodside, Jamaica, Mineola, Hicksville and all stops to Ronkonkoma

—-

Babylon Branch:

• 1:30 PM express to Rockville Centre, then all stops to Babylon

• 1:53 PM stopping at Jamaica, Rockville Centre, then all stops to Babylon

• 2:12 PM express to Rockville Centre, then all stops to Babylon

• 2:22 PM express to Lynbrook, then all stops to Babylon

• 3:00 PM stopping at Jamaica, Rockville Centre, then all stops to Babylon

• 3:31 PM express to Rockville Centre, then all stops to Babylon

• The 5:59 PM from Penn Station to Babylon will not operate on Christmas Eve. Customers will be accommodated by the 6:05 PM from Penn Station, which will make all stops from Merrick to Babylon on Christmas Eve.

—-

Port Jefferson Branch (to Huntington):

• 2:09 PM stopping at Jamaica, Carle Place, then all stops to Huntington

• 2:26 PM stopping at Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Jamaica, New Hyde Park, then all stops to Huntington

• 3:24 PM stopping at Jamaica, Mineola, Westbury, Hicksville

—-

Port Washington Branch (to Great Neck):

• 3:40 PM stopping at Woodside, Flushing, then all stops to Great Neck

—-

Far Rockaway Branch:

• 3:48 PM stopping at Locust Manor, Laurelton, Rosedale, Valley Stream, then all stops to Far Rockaway

—-

The LIRR will operate on a weekend/holiday schedule Christmas Day (Friday, December 25).

xoxo Transit Blogger

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