LIRR customers on the Oyster Bay line are disappointed in the new “draft schedules,” 1 which provide limited improvement in service. We believe there are multiple potential solutions, some of which require little / no cost to implement.

Background: East Side Access is the MTA’s largest capital project (>$10 billion) and the largest service expansion in LIRR history, with a stated goal of “faster commutes, fewer delays, more options.” 2 Despite a historic multi-decade investment in the LIRR, the MTA has neglected customers on the Oyster Bay line as the “draft schedules” provide limited improvement in service.

We have spoken to key stakeholders including passengers (ie taxpayers) on the Oyster Bay LIRR line, current and former MTA executives, state and local elected officials, and business organizations. The MTA is taking feedback and willing to consider solutions. NOW IS THE TIME TO SPEAK UP!

Objective: MTA should explore solutions / schedules that reduce travel time from Oyster Bay to Penn Station / Grand Central (and the reverse commutes) during rush hour. In the “draft schedules,” all morning rush hour trains to Grand Central or Penn will take between 80-83 minutes. That is NOT improved from the legacy schedules to Penn (76-81 min) and some commutes will actually be lengthened. While the new Grand Central access via Jamacia transfer adds another NYC option, it does not reduce travel time (OB to Hunterspoint Ave is 74-76 min today with easy ~5 min service to Grand Central via the 7 subway). 

Proposed Solutions: 

MTA should add an additional rush hour train direct to NYC (Penn Station) on the OB line. While other LIRR lines will get increased direct service to NYC, Oyster Bay will be stuck with only 1 direct rush hour train to Penn at 5:50am, and this train is being lengthened from 76 min to 82 min. Converting an additional train to serve Penn directly – ideally stopping at Jamaica with convenient transfer to Grand Central – would meaningfully improve service. 

MTA should pilot an "express train” on the OB line during rush hour. Many other LIRR branches have express trains, but every OB train stops at every single station – many are only 2 to 3 minutes apart, in some cases less than 0.5 miles! Also, every OB train will stop at Mineola, even though Mineola is getting more trains and a major service improvement with new GC direct trains. Ideally, these express trains would correspond to a convenient connection at Jamaica, allowing faster service to Grand Central.    

MTA should invest in Battery Electric trains for the OB line. The Oyster Bay line has 13 miles of unelectrified track east of East Williston, and the branch is serviced by a fleet of diesel trains. In 2021-2022, MTA conducted a pilot using Alstom’s battery electric trains on the OB line.3 The technology was proven effective and significantly cheaper than full electrification. While battery electric trains will require a rolling stock investment, the investment is modest in the context of MTA’s capital budget and the widespread benefits. Battery electric trains would 1) improve service / capacity across the entire LIRR network, 2) allow the MTA to replace noisy, carbon emitting diesel fleet with quiet, reliable, zero emission trains, 3) help NY State meet its energy objectives, 4) minimize the need for electric substations.