It’s a long haul to The End — the 117 miles from Manhattan to Montauk can feel more like 1,117 when you’re in bumper to bumper. All the more reason to set your sights on public transportation if weekends on the East End are in your near-future summer plans.
Well, you’re in luck. Starting Monday, May 18 — right in time for Memorial Day Weekend — the powers that be at the Long Island Railroad are adding more eastbound trains to make happier trails for everyone (including locals getting held up in summer traffic). Instead of just the 5:13 p.m. train bound for Speonk with its final stop in Montauk on Thursdays and Fridays, the new schedule will offer that same train Monday to Friday, making all stops to The End (and an easy slide on out of the office).
There will also be a city-bound 11:37 a.m. and 4:18 p.m. train from Montauk on Sundays, except on Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends, when those west-bound trains will be offered on the Monday holiday.
“As we head into the busy summer season, we’re expanding service to give customers more flexibility, including additional weekday options to Montauk and more direct trips to Penn Station,” said LIRR president Rob Free in a statement to the press. “These schedule adjustments also allow us to continue critical maintenance and accessibility work so we can deliver safe, reliable service.”
However, stay tuned to the looming strike, as all five unions of the MTA are bargaining for a wage increase, and have the potential to go out on strike two days before the extra service to Montauk goes into effect, so be sure to check the LIRR website for updates and details.
