LIRR Adding Summer Friday South Fork Commuter Connection Service

SOUTH FORK, NY — Elected officials have announced enhanced summer Friday South Fork Commuter Connection service.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority Long Island Rail Road Interim President Catherine Rinaldi, along with New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele, and Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone discussed the new plan.

On Fridays, eastbound SFCC trains will depart Speonk at 6 a.m. with stops at Westhampton, Hampton Bays, Southampton, Bridgehampton, East Hampton and Amagansett. Another train will depart Hampton Bays at 8:26 a.m. with stops at Southampton, Bridgehampton, East Hampton, Amagansett, and Montauk, officials said.

Westbound trains will depart Amagansett at 7:13 a.m. with stops at East Hampton, Bridgehampton, Southampton, and Hampton Bays. Another train departs Montauk at 12:56 p.m., stopping at Amagansett, East Hampton, Bridgehampton, Southampton, Hampton Bays, Westhampton, and Speonk, officials added.

Before the LIRR redesigned schedules for the opening of Grand Central Madison, those Friday trains would have been suspended from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Now, they will operate year-round.

"One of the major benefits of the biggest service increase in LIRR history is that the number of available new travel options can get more Long Islanders out of their cars and on to trains," said Rinaldi. "Thanks to Assemblyman Thiele, we were able to work together and create a schedule that adds extra service on Summer Fridays, making it easier for east end businesses and entertainment areas to thrive."

Thiele added: "I am thrilled that the Long Island Rail Road has agreed to provide summer Friday service for the South Fork Commuter Connection. This is another step forward in providing improved public transit options for our East End community."

As ridership on the SFCC has continued to grow, the commuter service has become a vital link for many of our local businesses and their employees, Thiele continued. But, he said, commuters have to know that they can rely on continuous service five days a week to get to and from work.

"Lack of Friday service in the summer was a major inconvenience for loyal SFCC commuters and an impediment to the SFCC reaching its full potential," he added. "The SFCC makes our economy stronger and gives residents an alternative to long delays in the 'Trade Parade' on County Road 39 and State Rout 27."

Thiele thanked Rinaldi for meeting with South Fork elected officials and recognizing the importance of the SFCC.

Bellone also lauded the news. "Connectivity and accessibility is vital to keeping our East End economy booming," he said. "It is no secret that during the summer months we see an increase in traffic and cars, making it more difficult to access our East End."

Adding additional LIRR service will not only help commuters, but it will also help local businesses and travelers looking to spend a long weekend in Suffolk County, Bellone said.

SFCC is a coordinated weekday train and shuttle bus service on the east end of the Montauk Branch, between Speonk and Montauk.

Commuters using the service can park in the morning at Speonk, Westhampton, or Hampton Bays, then ride the train across the Shinnecock Canal to Southampton, Bridgehampton, Amagansett, or Montauk. At these eastern stations, shuttle buses will bring riders to and from nearby villages, hamlets and employment centers.

Schedules

The LIRR recommends that customers use the TrainTime app to view the train schedule and track their train in real time. SFCC trains are also listed in the Montauk Branch timetable.

Morning shuttle buses connect with the 6 a.m. train from Speonk and 8:26 a.m. train from Hampton Bays. Shuttle schedules and routes are flexible and subject to change based on demand, time of the year and traffic conditions.

Parking
Free parking is available at most stations. Restrictions apply at Bridgehampton and East Hampton stations, which are run by the Town of Southampton and Village of East Hampton, respectively.

Bikes
Bikes are allowed on all SFCC trains that only operate between Speonk and Montauk. On trains that operate to or from Babylon or points west, regular bike rules apply.

Tickets and fares

Regular LIRR tickets are valid on SFCC trains. The one-way fare is $3.25, with monthly ($89) and weekly ($30.75) tickets available for most riders.

The easiest way to buy a ticket is in the TrainTime app. Customers can also use a ticket machine, which are available at all SFCC stations. There are no ticket offices at those stations. Weekly and monthly tickets are only sold on the app or at gray ticket machines, which are located at Speonk, Westhampton, Hampton Bays, and Southampton. Shuttle buses are free and customers can show their LIRR ticket when boarding.

Speonk riders

Customers riding to or from Speonk can purchase a special South Fork Commuter Connection ticket from a gray ticket machine. A one-way ticket is $3.25 and a round-trip ticket is $6.50. They are valid for 60 days including the date of sale. These tickets are available in the "MTA Away Deals" menu on the machine. These tickets cannot be bought on the TrainTime app, or at stations east of Southampton. Without it, the regular one-way fare to or from Speonk is $6.50.

Monthly and weekly tickets from Speonk are more expensive than those from other stations and are not cheaper than using the special ticket for each ride.

For help with the shuttle buses at Southampton and Bridgehampton, contact the Town of Southampton at SFCC@southamptontownny.gov.

For help with the shuttle buses at East Hampton and Amagansett, contact the Village of East Hampton at SFCC@ehamptonny.gov.

For questions about train service, riders can reach out to customer service. The LIRR is also reachable via phone, on the TrainTime app, and @LIRR on Twitter.