LIRR to launch year-round Montauk service and $78M in upgrades

The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) is implementing $78 million in infrastructure upgrades and service expansions on its Montauk Branch. A key change includes making the 5:13 p.m. weekday direct train from Penn Station to Montauk a year-round service, starting in September. Previously, this direct journey was only available during the summer months.

Infrastructure projects funded by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s 2025-29 capital plan include extending a siding at Amagansett by 14 train-car lengths to reduce single-track stretches and making a temporary platform at Hampton Bays permanent. The Amagansett work is scheduled to run from early 2028 through mid-2029.

The upgrades follow significant ridership growth on the Montauk Branch, which has seen 1,212,229 passengers so far this year, a 6.4 percent increase over the previous year. Specific stations like Southampton and Hampton Bays have also reported substantial increases in passenger volume.