It appears that Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) commuters will experience another week of difficulties.
Last week, the opening of the Grand Central Madison terminal, which was delayed for a decade and cost $12.7 billion, led to significant delays for passengers due to scheduling problems.
Despite promises from Governor Hochul and MTA President Janno Leiber of improved service for this week, Long Islanders heading into the city on Monday observed little to no change.
“This morning I missed my train by 3 minutes — and then I had to wait 25 minutes,” Kim Domagala told The Daily News Monday evening while waiting for a train to Hewlett.
“They should put tables and chairs up here,” she added dryly, gesturing to the station’s mezzanine
“I get it, they’re trying to work the kinks out. But this is the most chaotic I’ve ever seen it.”
Last week, Domagala, who works in Long Island City, mentioned that she had missed every morning connection at Jamaica.
“I’ve been getting to work at 9:30 — I’m supposed to get there at 9:00,” she said. “It’s been absolute hell. They don’t even wait for you.”
On Monday, several station agents wearing bright orange vests were seen on the mezzanine, guiding commuters to tracks based on their destination and assisting in understanding the updated schedule.
One of the agents, who refused to speak to the media, mentioned that they also attempted to hold trains whenever possible. However, despite their efforts, many commuters still missed their transfers.
“I just missed my train by one minute. I’ve got to wait another 20 minutes,” said Will Wilkerson, who was on his way home to Valley Stream from Atlantic Terminal.
“It sucks,” he said — though he was optimistic. “It’s a new system, they’re bound to figure it out.”
Despite Governor Hochul’s directive to the MTA to add cars to overcrowded trains and increase shuttle service between Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn and Jamaica station, delays persisted. MTA President Lieber had already hinted at this plan on Friday.
While the additional shuttles seemed to have worked, straphanger Rodney Scott noted on Monday that they were of an older make.
“They put all the old trains coming from Brooklyn,” he said. “They pulled all the dinosaurs for the shuttle.”
“It is what it is,” was Scott’s stoic assessment.
Jim Pieper, a public school teacher in Brooklyn, was more blunt.
“They’re screwing the Brooklyn commuters,” he said on a Kings County platform while waiting to start his journey home to Amityville.
Pieper said his Monday morning commute had been a little bit better than last week — but he’d skipped a train from Jamaica in the morning because it was too crowded. “I don’t know why they did this to Brooklyn,” he said.