MTA Finishes Great Neck Pocket Track In Advance Of Grand Central Open

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — As LIRR riders look forward to the upcoming opening of Grand Central Madison, one hurdle has been completed: The Great Neck pocket track extension is finished, after three weeks and a week delay.

The weekend service disruptions with bus service for Port Washington and Great Neck riders are over.

The MTA announced on Tuesday that crews have completed the extension that will add service when Grand Central Madison opens. The MTA estimates it will allow for 36 percent more peak morning service on the Port Washington branch, and 42 percent more evening peak service.

The number of local trains from and to Great Neck will be up to 20 per weekday after Grand Central Madison opens. Currently there are 11 per weekday.

The work on the Great Neck track added 1,100 feet, allowing the LIRR to store and run more cars out of Great Neck.

“This infrastructure improvement enables the LIRR to run more trains more reliably on the Port Washington Branch,” MTA Long Island Rail Road Interim President and Metro-North Railroad President Catherine Rinaldi said.

“Completion of this work brings us one step closer to the launch of LIRR’s historic new service to Grand Central Madison, the largest service expansion in LIRR history.”