'Years In The Making,' Latest LIRR Station, Yaphank-BNL, Celebrated By Local Leaders

YAPHANK, NY — Local officials are celebrating the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's opening of its first station since 2021, and one of two new stations in 50 years — the Yaphank-BNL Long Island Rail Road station.

The station, which was relocated from its original site, provides improved access to Brookhaven National Laboratory and critical regional roadways, like the William Floyd Parkway and the Long Island Expressway, nearby.

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The last new LIRR station was Elmont-UBS Station.

Train service begins Saturday, with the first trains departing Yaphank-BNL at 5:36 a.m. to Greenport and 8:02 a.m. to Ronkonkoma.

Gov. Kathy Hochul called the LIRR "the lifeblood" of the island, saying that through projects like the new station, the state is "investing in it like never before."

“By locating this new and improved station right next to major employers and critical regional connections, we are ready to move the entire east end towards a future of economic growth and opportunity," she said.

Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico noted that most days he traveled to Town Hall by County Road 21 in Yaphank and would pass "the largely unused train station" beneath the overpass on the Ronkonkoma line.

Panico reached out to former MTA board member Mitch Pally with the idea of relocating the station to East Yaphank, near the "thriving industrial park" and Brookhaven National Laboratory, and Pally "immediately understood the value of the concept." He said, adding that Pally "shared the vision of creating better rail access for the tri-hamlet communities and residents of Ridge, Wading River, Shoreham, Rocky Point, Sound Beach, and other northern Brookhaven communities.”

State Sen. Dean Murray called it an honor to join “so many community leaders" in celebrating the opening.

"This project has been years in the making, and it’s exciting to see it come to fruition," he said. "The new station will enhance transportation options for residents and help support the continued growth and vitality of our region. Congratulations to everyone whose hard work made this milestone possible."

The new station is fully accessible in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, with ramp access to the platform.

Other customer-focused improvements include a 50-car parking lot with an integrated bus loop for pickups and drop-offs, a plaza area featuring an information totem with train schedules and bike racks, and a Help Point intercom on the platform.

The platform can accommodate two train cars, matching the length of trains that operate between Ronkonkoma and Greenport.

MTA Chair and Chief Executive Officer Janno Lieber said, “Relocating Yaphank station to be closer to the action was the right choice for a fast-growing community focused on the future. Now that it’s open, we can ramp up the feasibility study now underway that’s exploring new ways to improve and increase service on the Ronkonkoma branch.”

LIRR President Rob Free said that customers in the eastern portion of the island "are getting a modern, fully accessible station designed to better meet their needs today and into the future."

"Yaphank-BNL improves the customer experience with better amenities, stronger regional connections and the reliable service riders expect from the LIRR," he added.

MTA Construction and Development President Jamie Torres-Springer said that "modern, accessible infrastructure is the key to strengthening the region’s transit network."

"We’re proving that we can deliver transformational upgrades like the new Yaphank station better, faster, and cheaper than ever — giving riders the reliable service they deserve," he said.

MTA Chief Accessibility Officer Quemuel Arroyo noted that every new station opened "is an opportunity to make public transit more accessible for all our riders."

"Accessibility is at the heart of every new station we build, ensuring that every customer — regardless of ability — has access to safe and reliable public transportation, which ensures access to independence from day one," he said. "Yaphank-BNL Station reflects that commitment and expands access to Long Island Rail Road service for generations of riders to come.”

Brookhaven Lab Director John Hill said the station "creates a direct line to discovery."

"We are very excited to have it open," he said. "It improves access for scientific collaborators from around the world, students from across the region, and staff and visitors from Long Island and New York City. As we build the Electron-Ion Collider and carry out cutting-edge research, it will lead to benefits locally and beyond.”

LIA Acting President and CEO Stacey Sikes said that infrastructure investments "deliver long-term economic returns, and the opening of the new, modernized Yaphank-BNL Station will create a ripple effect across our region."

"The LIA appreciates the commitment of Gov. Hochul, the MTA, and Long Island Rail Road for advancing future upgrades to support growth and opportunity on the East End," she added.

The opening of the new station comes as the MTA launches a study of potential infrastructure improvements to support more frequent and reliable service on the LIRR Main Line east of Ronkonkoma Station. The portion currently has only one track and is not electrified, requiring trains to operate using diesel power and run less frequently.

But the study will assess opportunities to upgrade signals, communications, and other infrastructure; add a second track along all or part of the branch between Ronkonkoma and Riverhead; and electrify a portion of the branch east of Ronkonkoma.

Adding a second track would build on the LIRR’s Double Track Project between Farmingdale and Ronkonkoma and allow more trains to operate in both directions. Electrification could support faster, more frequent service while reducing reliance on diesel locomotives.

As part of that work, the MTA will evaluate the supporting infrastructure required, including new power substations, and examine the costs and benefits of potential investments.

The study is expected to be completed in early 2027, and its findings will help inform future conversations with the public about investment priorities across the LIRR system.

The study is funded by the MTA's historic $68 billion 2025-2029 Capital Plan, which was fully funded by Gov. Hochul and the legislature in the 2026 state budget.