Senator Kaminsky Requests MTA Review LIRR Delays and Cancellations

January 2, 2018

Mr. Patrick Nowakowski
President
MTA Long Island Rail Road
Jamaica Station
Jamaica, NY 11435-4380

Dear Mr. Nowakowski,

I am writing on behalf of Nassau County residents who utilize the Babylon, Long Beach, Far Rockaway, and West Hempstead Long Island Rail Road branches (“LIRR branches”) to commute to and from New York City’s Pennsylvania Station and Atlantic Terminal. Service as of late has been unreliable and I am troubled by what are becoming disturbing trends. Riders are extremely concerned that this poor level of service has become the new normal.

My constituents report serious delays or cancellations on a near-daily basis and even your own statistics (which are conservative to say the least) make clear that major, systemic problems are plaguing the LIRR. During December alone, my constituents traveling on those LIRR branches were inconvenienced by over 400 late-arriving trains and more than 70 cancellations. The below chart highlights data taken from the LIRR website cataloging delays and cancellations from December 1 - 21, 2017.

12/1/2017 - 12/21/2017        Late        Canceled
Babylon                              260        54
West Hempstead            32        9
Long Beach                       84        7
Far Rockaway                 44        3
Total                                   420        73

Fewer trains and disrupted service also means an unpleasant experience for riders when trains do arrive; trains have been unusually crowded causing riders to stand in the aisles, bathrooms and by the train car doors, creating safety hazards. Additionally, riders on the Babylon line report shortened train cars, further exacerbating crowded conditions.

I request that your agency review December’s cancellations and delays to determine the cause of this unreliable, and frankly unacceptable service. I stand ready to assist in anyway possible, but understanding the root causes of the recent rash of cancellations and delays is an imperative first step. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Todd Kaminsky
Senator, 9th District