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(New York, NY/77WABC)-Following commuter complaints and calls from public officials the LIRR announced Tuesday it will put it’s previous schedule back into effect as of March 29th.
LIRR President Phil Eng said they heard their customers’ concerns loud and clear. “As a result, we will restore our previous timetable on March 29. In the meantime, we will continue to strategically add additional trains and lengthen trains to meet evolving ridership levels. We continue to monitor seating availability with unprecedented clarity thanks to new technology. As declining covid-19 cases and increased deployment of the vaccine allow New York to fully reopen, customers should expect to see more riders returning to trains every day, and we look forward to it.
US Rep. Tom Suozzi, the former Nassau County Executive, posted the following to Twitter:
Now is not the time to risk overcrowding on the LIRR!
I am very concerned about the LIRR’s latest round of service cuts & have sent a letter to the President of the LIRR asking him to re-examine these service cuts immediately. pic.twitter.com/pJJtoDf8oh— Tom Suozzi (@RepTomSuozzi) March 8, 2021
During a press conference Tuesday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo called on the LIRR to reverse the cuts and increase service. “You don’t want crowded trains, crowded platforms now, I understand the financial constraints, I understand there is a reduced ridership, but it is smarter to have fewer people on a train during this period, even if it’s not cost-effective,” Cuomo said.
With ridership 76% below pre-pandemic levels, the LIRR reduced service on Monday prompting the outcry.
