Long Island Rail Road [LIRR]
reviews and complaints

Appallingly disorganized and careless service on the 12:20AM train from Penn to Ronkonkoma the morning of 9/8 (which was already running late).

As we pull into Jamaica, the conductor suddenly announces that the train will be terminated and passengers must get off. Our tickets were already punched with no mention of any changes. Loudspeaker instructions were chaotic and unclear. "If you're going to Ronkonkoma, take the 1:15 train to Babylon instead, then the 2:00am to Hempstead, and then take a shuttle to Hickville..." Everyone was confused, but rushed off anyway. Why didn't conductors tell us service was cancelled before punching our tickets? Or was it news to them as well? Why do you not inform passengers that their $9 tickets are basically invalid? Either way, there were clearly severe lapses in professionalism.

My stop (Mineola) was local, and I had no idea where to go, who to ask, how to get there. Train crew already disappeared and went into hiding. There was chaos on the platforms. I heard an announcement, "Mineola track 7, " and immediately jumped onto that train as the doors were closing. Only to learn from a kind passenger on board that it was going a completely different route (Locust Manor) and the train AFTER was headed to Mineola. The conductor on this new train then informs me that service to Mineola was actually cancelled altogether due to construction. Wow, who knew! I'd have to stop at the closest station by transferring again (at Valley Stream) to another line, West Hempstead. And then just hitchhike at 1am to Mineola I guess, because there was no shuttle service, taxis, or anything at that hour. Alternatively, I could wait another four hours at the crack of dawn for the next train back to Jamaica.

I manage to transfer to the West Hempstead train (now 1am) and ask the conductor on train#3 whats going on. "Nah, this is going to West Hempstead not Mineola" I told him my train was cancelled. He says, "oh yea, I heard about that. I don't know. I don't know how far it is from Mineola. Oh well. I mean, do you have a smart phone?" I told him my phone was at 1% and the train outlets weren't charging. "Oh you're charging it? Okay." And he walks away.

Mind you, at this hour trains are empty, stations are desolate, and it's a creepy time (especially for a young female like me) to be stranded. No one cares, though. how foolish and naive of me to expect otherwise, even as a paying customer at that.

I got off at the West Hempstead line and noticed I was indeed the only passenger left on the train. I was searching for an outlet, anything to keep me plugged in at the desolate station while I waited for my ride. Two crew members walked out of the station office, out of uniform. I asked if there was a place I could charge my phone as I was at 1% and stranded. One completely ignored me, the other told me no. Conductor soon joins them as they all get in their cars to head home. How nice!

There were so many levels of miscommunication, and the careless attitudes of the train crew were just unacceptable. If service was disrupted, passengers must be informed before they board, before their are tickets punched. Crew shouldn't rush customers off the train without making sure the routes home were understood. It's even more imperative to do this at off-peak hours, past midnight.

Also, the trains are filthy. Totally not worth the $9. none of it I want a refund at the very least

This is crazy. The 4:19 Babylon train out of Jamaica is packed and people are standing everywhere. The train conductor refuses to open up the last two empty cars. When your a monthly ticket holder this is ridiculous! Open the cars. Not only is this a safety concern it's just not right. I pay for my monthly tickets. There's a few LIRR workers very comfortable sitting down enjoying their free ride!

Hello,
I'm a researcher at SBU and I was going home today. Then I took the train at 7:46pm for Port Jeff at Stony Brook. I got on the train with a white girl. And around me were several white people. But the train officer came directly to me and asked only for me to provide tickets. I gave it to him, of course. But he didn't ask anybody else for tickets. I felt humiliated and I totally feel it's because of my dark skin. He was rude and didn't say thank you nor any polite words.

I caught the train at last minute. I had my senior round trip in my ticket wallet on my phone. When I tried to open it and activate my ticket reception was spotty. I asked the female conductor if she could wait for two minutes or come back at the end of her route but she refused. She kept insisting that I would pay for a ticket no matter how many times I had explained that I already purchased tickets and if she's willing to wait until we're out of the tunnel I'll show it to her. She kept yelling and humiliated me in front of the other passengers until I had no choice but to give her the last of my cash so she would leave me alone.
I have proof of when I purchased my electronic tickets and I have a paper receipt of the $15 dollars ticket she bullied me into buying. Later on before I left the train I caught up to her and wanted to show her my electronic tickets but she dismissed me and when I asked for her name she refused.
Senior citizens round trip ticket cost $12, 50 and one way ticket on the train costs $15.
I would like to know if the Long Island Railroaded condones bullying of her customers and if you don't as I don't think you do imagine the limited funds a senior citizen lives on and you might find it in your heart to refund me the fee of that ticket.

On August 13, 2019 the 3:43 am stop at Auburndale going to Penn Station stopped but the doors never opened. The conductor was not seen indicating the waiting passengers to move forward to a different car with open doors. The train left leaving several stranded passengers heading to work. This action had force the passenger to pay for a cab into the city since we are unable to be late for work.
This has been my first experience since riding the LIRR in 10 yrs. Not a pleasant start for a day.
Ms Luquis
202-17 36 th Ave
Bayside, NY 11361
[protected]

This is EXTREMELY disappointing and disgusting that LIRR treats their customers like this. No regard for our personal lives. After waiting over a half hour for the 5:22pm to Far Rockaway a automated voice pops up and says the train is canceled. You off no shuttle, no Alternative service but we paying customers are suppose to wait hours to get home to OUR FAMILIES and OTHER LIFE DUTIES, and just except this unprofessional display or horrible service! I am disgusted and am actually thinking of making the media aware of your disservice. This happens too often. And then you have three express trains just pass by without stopping. Your company is a disgusting display of a conglomerate that does NOT care about it's consumers!

I live in Baldwin. Over a year ago there was construction that resulted in quite a few trains being canceled and therefore combined with other trains. We were told that trains would be put back into place once construction was completed, however that has not happened. We used to have a 7:48 AM and a 7:56 AM train, now we have a 7:51 only. That train is excessively crowded and we have to stand most mornings. The train before 7:32 AM is also very crowded. And last but not least, if you do not get the 7:00 AM train, you're left waiting for over a half hour. Given the amount of money we pay to use the LIRR, we should not be inconvenienced like this. I have connected with 135 riders who have signed a petition and if necessary we will start highlighting to the news!

Maintenance workers were cleaning and cutting grss at the station and I was thinking finally they will take of overgrown weeds I have to fight with every morning and maybe they will clean the waing area section but for some reason it was not done not sure why
When the new work was done with the fence it was very nice and looks like it is 100 years old and I don't know why homeless seem to always be there
This morning they were sleeping on the platform not even in the waiting area as usual

A male conductor with longish grey hair spoke and acted in a manner that is unbecoming and inappropriate for an employee that represents the LIRR. He was rude, impatient, appeared frustrated, and lacked any sort of personality to be dealing with that many people on a daily basis. As a daily LIRR patron making the 1 hr commute for 23 years, and spending over $85, 000 doing so, it was probably the worst I've encountered yet and just not expected nor needed. I'm still in awe that someone like this can represent you. He was disrespectful, and chewing gum madly to boot!

August 5th, 2019
12:56PM LIRR train from Valley Stream to Atlantic Terminal.

An individual showed the conductor his receipt for his ticket. It initially appeared as if he was new to taking the LIRR. The conductor said "TICKETS" in a dragged, reluctant, demeanor. I showed him my monthly ticket from Valley Stream to Penn Station. Then he gave me the other rectangular ticket on top of the seat to mark that he has seen my ticket already. When the individual across from me showed the conductor his receipt, the conductor stated with an attitude, "That is not a ticket". So the individual said, "you can see that I bought it. The conductor stated that, "that is still not a ticket". So the conductor asked me to show him my ticket, which I did. Then, the conductor stated that my ticket was a ticket, and for the individual across from me to have it ready. Then, the conductor left. (We are still headed to Rosedale Station). After the conductor left, the individual asked me to help him find his ticket. So I asked him to show me his etix app. The ticket was already in his wallet. So, I just activated the ticket for him and he said "thank you." So I said, "no problem." After Rosedale station, the conductor came back and asked to see his ticket. The individual across from me showed him his activated ticket. Then, the conductor told me, "I need to see yours again". So I looked at him very confused because I ride the LIRR everyday, and I know the standard procedure. Tickets are not shown to the conductor more than once if they have already seen it before Jamaica. Then after Jamaica, all tickets are always shown one more time. So with this knowledge in my head, I told him, "I showed it to you already". By the time I said, "showed", he had already said "I need to see it again". So I followed instructions, and I showed him my monthly ticket, again. After this, he looked at the individual across from me, then looked back at me, and kept moving. That was when I knew that he thought I had given the stranger across from me access to my ticket in some way. I believe that the conductor treated us like this because me and the individual access from me are both African Americans, and the conductor himself was Caucasian. I understand that he was probably suspicious, but I strongly believe that had it been two individuals of his own race, he would not have acted the way he did today. There are many different ways to speak to people. He could have said, "I'm sorry sir, but I can't accept that as your ticket. I do see that you bought it 5 minutes ago though so I'm sure you have it. If you open up your etix app, I can help you activate it if you need assistance." The conductor could have said something along those lines, but he did not. I felt the need to complain because this is the first time I have received this type of treatment from a LIRR crew member. All of the other crew members are respectful, cheerful, helpful, considerate, understanding, and/or cool. The other conductors also do not profile individuals. This conductor was the exact opposite, and he should be given consequences for not doing his job correctly as a LIRR crew member. He was about 5'7, and he looked middle aged. As we were pulling in to Jamaica station, the same individual across from me asked me if this was Jamaica station. So I told him yes, and he said thanks.

Your ticket inspector on the 6:11 train to penn station express train is a fat white raciest cracker. He picks me out to see if I have my ticket or not but let's the white people keep sleeping he also called the police on me I want him fired he's a fat white racist and if no actions are taken I will sue.he didn't check anybody else's tickets only focused on me. Every morning his fat [censored] waits to see if I have my ticket or not next time I'm punching his white [censored] in his face

The Lirr and police need to do a better job policing the waiting rooms which unsavory people use for their motel rooms.
They sleep and urinate in them. Thank you Lirr for renovation at Wantagh station for over 18 months of inconvenience to give these people a new place to sleep. Thank you
Nassau county and Town of Hempstead for my 15k in taxes which i pay so i can see
that crap at 7:30 am when i am heading to nyc to earn a living . Thank you Lirr for the 300* a month ticket where if i needed wanted to sit i wouldnt because who knows what i could catch after these people are laying all over the benches Thanks to our broken heathcare system that millions of people have scammed for 50+ years taking $$ from
people who really deserve it

The caucasian elderly woman with a short red bob that collects tickets was very rude to me and my friend after I asked her for a bill, but then she said that "We dont do that anymore because 'PEOPLE LIKE YOU' take advantage of it, so you have to get off at woodside. When we approached the Woodside stop, we were trying to explain to her that my friends mother was sending him money for a ticket for me to get home. After my friend's mother said she was sending the money to him, the ticket collector then proceeded to snatch his credit card out of his hand very disrespectfully. Of course if you send money, it takes a about 1-2 minutes to show up into the account, but she immediately forced us off the train whilst calling both of us out of our names (freeloading thugs). I understand how the LIRR works, I take it almost everyday and purchase 10 trips frequently. I have never experienced such a low level of professionalism on the LIRR. The ticket collectors are usually very respectful and nowhere near prejudice or even racist.

Placed my travel bag with many important papers and electronics on edge of sink to flush toilet. As I flushed toilet, water spewed from faucet of sink filling up my bag with water destroying all my belongings. Some were important papers for medical coverage that needs to be in before the 1st giving me only one day to resolve this nightmare. There should be some kind of warning On sink about unexpected water because you guys have sincerely ruined my day.

A Long Island rail road conductor was very disrespectful .i bought a ticket on the Etix app and showed him and he said I had bought an off peak one and I was suppose to buy peak which he did not tell me and he saw as I was buying the ticket which I said you should have told me it was peak he proceeded to say you didn't ask me in a nasty voice and threatened to kick me off the train for no reason .i feel very disrespected as a city employee and as a person he should be fired he was rude to all passengers aboard the 6:57 am Atlantic terminal train on July 30, 2019

The ticket kiosks at the Oceanside Train Station have display screens that are extremely hard to see, especially on a sunny day. The screens seem to be so old as to be worn out.

2 suggestions:

1. Replace the screens with newer/brighter ones.

2. Install a ticket kiosk inside the waiting room so it will be out of the direct sun.

Paul Tringali
3366 Weidner Ave
Oceanside, NY 11572
[protected]@gmail.com

Today is July 28, 2019 was waiting for Premier Para Transit supposedly vehicle number TBD was what the recording said. The appointment pick up time with them was 8:46 AM to go to 267 Bayridge ave in Brooklyn N.Y. for a 10:30 A.M. appointment. The ride never showed up, I called access a ride several times and waited outside, I was told they have a window of half hour to arrive, I waited and called again 9:16 AM, was told by Access A Ride that the vehicle could not be located or any response from the driver, I waited again till I had no recourse to just not go to my appointment today. I think this is very unprofessional, if the driver is having a problem he should send some type of communication to access a ride for the customer. After all the waiting beyond my time and his allotment time I never was told what happened or was convenienced with another ride. Totally unprofessional and I dont know what kind of a business they are running for disabled people.

This complaint is being filed on behalf of my disabled daughter Capricia Robinson ID 672433 who utilizes Acesss A Ride services. There has been excessive delays in picking her up. Today july 26th. Capricia's trip was cancelled by broker service. Taxi license AB321. Broker service arrived @ 2:15 PM for a scheduled pick up of 2:32 PM. at her Day Program. Trip was cancelled by broker prior to scheduled pick up time. With all the confusion Access A Ride scheduled another pickup which arrived @ 4:31 PM a two hour delay. Later the same evening Capricia was scheduled for a 7:13 PM to return to my home in Brooklyn. Trip was again cancelled. Access A Ride could not give an explanation as to who cancelled the trip. Upon speaking with a Supervisor Michelle @ approximately 7:40 PM she insisted it was an online cancellation. There is no online account. Capricia could have not cancelled appointment as she has no access to a cell phone. I was informed another vehicle would not be sent being she is home. Capricia comes to my home Friday nights due to her disability she cannot remain in her home alone without assistance. Broker service is causing a nightmare for my family. If you review Capricia's account you will note excessive delays with broker services. This jeopardizes her participation with her Day Program as they close the facility @ 2:30 PM. Capricia's PCA has grown tired of these situations and seek employment elsewhere.
Jacqueline Robinson
[protected]

Every time there is a game at William point- Mets station. There is no control towards loud and drunk people throwing beer on floors and caboose. With the amount of money LIRR charges they should put a safer aspect of security or police on trains during games . I got stray with beer because the drunk passenger was unable to hold his beer can. My suit got wet with beer and not to say how rude this passenger acted.

The 6:02 from Penn deleted 1 minute early today with people on the platform and the doors closed. There is terrible rain today and everyone is trying to get home, but stick to the schedule. The subways are delayed with all the flooding and power issues. To see people on the platform and pull out early, is just uncalled for given all the costs that commuters pay.