Long Island Rail Road [LIRR]
reviews and complaints

4/30/19 I was not only cut off but was break checked by an access a ride driver Bus # 5134 MVP. License plate number BA-9666. I was on the Staten Island Expressway in New York getting off the Clove Rd exit on the outside lane. Keep in mind that exit has two lanes to exit. The bus was right next to me and proceed to speed ahead of me and cut me off. The driver then jammed his brakes while no one was in front of him. I was in a 2019 vehicle so thankfully the brake assist kicked in and I was able to avoid an accident. The Driver proceeded and was driving in and out of lane after lane for no reason other than to get ahead of the other drivers. Cutting off a couple of cars while doing this. Now I don't know if any passengers were on the bus but its completely reckless. My mother takes this service and to know that their are "certified" drivers transporting the sick and or elderly that drive like this is absolutely disgraceful. I see now why Access a ride gets a bad rap. I'll pay the extra money to uber my mother to the doctors. Thank you Access a Ride for opening my eyes to your reckless drivers.

I have logged complaints here before about the vagrant problem in the waiting room. There are 5 that are currently here. 6-9am. They sleep, smoke and smell up the waiting room which is supposed to be for ticketed passengers only as the sign says. I always get the same response that homelessness is a problem and there is nothing the lirr can do. I'm not asking you to solve homelessness I'm just asking to keep them away from waiting areas that are meant for paying passengers.

It is unacceptable to have no trains to Long Beach between 8:30pm and 10:08pm during the week. There used to be an 8:58pm and 9:53pm option but both have been removed over the years leaving a 1 hour and 38 minute gap between current trains. How was a large service gap like that approved and set into place?! In addition, the 10:08 train ALWAYS arrives late to Long Beach! It is scheduled to arrive at 11:03pm and does not arrive before 11:15pm EVERY DAY.

This lack of proper train service to Long Beach is unfair to riders trying to get home from work, school, etc. Honestly, this poorly thought-out train schedule is an insult to the Long Beach riders. I pay $297 a month for safe, prompt, and convenient service, and believe that I am being ripped off as I am not receiving what I am paying for. MTA/LIRR needs to fix this evening schedule issue ASAP.

I appreciate a timely response.

Best,
Elyse Schreiber
Email: [protected]@yahoo.com

I would like report unsafe driving by a driver of an access a ride driver. This occurred on Sunday April 28 at 2:50pm on Flatbush Ave and Kingshigh way in Brookly, New York. The access a ride mini-bus License plate was BB1039. The driver was swerving and speeding around me, as well as tail gating my car. I had 2 kids in the car and was very scared for their safety.

I don't usually take the train, due to the fact that my car is being serviced and i live in long island and work in Queens. Lirr was my last option. I decided to purchase a round trip ticket but as i get on the train i realize it was peek and i had a off peek ticket. Before the conductor got to me i look up the peek fair. It said $12. And my ticket was only $9. So i take out $3 more to add up to the remaining balance. As the conductor approaches me i hand him the money and the ticket. He then says 1 more dollar. I asked him why and he said that they round it off. My respond u round what the fair is $12 how now do i have to pay more then the actual fair? He then in a loud voice said i just explained to you they round it off. While other passengers started to look over. I have never been so disappointed in the service of the lirr until now. Its not wrong to ask where your own money is going i didn't see any signs that stated the fee would be more then if your on the train. Customer service was very poor. 8:02pm to Babylon.

On April 15, 2019, at 5:17, my boyfriend rode the train to pann Station. He went to the only one machine that sells ticketss..and the machine was broken. I shoudl note this is frequent occurence..the machines freeze up etc.. He boarded the traina nd explained to the conductor. The conductor said oh well...you need to pay the extra far because you didnt buy at machine. So there is not a working machine to purchase tickets and the paying customer has to pay extra. The conductor was quite arrogant, agressive and threatning to the point he said he was callingt he cops unless he paid the extra service fee. Well a police officer comes over and basiclly tells him are you serious...you dont have a working ticket machine and want to charge a customer more..YEP! low and behold he found an old ticket in his wallet. This conductor needs a lesson in customer service. Not arguing with paying customers and if he explained this to him, his hands were tied and he could take it up withLIRR it woudl have been acceptable, instead of getting agressive. not to mention i wa son the phoen and heard the whoel thing and was apalled and disgraced.

I have the video of the machine which i tool 2 hours later that was still broken. Please call me to discuss.

Kelly Faherty [protected]

Why is this train only 6 cars in length? Every evening people are forced to stand up and down the aisles of each car, especially when it pulls out of Jamaica station. Please add at least two additional cars!

I also have take notice of the fact that the 5:52 PM train out of Jamaica is a 10 car train that carries approximately 100 passengers. That's nuts!

Why not take two of the cars from one train and add them to the other.

For the second day in a row you have run the same smelly old train on the 8:03a Car9835.

This car smells from urine...

It appears that of the 12% old cars still in service that an abnormal amount of old trains are being run on this line.

In addition at rush hour the 6:02 is totally overcrowded as if no one from the MTA monitors the number passengers and the time considerations with short trains and overcrowding...

Hi:

I take the 5:42 train from Ronkonkoma to Penn. On Mondays and Wednesday, we have an older train (often referred to as the seventies train because it looks dated). I sit in the last car. After the last pickup (Hicksville) to Jamicia, the train car sways backs and forth so hard that I am literally thrown to the person next to me and the window. I understand a little back and forth but this movement is extreme and I am concerned it will cause harm to myself or someone else. Can you please look into this matter.

Thank you

Yesterday, 4/4/19, I boarded the very crowded 6:25 from Jamaica to Ronkonkoma. I was in the last car. A group of approximately 6 males and females boarded the train. This group was the last to board the train. They were extremely intoxicated. They brought large bottles of beer with them onto the train which they drank openly. One woman dropped the bottle onto the floor causing the beer to splash onto my clothing and my tote bag. The topics of their very loud conversations were vulgar and totally inappropriate. The women, in particular, were falling into other passengers including myself and into the poles and partitions of the train. People moved but since the train was crowed, this option was limited. The conductor walked passed this group. He did not ask for their tickets nor did he make any attempt to control their offensive and disrespectful behavior. These passengers should never have been permitted to board the train. This conductor clearly needs training about how to deal with difficult people and situations. I think he needs to be spoken to.

My pickup time was 3:10pm at 1450 Point Breeze Place, in Far Rockaway on Wednesday April 3, 2019. I had subscribed rides to and from 1450 Point Breeze Place, Far Rockaway, for an appointment that starts at 4:00pm . I was informed that my pickup would be 3:10pm. I wasn't picked up until 4:30pm to take me to 657 Central Avenuefor a 4:00 appointment.. My return time was 5:15pm. I called access a ride several times to arrange a different pick up time for my return trip and I was told that my new pickup will be 6:30. No one showed up, I called again and then they told me it would be an hour and a half before anyone could pick me up. I told them the building would be closed and that would leave me in the street. I told them to forget about it. I received a call from access a ride telling me my pickup will be after 8:00pm. I was home and tried to return the call but was not able to talk to anyone. I got a message to call back during business hours.My NYC transit Reference number is, 1201457. I will be calling in the AM to find out why my subscription was not handled properly.
Patricia Carter

I was expecting a visit from my friends yesterday (the husband is disabled) who decided to take an access a ride to come to my house (Brooklyn to Queens) Once the borded the wife called to say they were on their way, in the background I herd the driver yell at her "Get off the phone you are not allow to use it" so my friend hang up, so I called access a ride headquarters (I attaching the video of phone call below) after explaining the situation the person who I spoke was very kind and explain to me to make a complaint. I also attaching the video where I recording the driver when arrive at my house, and she clearly says the person behind her sit are not allow to use the phone, my request was her ID number and name I was demand in a kind manner multiple times but she never status (me and my wife and my friends who took the access ride are very disappointed about the situation and how employees treat disabled people.. hopefully I receive some good news from your company who do a great jobs in helping people's. And someone take action in this sad story

I am a daily LIRR commuter and have been using the LIRR for over twenty years. After a brief but steady improvement in train cleanliness, in 2015-2017 things have really started to deteriorate again. I am not talking about litter that accumulates on heavy rush hour service; that can be expected. Floors and seats look like they haven't been mopped/wiped down in months. Grime and litter are stuffed between seat cushions. Isn't there a supervisor checking to see that cleaning crews are doing their jobs? This doesn't seem like an unreasonable request. On a recent trip on a MTA Metro North train, I found their trains to be significantly cleaner and I am not referring to just the newer trains but even the much older versions.

On 3/21/19 I was picked up at 5:30pm for a 7:00pm appointment .Professional vehicle 5320, driver was on time, picked up another passenger 6:00pm, great, on our way, then the dispatcher calls and gives the driver another pickup, when we reached him it was 6:32pm, no way was I going to be ontime for my appointment. I called two (2) days in advance for my appointment so I could be on time. It was not the drivers fault, the dispatcher is over booking, with no reguard for our (the passengers) schdules.

1172616 today 2/19/19, I was to be pick up at 4:40 pm for a 6:00 pm appointment. The ride never came so I called access-a-ride at 5:11 pm. I was told that the ride will be there at by 5:30. I decided to waiting outside, in the cold, as I saw a vehicle pass on the side street. It never came a round. I call access-a-ride back at 5:40 pm and was told that I was a no show when I was outside my house for over an hour waiting. Was told to call the carried (pre) to complaine which don't make sense because the driver has to get permission from the dispatcher before "no show" someone.
(access-a-ride suspend riders for to many "no shows" when the carriers no show riders in order to make the goal so that they do not get penaltilize for showing up late for pick up).
Good thing I cancel the appointment before calling access-a-ride at 5:40.

I had a pick up ride yesterday at about 9:44 am going to Michael's store at Northern Blvd. in Woodside, NY 11377. My return trip home was to be picked up at 3:43 pm. The driver was on time, but I had asked him if he had to pick other passengers. He told me he had to do two other pick up. The longest and worst ride ever. I got home at 7pm . Four hours riding around picking up and dropping off two other passengers. I am a senior and I have spinal and knee problems. I am in such pain today that my aide was afraid to leave me alone. My aide is suppose to work only 7 hours a day for me. She also has a 10 year old son she got home so late her family was so worried, and she may not get paid for those hours. Please, can you do something so we do not have to go around the boroughs. One time I went from my home in Far Rockaway Queens to Manhattan for a Dr's appointment, When I was picked up to return home the drive drove me from Manhattan to Staten Island, to drop someone else and that ride took 4 hours to get me home. There has to be a better way for us disable people to take a trip without having to be on a ride for so many hours. Thank you, Maria Santiago #120599

A debit card of mine was used to obtain tickets from farmingdale station to penn station recently. the debit card is never used to purchase tickets. on 01/21/2019 a purchase from my account to the l.i. r.r. was completed for $297 at the jamaica station without my authorization.
Chase officials advised me there have been numerous fraudulent activities stemming from the farmingdale station. perhaps police surveillance at the location will lead to the apprehension of these individual(s) responsible.
Jamaica station seems to be their station of fraudulent purchases from the compromised cards.

Hi! Im an RN at NYU Medical Center and work mostly on the weekends. So I'm on the Ronkonkoma train to Penn on the weekends. Many times I walk into not only a dirty train with garbage all over the floor, leftover food, bottles rolling on as the train moves, sticky floors and VOMIT! That's a bodily fluid carrying a host of things! I often have to walk through a few cars until I get one that's descent. Can someone please address this on going issue? Thank you for your time and consideration. Mei Valenti

On sunday December 30th, 2018, i got on the 9:45pm train in Jamaica going to Babylon. i had a long day standing from activities so soon as i got into the train, i sat in the smaller side of cart near the conductors station. i was in one of the last 3 carts where i stretched my cramp legs on the seat. The male conductor checked my ticket and commanded me to take my feet of the seat. i explained to him i will and i needed to get a relief from the cramps i am experiencing. He told me he will not leave my area until i do what he tells me to do. he stood right by me ranting and treating to throw me out of the train or my belongings out if i don't listen to him touching my shopping bag. i then got upset and told how hurt i am by his actions.
i am a monthly customer and i have seen all sort of riders putting their feet, making noise, spiting and drunk even do worst things when the trains are really full and no one tells them anything. this conductor told me i'm crazy and i should make a new years resolution to have manners. the conductor sticked his fingers up at me. i cursed at him and ask him to call the police.
i don't think i deserve this just because i have my feet stretched on the seat. i know i cant have my feet on the seat, the fact that i look so simple and a woman of color doesn't mean i am just anybody, you do not know the customers who ride the trains, that conductor is not up to my personality level. i am not an illiterate. my level of education is far more than a conductor. i do not need to be respected. can this be addressed pls? thanks
Gloria Safo
Pharm.D
[protected]

On 12/12/18 I was on the 5:11am train from Babylon to Jamaica terminal. I sat in the middle of the car. Across from me was a seat for 3 people. I noticed a homeless person sleeping across the seat. When the conductor came by he woke her up and asked she not sleep across the seat so other riders could sit. Who would sit next to her she smelled. I was amazed he only woke her up and did not ask for a ticket. I am paying on a monthly basis over $300.00 for service that is not on time, overcrowded trains and now homeless people are allowed to ride at my expense.