Long Island Rail Road [LIRR]
reviews and complaints

As has been the experience of many people, my commute has been negatively impacted by the recent change in schedule of the LIRR. I now have to get an earlier train to Long Island from Brooklyn, an inconvenience to begin with, and I also have to run across the platform to get a connecting train at Jamaica, a further inconvenience. This morning, I took the 7:19 train from Atlantic to Jamaica, and then had to wait 15 minutes for the train to Far Rockaway, which arrived late. There was much confusion on the platform, because the track number kept changing for the train to Far Rockaway.

Please consider amending the schedule so that commuters are not forced to run across the platform to make connecting trains at Jamaica, and if there is a delay, please ensure that LIRR employees make up-to-date and accurate announcements so that commuters, who rely on the LIRR to get to work on time, can rest assured that their morning commute will go as smoothly as possible. Thank you.

I commute 3 times a week on LIRR trains from Flushing Main Street to Princeton, New Jersey for my work. It used to take about 2 hours each way. Now it takes at least 2 1/2 hours.

Before the LIRR schedule change in late February, my 7:44 AM train went from Flushing to Penn station. After the schedule change, this train goes to Grand Central Station, forcing me to change trains at Woodside and I miss my connecting New Jersey transit train at 7;14am to Princeton, so I must take the 7:56 AM train or get up at 5 AM to take an earlier LIRR train that does go direct to Penn station.

So now I can only arrive after 9:30 AM at my office now. A disaster for me that may result in termination of my contract.

Since the roll out of the grand central trains the service to Penn station has been unsatisfactory. The morning train from New Hyde Park at 707 is full in the mornings and there are no seats. We then have to transfer at Jamaica where we wait 5-7 minutes for a train on an inconsistent track while 3 grand central trains pass by.

At Jamaica we see 2 other trains stop and let out passengers to go to Penn station as well.

I don’t know why the Penn station trains have been reduced and affecting the time we get to work. This was a smooth ride before the changes. Why can’t you offer an empty train to wait at Jamaica to help with the all the passengers that get off and make it easier for us to get to the city instead of waiting 5-7 minutes or more.

The LIRR schedule change is still terrible and wreaking havoc on lives. Before the change, I had (Port Jeff to Atlantic Terminal) three trains in the morning and three in the evening with firm connections that would wait if the first train was late. Now, in the morning I run to get the "connection" and it may or may not be there, and if it is there, it waits and leaves 10 minutes later. I have no idea what time I will get to work daily, and my boss is getting upset! It's worse getting home. In the PM, the Brooklyn shuttle is so overcrowded (yesterday I feared for my safety on that train) there is standing room only. And it was 4 minutes late; missed my "connection" and had to wait 40-45 minutes for another Port Jeff Train. Even if the shuttle is on time, there are so many people and it takes so long to get up the stairs with the crowds that I may not make the connection even if it is on time. Please give us firm and established transfers/connections that we can rely on and will wait for the connecting trains

I’m complaining about the issue with getting a train for Atlantic Terminal from Jamaica. This incident happened Tuesday, March 14, 2023.The Atlantic Terminal train was scheduled to leave Jamaica at 7:00PM. First they told was the train was canceled. Then after that, one of the conductors told us they didn’t have any crew for the 7PM train. We went on the train that was scheduled for 7:12PM, then they decided to use that train for the 7:00PM instead. We got an old train (9907) that had seen better days and could hardly function. The doors had issues closing and at one point I thought the train was going to die on the tracks! I am disappointed and disgusted by the poor performance of the LIRR and the nasty treatment that is given to the people who need to travel to Brooklyn. This has got to stop! We deserve decent and clean trains that can function properly! We deserve to be treated equally!

Since the new schedule launched on 2/27/23, my commute has gotten significantly worse. I travel from Bethpage to Penn Station. Before the pandemic, I had to get the 7:01am train, which was nice since it was a more express train/less crowded, but since return to office and the leniency of office start times, I have been able to get on the 7:58am instead, which also was more of an express train with less people. I always sat in the same seat with the same people around me, everyone comfortably seated with no standers, middle seats open in between the three-seat rows.

Now I have to choose between the 7:24am or 8:17am for a direct to Penn (which is a MASSIVE TIME GAP for peak morning commute). Or else I can take a 7:41am, which is a Grand Central line, transfer at Jamaica for Penn, which I absolutely want to avoid given all of the Jamaica station issues and overcrowding concerns.

I have opted for the 8:17am (which I'm thankful I'm not expected to be at my desk before 9am anymore, or else I would have to have chosen the 7:24am and be in the office well before start time), but this train is packed, with less cars, people standing in the aisles, and people sitting in middle seats. It's really unfortunate that my commute was so pleasant and even enjoyable in the morning on the 7:58am, but now I have no choice but to take a later train, sit/stand much less comfortably, and hustle a bit faster from Penn to the office so I'm not unreasonably late.

I know the LIRR needs to accommodate the masses and people are going to need to adjust, but I think taking away Penn Station peak trains, especially when statistically it's showing 70% of LIRR riders are still choosing Penn vs. Grand Central, is not the right call. And shortening the car length of trains just adds for crowded chaos and unhappy riders who are paying a ton of money each year to take really long commutes to and from the office every day.

I have been commuting LIRR from Long Island to Brooklyn Atlantic Terminal for the past 15 yrs and was always able to deal with schedule changes.

The new schedule from Ronkonkoma to Jamaica is inefficient and commuters like I am very difficult time to get to work by 8:15am to downtown Manhattan or Brooklyn Metrotech. either 30minutes too early 30 minutes late.

The transfer need to move from Track 1 to track 11. People are pushing, shoving, screaming and shouting because the train is always late and crowded. 

Why is it that the West Hempstead line, when connecting at Jamaica to and from Penn Station is always at risk for the connecting train not have to wait?
The passengers do not make up the train schedules, nor do they cause any delays on the connecting train... This is solely under the jurisdiction of the LIRR.
With that said, why isn't the LIRR more ac countable to ensuring that all connecting trains are operating in sync on time.
Instead of having passengers such as myself have to wait at Jamaica over almost an hour for the next train. Remember the is the job of the LIRR not that of the passenger. This is the service we pay for.

Since the new February 27th schedule changes, I have seen, for the first time in my 34 year LIRR commuting career, very dangerous conditions aboard the LIRR trains. When you cut the schedule of rush hour trains, and on top of that these trains have less cars, you create a nightmare crowding scenario for the loyal riders of the LIRR. The 7:38am train from Little Neck is now a local train. This train has heavy ridership and after Main Street Flushing, everyone is standing. I have seen people standing in the bathroom to alleviate the crowding! Unbelievable and very dangerous. Is this what you are expected to do for over $200 a month for a ticket. Will it really take a major injury or possibly a death to fix this dangerous condition? I hope by now the MTA realizes that Grand Central ridership is not nearly as preferred as Penn station still is to daily commuters. Bring back the old schedules and let's make this human experiment safer again. A disaster is just around the corner with this crowding arrangement the LIRR has created and I do not believe anybody wants to see that happen. More frequent trains = a safer ride. PERIOD. When people are seated, it is safer.

I have been commuting LIRR for the past 14 yrs and was always able to deal with schedule changes.

The new schedule from Wyandanch to Jamaica is inefficient and commuters from DP and Wyandanch are having a very difficult time to get to work by 8am to downtown Manhattan or Brooklyn Metrotech. The 6:13am is too early and 6:50am is a bit late and the other trains do not stop there.

The new schedule has 5-6 training stopping at Jamaica from 7:26 - 7:40am which is horrible and needs to be change immediately. Commuters going to Atlantic terminal (AT) do not have any options but the 7:36am which has been late 6-10mins every day and very crowded. People are pushing, shoving, screaming and shouting because the train is always late and crowded.

The 7:36am train from W.Hemp should be either arrive on time or come in earlier.

The 7:27am train on track 11 used to wait for commuters but now it does not wait. Please change that to 7:30am.

Since February 27th, I have experienced longer train travel to an from work. There are significantly less trains going to Atlantic terminal and they are extremely overcrowded in the mornings. I used to have a direct train from Baldwin to Atlantic in the morning with a 40-47 minute travel. Now, my travel is well over an hour and I have no seat. This is completely unacceptable. I pay $277 dollars a month for a round trip ticket to fights for seats or get crammed into train cars while traveling to and from work. LIRR needs to do better. If this continues, I am considering changing my commute to driving to Brooklyn. I expect better.

Sun, Mar 12th 9:24PM

The Grand Central Station schedule has completely upset and disturbed riders living in Queens. It appears residents living in Kew Gardens and Forest Hills are forgotten. Residents rely on LIRR trains to take them to Forest Hills and Woodside. We no longer have those services. Also, the trains only stop at Kew Gardens every hour! That is such a disservice to us! Please allow LIRR trains to run more frequently and stop at Forest Hills and Woodside. This is a complete disaster.

March 12, 2023.

For the past two days, each train has been honking like a maniac when passing through Woodside Station. All day long and at night too with no regards for people.

As if it was a single honk.. but no, some drivers seem to love making noise.

I have been living in Woodside for almost a year and it’s the first time something like this happens.

People sleep at night and rest on weekends and it’s become impossible to do so.

Thank you.

Good morning all I am an active driver/ contractor for CTG, the company staff Nasim, Kumar and Fatty don’t care about drivers nor the customers. MTA pays these Russian MOBSTERS a lots of money to pay the driver’s the keep all the money in they pocket. They charge $1.00 for each job, $1.25 that the driver collected and also there’s a 25% deduction from your check every week for commissions plus an extra unexplained deduction every week. They use to pay $5.00 for A NO SHOW. Now they pay $2.75 they kept the rest when I asked about it fatty told me that they going to start taking the money from us when we sleep like it was just a joke. Also they pay the drivers like we were cab service when we doing MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR MTA. Over all I give CORPORATIONS TRANSPORTATION GROUP (CTG) A -1 star because all they care about is money. There’s a bunch of Russian and Indian working there who doesn’t even speak English and also they Do NOT HAVE A TLC LICENSE CUSTOMERS TOLD ME ALL THE TIME WHY DO I HAVE MY TLC LICENSE VISIBLE. I TOLD THEM IT IS TLC LAW AND RULES ALL DRIVER MUST HAVE THEY LICENSE VISIBLE AND SHOULD NEVER DENIED SHOWING IT TO CUSTOMERS IF THEY NEED THE INFORMATION. CTG HAVE THESE DRIVERS TRAIN IN THEY OFFICE AND PASS THE TEST FOR THEM,SOME OF THEM WORK UNDER OTHER DRIVERS LICENSE.

The old schedule allowed for firm and established connections where trains would wait. Now riders have no idea if they will make their connections. We need firm and established connections where trains will wait.

Also there are many many more people going to Brooklyn than Grand Central. Please adjust.

The shuttle to Atlantic is making people late for work and also missing trains going home, so waiting in Jamaica for 45 minutes in evening. People have important appointments and family matters to take care of. We need to know a train will wait for us.

Also, we used to just walk across the platform to make connections from at Jamaica from AT to points east. Now it's a marathon. Not everyone can do this.

Please bring back the old schedule and add a few connections to GC.

LIRR is not a subway. We pay a lot of money for this service.

Those in charge completely overestimated how many commuters would want to be diverted to Grand Central. Not only did they revise the schedule but they took away cars! During commuting hours! Now they've added back the cars but trains getting into/out of Penn are still fewer than what it used to be. Standing room only most of the time. For $11BILLION?! And decades LATE? AND they want to raise fares?!?!?!

I wish to complain about the recent train schedule modification that started on 2/27/2023.

Ever since this change has occurred, my door-to-door time to work and home has increased by a minimum of 45 minutes to over 1 hour per day.

The quality of service has decreased too. There are no longer any trains on the Babylon line directly to Brooklyn - all passengers to and from Brooklyn must now change at Jamaica. Below are a list of items I wish to complain about since this schedule has been implemented:

1- This change is troublesome for me. I am 65 and nearing retirement. I must now either climb stairs at the west end of Jamaica that go from tracks 2/3 to 11/12, or else take an elevator which is inconveniently located at the wrong end of the Jamaica platforms in comparison to where the trains let out at Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. If elevators are used, you must walk the entire length of the platform at either Jamaica or Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn.

2- Additionally, the 6:08 train from Jamaica to Brooklyn has left Jamaica late (more than 6 minutes) numerous times. Today (3/9/23) it left at 6:15 and yesterday left Jamaica late (6:17) and arrived at Atlantic Avenue over 9 minutes late. Since I need to arrive at work by 7 AM this is forcing me to use the subway to recover the time which is $2.75 each time I use it.

3- But perhaps the most inconvenient thing of all is the return trip in the afternoon. I have been taking the 3:21 train out of Atlantic Avenue and at Jamaica transferring to a Babylon train that next arrives. To date, I have not been able to sit on the connecting train to Babylon yet. Sometimes I either stand the entire train ride to Massapequa, or at a minimum stand until Bellmore or so and can then sit in a vacated seat. I have also taken the train that leaves Brooklyn at 4 PM, and the seat availability at Brooklyn at that time is even worse for Brooklyn commuters who change trains at Jamaica.

My complain is that this new change is very unfair to commuters like myself who commute to Brooklyn. You must either increase the frequency of the trains to provide more seats to Brooklyn-bound commuters on the LIRR, or else add more cars to existing trains (increase the # of cars from 8 to 10 mor more) or best yet, restore some of the trains that used to run from Brooklyn to Babylon. A 3rd possibility is to offer a lower fare to compensate for the fact that subways must now be used to compensate for lost time that is resulting a greater daily expenses for communting via the LIRR.

I am paying $277 for a monthly LIRR pass that so far for service that is now inferior to what is was prior to this change on 2/27/2023.

I have heard there have been changes already implemented since 2/27/2023, but I really have not seen improved to these things I have listed.

Please try to improve this situation. A 33/34/33% availability of Babylon trains going to Atlantic Avenue/Penn Station/and Grand Cwentral Terminal would be fair to Brooklyn bound commuters that probably will not disturb the effeciancy of the other 2 destination points in NYC (Penn Station/Grand Central), but help Brooklyn bound commuters tremendously.

My goal at age 65 is to complete working the next 20 months (~10/2024) then retire with full social Security Security benefits, then try and retire. It would be very nice to reduce the commuting time to what it was before and to be able to have a seat on the LIRR during this remaining time.

Thank you for your consideration.

James Colquhoun

How could you have eliminated the 10:11 and 11:11 from the PW schedule! Those are perfect times for the theatre crowds, which incidentally, are on the west side. No need to go to Grand Central.

Today I'll have to take the 10:17 which I'll probably miss, and therefore have to wait an hour for the11:17. Yes I can get on the Ronkonkoma train and change at Woodside, but that means waiting at least 15 minutes in the rain, dark and the cold on an unprotected platform in a sleazy neighborhood.

This was really a change that showed no thought or awareness.

barbara.[protected]@gmail.com

My husband is a daily commuter and has been for over 25 years. Nearing retirement age, in the last year he has been diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis and takes daily meds as well as bi-weekly shots to ease his pain.

In the past, he would get off a train in Jamaica and walk across the platform to meet his connecting train, now he has to zip up and down stairs to get to a different platform with sometimes only 2-3 minutes to catch his connection.

Your new scheduling regarding transfers at Jamaica are not only unrealistic but irresponsible. Not all your commuters are in their 20's or run marathon. Shame on you.

The recently changed train schedules has been a major disruption to people like me that go to Ronkonkoma. Theres only a 5:04p direct and a 5:59p direct. So if you get off at 5p and be near Penn, you’re now waiting over 45min for the next train. Or deal with a transfer which may or may not be on time for the connection.

The Grand Central line only offers 1 train direct to Ronkonkoma which is a 5:39p, the only other train is a transfer at 5:59p. Needless to say they really screwed those going to Ronkonkoma. Not sure why but Brentwood is being accommodated well! There are a few options at least to Brentwood. I noticed there’s a 5:35p that goes all the way east to Brentwood (2 stops away) and heads back to NYC! What is the meaning of that? Makes no sense. Grand Central only offers ONE direct train at 5:39p after 5p! The other 1 train is at 5:59p and a transfer.

They are an abusive monopoly.