LIRR Riders Concerned Over Proposed Changes To Port Washington Branch

PORT WASHINGTON, NY — Commuters are pushing back on the Long Island Rail Road's proposed service changes for the Port Washington branch.

At a public meeting on Thursday, the LIRR discussed a proposal that would overhaul the Port Washington branch's train schedule and provide riders direct service into a new concourse under the Grand Central Station terminal. The MTA, which is the LIRR's parent organization, anticipates the project will be completed by the end of 2022. It also expects about 45 percent of LIRR passengers to use the new service to Grand Central, which the agency says "will help reduce crowding at Penn Station."

But some riders — particularly those who use the Great Neck, Manhasset, Plandome, and Port Washington LIRR stations — argue that the changes drastically cut service to Penn Station.

Under the current schedule, there are four express trains to Penn Station serving the four local stations during the morning rush. For the afternoon rush, there are six express trains.

Under the MTA's proposal, there are none.

Despite potentially cutting express service, the LIRR says it will provide more rush hours trains for the Port Washington branch — 70 percent more service in the morning and more than 43 percent more service in the evening. But those trains will be split between Penn Station and Grand Central Station.

News 12 reports that commuters, like Eric Dejong and Laurie Scheinman, are dissatisfied with the LIRR's proposed plan.

According to the news outlet, Dejong says the MTA needs to be more transparent about what this proposal really means.

"MTA should restore these express trains right away — stop providing the misleading at best data in your new statement and work with North Hempstead to provide more compress," Dejong said.

Meanwhile, Scheinman says the changes will make rides longer for people and that could stop young families from using the railroad.

"These new young families — mine or others — I'm worried at the heart of tomorrow's Port Washington," Scheinman said, per News 12. "I'm very concerned that we cannot afford to lose them because (they) are the future of Port Washington."