Changes to LIRR Ronkonkoma Branch service in 2023

Archived page

This page describes service changes that were made in February 2023 and does not reflect subsequent service adjustments.

With the completion of the Ronkonkoma Branch Double Track, Main Line Third Track, and Mid-Suffolk Yard projects, we can run more trains on the Ronkonkoma Branch — one of our busiest and most crowded branches — all day, every day. 

Service east of Ronkonkoma remains unchanged from current levels, but schedules have been adjusted. Extra trains will run during the summer. These trains are not shown in this version of the schedule. 

Peak service

There will be 19 morning and 21 afternoon peak trains. These will be split between Penn Station and Grand Central. This is three more trains in the morning and nine more in the afternoon compared to current schedules. All trains will stop at Jamaica, where you can transfer for service to Brooklyn. 

Some trains will operate only between Brentwood and Manhattan. This lets us run some Ronkonkoma-bound trains express between Jamaica and Brentwood. This will speed up service for those traveling longer distances and let us use our limited train cars more efficiently. You can transfer between these trains at Brentwood, and the local will usually follow a few minutes behind the express. Check the TrainTime app to see if this transfer works for you. 

The evening eastbound train to Greenport will now run earlier. The connecting train from Penn Station will depart at 5:04 p.m. 

Off-peak service

Two trains per hour will run during off-peak hours, twice as often as today. Trains will alternate between Penn Station and Grand Central, providing hourly service to and from each. Customers who need the other terminal or Brooklyn can change at Jamaica. 

All trains will stop at Mineola and make all stops between Hicksville and Ronkonkoma, except for Pinelawn service, which will remain hourly. On weekday evenings and during most of the day on weekends, trains will stop at Elmont-UBS Arena. 

This expanded 30-minute off-peak service will also run during the weekday reverse peak, closing the existing 60–90-minute gaps in service and providing new access to job centers in Suffolk County. 

The early afternoon Yaphank-bound train has been extended to Riverhead and now connects with a train that leaves Penn Station at 2:31 p.m. instead of 3:55 p.m.