Best On-Time Performance In 2024 For LIRR: Hochul

LONG ISLAND, NY — The past year was the strongest of the Long Island Rail Road's history, officials said.

The railroad's on-time performance was at 95.65 percent, the best in its nearly 200-year history (excluding the COVID-19 pandemic), Governor Hochul's office announced.

The LIRR also surpassed its 94 percent on-time performance goal for each month of 2024, another first for the railroad.

Additionally, it was the best all-time November with a 96.2 percent.

"New Yorkers deserve fast and reliable train service wherever they’re headed, and the LIRR delivered to our commuters in 2024 with its strongest year to date," Hochul said. "I am committed to keeping New York moving and continuing to build on these performances, as we look forward to projects that will modernize our railroads, reduce travel time and expand train service for riders."

Preliminary ridership statistics for 2024 show an increase in ridership — 75.5 million riders rode the LIRR in 2024 compared to the 65.2 million people who rode in 2023, marking a 15.8 percent increase.

Long Island Rail Road President Rob Free said: "One of my main goals when I assumed the presidency of the LIRR was to create an amazing customer experience, every day, on every train. This incredible jump in customer satisfaction shows that we are, in fact, achieving it."