MTA LIRR SPECIAL: ONBOARD KAWASAKI M9

Wednesday, 01/25/2023, MTA Long Island Railroad Commuter Rail, this is taking a ride onboard a Kawasaki M9 in train car #9130 on the FIRST TRAIN into Grand Central Madison, AKA East Side Access! This train departed Jamaica Station at 10:45 AM and went express to Grand Central Madison with an 11:07 AM arrival, along the way skipping the Kew Gardens, Forest Hills, and Woodside Stations. Grand Central Madison marks the FIRST new terminal station for LIRR in New York City, since beginning service at New York’s Penn Station from September of 1910 and onwards. After all these years of planning, construction for East Side Access began in 2008, and after all the years it took (plus delays), East Side Access opened in January of 2023! East Side Access brings LIRR to and from Grand Central for easier and more reliable travel options, especially when it comes to the East Side of Manhattan that Grand Central Madison is beneficial for. #grandcentralmadison

[@ilttpvvm]

Many years ago I was a station agent for MTA New York City Subway. Family obligations forced me to leave service; but, if I had still been wearing the uniform on 25 January 2023, I would have gone to Grand Central Madison to help welcome the first train in.

[@michaelsiehl6804]

Are they still serving Penn Station

[@UncommonElevators]

Yes

[@1575murray]

The new schedules will have fewer trains going to from Penn Station to allow new services direct from Grand Central. There will also be major changes to Brooklyn service to Atlantic Terminal as well.

[@amazing50000]

@@1575murray "Major changes to Brooklyn service"? You mean the destruction of Brooklyn service.