Long Island Rail Road [LIRR]
reviews and complaints

On Thursday, May 26, my daughter had an appointment in NYC at 3:30pm and I chose to go with her to make a day of it. After looking at the pdf of the train schedule the evening before, we choose to take the 1pm train from Kings Park to arrive at Penn Station in enough time to get us to the appointment.

We arrive to the Kings Park station, park the car and purchase two R/T Off Peak tickets ($57). As we make our way to the platform, a gentleman asks if we were planning on taking the train. When we respond that we were, he informs us that there is track work and the train is not running until later and that we can drive to Huntington to catch the train. By this time, we had around 20 minutes to catch the 1:18pm train or almost 25 minutes to catch the 1:23pm train. We get in the car and drive, hoping to make it on time.

I drop my daughter off and she gets on the train, and I park my car, run to the machine to pay for parking ($10) as an out-of-town guest, run up the stairs and actually make it to the train with seconds to spare before it pulls out of the station. Luckily, the train left a few minutes late!

I would like to suggest that a pop-up message is presented on your website with any track/train issues as if I had realized this issue, I would have either chosen an earlier train or driven to Huntington on my accord.

I ride the Long Island Railroad from Farmingdale with a final destination of Woodside. Since the pandemic there have been trains that have been eliminated. Now that the trains are busier LIRR has not brought back all trains. i take a 6:08 train in the morning that is consistently late which causes me to miss the transfer at Jamaica. I am then stuck there for another 20 minutes causing me to be late for work. There used to be a 6 AM train that started in Farmingdale. Demand is there to bring that back but LIRR has refused to do so. I have complained about this late running train numerous time to no avail. They have a 5:06 and a 5:12 train that are both empty. There is no reason they can't have the 6:00 and the 6:08 since the demand for those trains is back now.

Can someone tell me who changed the oyster bay evening train to 6:21. This is ridiculous. The line already doesn’t have enough trains. I get off work at 5:30 so I can’t make the 5:33 and instead of scheduling the next train earlier you schedule it later and then the train after that is only 15 minutes later. The LIRR wants people to ride the trains but then you have terrible schedules.

On Monday, May 9, 2022, I went to the ticket booth to buy a pack of 10-peak trips. The saleswoman asked me to confirm Peak or Off-Peak. I told her I wanted Peak tickets for work. At 7:24 am, the saleswoman sold me a pack. On my way to the train, I noticed I had an off-peak 10-trip ticket instead of a peak ticket that I told the saleswoman. So I ran back to the ticket booth and asked to exchange peak tickets. Instead, the old saleswoman handed me a Form “Application for Ticket Refund" and asked me to fill the form and mail it for a refund. I was upset and brought a 10-trip peak ticket from one of the vending machines outside the ticket office area at 7:27 am to catch the train at 7:29 am to Atlantic Terminal.

After reaching the Atlantic Terminal, I went to the ticket booth and was told the saleswoman in Babylon could exchange the off-peak to peak within 30 minutes. She didn’t do her job.

As an LIRR regular customer, I’m very disappointed with the old lady’s service and have a concern about her mental issue, unsure she can handle her job.

This is the second time I missed my stop. The first time was two weeks ago on 4/8 at 4:18 pm when I took the train from Stony Brook to Huntington and then was supposed to arrive at Mineola at 5:40. Guess what? I was blocked by people trying to get in. When I finally get to the door, it closed in front of me. The whole process is less than ONE minute! The MTA should feel lucky because my dad hasn’t been waiting for me at the Mineola station and I luckily can get off at Jamaica and take the bus home.

Ok, let’s say it was my mistake not to wait at the door. Let’s talk about my experience today. Yes, I took the 4:18 to 5:40 again on 4/22/2022. Yes, it is the stupidest thing I’ve ever done this week. I was really nervous along the road, so I waited at the door when there was 2 minutes left. Ok, I successfully get off at Huntington. Not bad, huh? So I got on the other train that heads to Mineola. I waited at the door. THEN THE DOOR OF MY CARRIAGE DID NOT OPEN! How stupid is this! I went to ask the trainman about the door and he said “it is opening in the other cars, but now is too late.” ? Excuse me? LIRR? You open your train doors according to your mood? Am I gonna guess whether you are happy or not? My dad was waiting. When he called he was pissed off and he thought it was my problem that I can’t get off AGAIN. I am mad as hell because they then charged me 4 more dollars for their problem. It was RIDICULOUS!

So the LIRR caused me to waste $4 on a trip I was not intended to get and $5.5 for taking bus twice. Also the two tickets cost me $15. The total is $24.5 that was wasted on it. That is the refund they should give me.

4/22/2022 booked a pick with Aar for a pick up for 708am that person never came could get through Aar at all the line was busy busy busy this went on for about 2hrs now I'm late i been making complaints from march till now Aar needs to do better a lot of handicap and disabled people need this services but the being left in the cold with one number to reach some at Aar there should be secondary number so they going tell all these people that booked trip with [sorry] they done miss there appointment's they had to take cab so now we/ me need our money back but before that we/ us / me have to get an authorization number to get back our money. So i ask if you pay in cash the cab do not have a paper receipt to show Aar so again what do we/me do? . Then the driver is still trying to get paid when they a no show

My stop with my grandson last night @ 1150pm,we were getting off at Oakdale when the door closed on us .the doors locked within 30 seconds from the train stopping at the station. Next stop was sayville were I had to take uber to get back to Oakdale. @ 1230 am

So not right this is unacceptable!

The conductor needs to give each train stop more t han 30 seconds to openand close this could have been a tragedy in itself this meeds to be addressed and corrected immediately. I have heard this issue happen many tims times before!

The train door did not open to exit for the Sayville stop as intended 12:04am tonight 4/15/22. We had to get off at the next stop, Patchogue, which is miles east from our destination (Sayville) with no ride or no car. We hit the emergency button to alert the conductor as it was clear the door would not be opening but all she had to say was “Patchogue is 5 minutes away”- sure on the train but not in terms of finding a ride and getting to our original destination. I would like you to refund my ticket. Really inconvenient and ridiculous. The conductor was 0 help and we were just out of luck. Never experienced this before in 20 years of riding. Awful.

lIRR,

I speak for many local residents, we are very concerned and disrupted with the train sitting idle all night. This is a mental health, environmental, ethical standards of operating concern. I will be petitioning local legislature with resident signatures to request LIRR to turn engines off during the night. This is a duplicate complaint.

Why are trains running when not in use?

Please do not provide another meaningless explanation. We live here.

Sincerely

Michael

On 4/5/22 on the East bound long beach line . My ticket went to lynbrook and closed my eyes a minute and doors at lynbrook closed I had to go to centre Ave . The conductor a Big man 6-1 400 lbs forced me to pay 1.00$ to go from lynbrook to centre Ave and then tells another passenger I do this every day. I do not ride the train every day and for one stop your conductor was scary large man asking for a dollar . Really one stop I’m sorry this man should be given a write up or something . I have been riding the LIRR for over 20 years and NEVER was embarrassed like this . I will be forwarding this to the News day so your conductors don’t harass other people

My family just moved into Wainscott and live on Greenleaf Lane 500 feet from the narrow lane crossing

I am writing to make you aware of the arbitrary and reckless way the conductors are using the horns as they pass through the crossing on our lane.

It is bad enough that the horns are blaring all day and evening but there are two issues that must be resolved.

The first is the blasting of the horn in the middle of the night at two or three or four in the morning. This is unacceptable and it is clear that no one is driving or on the tracks at that time so there is no safety issue requiring this massive loud and erratic horn blowing.

In fact all that horn blowing has meant nothing because in terms of warning by the conductor because in November of last year my dog ran out of our yard chasing a deer amd was cut in half by the eastbound train.

The conductor also smashed the deer our dog was chasing who is left on the tracks along with my beheaded dog.

One of the big issue is that the way the horn is indiscriminately blasted at all hours of the night. It is unacceptable and it makes us sleep deprived because we can’t sleep through the night.

The second easily fixable issue is the erratic and differing ways in which each conductor hits the horn.

There should be a specific pattern and length of each horn and a iron clad protocol with a preset horn pattern every time.

The horns are usually blasted between four and eight times when passing our crossing all in differing lengths of time.

This is an easily fixable issue and I think one that would make everyone who lives by a train crossing much happier.

Why can’t they work out a specific pattern and duration so that each conductor has the same horn pattern and also the residents around these crossings at least know what to expect each time.

Please get back to me and let me know what can be done about this matter because ever since we moved in to Wainscott last October it is literally been hell with the horns.

We need there was a train and that noise it manageable and fine.

Hello

I’m currently in LIRR from Jamaica to hempseed train that board at 7:06 from track 8 in jamaica 28th of march. I’m a middle eastern police officer and I showed my ID to conductor and he was mad disrespectful and said we don’t let police officers go like that. I explained him that I been doing this every day and he said “Not today when I’m here” he was purely racist and he said it out loud that police officers don’t matter. Made me buy ticket and left. He is white chubby old man about in his late 50s

Extremely disappointed

We as an police officers do so much to safe people and this is how we been treated.

In January, I bought a two-way ticket from Ronkonkoma to Jamaica to take a flight departing from JFK. The normal duration of the trip is one hour and involves taking one train only.

On my way back from the airport, I found out that I was expected to take three trains, with an expected duration of over 2 hours, including time waiting at the stations in freezing temperatures — that after a long flight from Spain. So, I decided to take a Lyft instead and never used my ticket to go back home.

I called MTA to explain the situation and requested a refund for the $11 of that ticket. They said that, after a $10 cancellation fee, it would come down to $1. I refused that offer and contacted my credit card issuer (Apple Card, Goldman Sachs) to contest the charge. They appealed for the $22 charge (even though I only requested $11) and eventually won — they let me know that the issue had been resolved in my favor.

On March 18th, I opened the MTA ETix app on my phone, only to discover that it had been blocked due to "irregular activity." Upon contacting MTA, they mentioned that I needed to pay $22 in order to restore my account. In other words, they are holding my account hostage and asking for the money they agreed to return to my back as ransom. This is completely unacceptable behavior from MTA.

I’m on the 8:56pm LIRR train from Penn to Babylon. The ticket collector, after me questioning her, about our mask mandate did not follow up with passengers who objected or ignored the law in full view of me. I understand who challenging this is but it just her job to challenge riders who disobey the law, attemp to revolve the situation or escalate to law enforcement. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO ADDRESS. A lame announcement was made mentioning the mask requirement which did NOTHING. We’re all tired of COVID but LIRR staff are obligated to do their jobs not ignore.

Hi this is kk

I am with mta lirr for five years

The train timings and not good we have to stand in the cold and you don't open the waiting rooms

You charge us mone y for the train and

We should not expect basic things on the bathroom

Do u want any person to freeze in the cold

Let me know improve yor service

You r bad

6:34 am Babylon Train on Friday February 18th, 2022.

Yesterday morning there was a homeless man smoking in the cart my mom and I were traveling in. He kept yelling at the passengers that he needed money. When he was ignored, he started coughing and blowing his nose in the air. There was no conductor in sight or anyone to help. I have always felt safe on the LIRR until now. This is the second time something similar happens to me on a train. A few weeks ago, a man spit on a female passenger and got out on the next stop. Trains need to be better monitored. Thank you for your time.

I have filed several complaints about the total lack of snow removal and I was erroneously informed by the LIRR that the overpass and stairs at 167th Street between Depot and Station Road at the Broadway on the Port Washinton line was the city's responsibility. Upon speaking with the city I was told all underpasses and overpasses is your property. Today the east side platform and stairs werea sheet of ice.

This is not at all a complaint! LIRR conductor Mike Badamo ibm # 51089, went above and beyond to help me retrieve extremely confidential work documents that I left on the LIRR. I would have otherwise lost my job if it wasn't retrieved, he literally saved my livelihood at Christmas. He refused a gift or compensation and I don't know how else to thank him.

Really nasty conductor on December 15, 2021 I took the 7:10 or 7: 14 pm somewhere around that time, Babylon NY train back to Jamaica "which is my stop" but heading Penn station train... He looked at me and said, you have a senior citizen ticket... Who the hell cares. A friend given me that ticket to use... Without even letting me explain. He charged me 3.00 and top that was not even nice enough to give me the receipt, the guy is a low life... This is the second or third time with this same guy... People are tired from work... That low life should learn how to respect people's money and ride/ on December 16th 2021 I was threatened by this same conductor a ticket I was using a friend no longer was using he screamed at me and threatened stating that I have been traced and he will put me in jail for this. Please set this guy straight, he literally not only embarrassed me in front of the other customers but did. Liayen just threatened me, I have been traced.

Riding on the Ronkankoma line after work and the cars were full of people drinking and reveling with open containers. The attendants just ignore. Most of the passengers were not wearing masks and most seemed to be part of the same group.

After work, this is the last thing I want to deal with. This isn't the first time I've seen open containers of alcohol on the train. I would not be surprised if this lead to trouble at some point.