The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) will begin its South Fork Commuter Connection service on March 4, which includes a system of LIRR trains and interconnecting shuttle services.
LIRR will add six trains per day east of Speonk, three one-way trips in the mornings and three in the afternoon. Select trains will connect with shuttles at East Hampton, Bridgehampton, Southampton, Amagansett and Montauk that will transport customers to and from selected employment centers and workplaces. LIRR says the new system is designed to provide a new commuting option on the South Fork, alleviate roadway congestion and stimulate the South Fork economy with an environmentally-friendly transportation option.
LIRR explains that the trains will not connect with other trains traveling to or from New York City because the trains and connecting services are intended for those looking to travel within the South Fork, making them unique in the LIRR network.
LIRR President Phil Eng said, “To anyone who’s ever been stuck in traffic on the South Fork I say, give the train a try and see if it can solve your travel needs. The connecting shuttles will greatly extend the reach of this service, bringing you one step closer to door-to-door service. I thank everyone at every level of government and at the LIRR who has worked hard to make this a reality. This is a prime example that proves that a collaborative process can show real results.”
The South Fork Commuter Connection is the culmination of many months of discussions between South Fork elected officials and community leaders and the railroad that has already resulted in a number of service improvements. In April 2017, the LIRR added an early-morning “Fisherman’s Train” to the North Fork and expanded North Fork service with a new late-morning NYC-bound train in November 2017. In May 2018, the LIRR doubled seasonal North Fork weekend service and extended a morning rush hour train to Southampton, Hampton Bays and Westhampton that was enabled by the LIRR’s recent Montauk Branch signalization project.
Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele said, “The idea of a South Fork commuter service is something I have been working on since 1994, when I was a town supervisor...Needless to say, it has been a long and winding road, and I am thrilled this idea has finally come to fruition...The South Fork Commuter Connection will benefit the community in many ways, including reduced traffic congestion; a cleaner environment, by getting more cars off the road; and a bolstered local economy by making it easier for businesses to attract and retain employees. This is a first step towards improved public transit on the South Fork. I look forward to building ridership and working on infrastructural improvements to sustain a more frequent and convenient service in the future.”
Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director
Mischa Wanek-Libman is director of communications with Transdev North America. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the transportation industry covering construction projects, engineering challenges, transit and rail operations and best practices.
Wanek-Libman has held top editorial positions at freight rail and public transportation business-to-business publications including as editor-in-chief and editorial director of Mass Transit from 2018-2024. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.
She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and served 14 years as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.
She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.
