LIRR to reduce weekday service to lower costs

The LIRR was rolling on its usual schedule Sunday, but starting Monday, commuters can expect fewer trains as the railroad reduces its weekday service to lower costs.
Gerard Bringmann, from the LIRR Commuter Council, is not pleased with the new reduced weekday schedules the railroad has announced.
During the pandemic, ridership dropped significantly as many people worked from home.
But, the new schedules will put hourlong waits between some rush hour trains that were more frequent previously.
LIRR President Phil Eng told News 12 on Friday the cuts will allow the railroad to work on other infrastructure projects, and it could adjust train schedules if needed.
Some worry that these cuts could discourage riders from taking the train at a time when the MTA says they want to encourage more people to ride the rails.
The service cuts also come on the heels of the Senate passing a COVID-19 relief bill, which has $6 billion earmarked for the MTA to keep it afloat.
Several lawmakers, including state Sen. James Gaughran, have sent a letter to the MTA asking for the service cuts to be reconsidered.