MTA Long Island Rail Road Interim President Catherine Rinaldi today was joined by Senator Anna M. Kaplan and Assemblymember Gina L. Sillitti to announce that the LIRR has released revised draft timetables for the Port Washington Branch. Following comments received during public review of the first draft timetables released in June, the revised draft timetables include three morning and three evening rush hour Penn Station express trains serving Port Washington, Plandome, Manhasset and Great Neck. They accompany a recognition by North Hempstead officials for construction of additional track space in the Port Washington Yard to allow for more expansive growth of train service on the branch in the future.

Despite the lack of increased space to store trains at the Port Washington Yard, the revised draft Port Washington Branch timetables include 10 more trains each weekday than current timetables, increasing service by 14% to 103 trains per day. On weekends, the timetables add five trains per day, to 81 trains each Saturday and Sunday, up 16% from the 76 that operate currently.

The LIRR’s new east side terminal at Grand Central Madison is allowing the LIRR to add nearly 275 trains per weekday, increasing service 41% systemwide and saving up to 40 minutes per day for customers traveling to the east side.

The length of time LIRR trains will need to reach Grand Central – known to service planners as running time – is the same as it is to Penn Station.

The Long Island Rail Road has committed to monitor travel patterns and train capacity after opening and make adjustments as necessary.

Final schedules are expected to be released this fall.

-via Press Release