Starting Monday, workers who rely on the South Fork Commuter Connection to get them eastward will notice schedule changes to the Montauk train line that should be rider-friendly, as a result of the new Long Island Rail Road service at Grand Central Station.
There are two trips in the morning and two in the afternoon, staggered by approximately two hours. The first eastbound morning trip will leave earlier, departing from Speonk at 6 a.m. instead of 6:16. It makes stops in Westhampton Beach, Hampton Bays, Southampton, Bridgehampton, East Hampton, and Amagansett.
Riders will also have extra time to get to the first westbound train in the afternoon, as it will leave all stations east of the Shinnecock Canal two minutes later than the old schedule.
Another upgrade is that the second afternoon westbound train will offer service all the way to Speonk. Previously, the last stop was in Westhampton Beach, potentially stranding Speonk riders.
“We saw strong ridership throughout the winter months and are hopeful that more commuters will hop on the [Commuter Connection] this spring,” Southampton Town Councilman Tommy John Schiavoni said.
If riders need to get to a village not serviced by a train, such as Sag Harbor, shuttle buses are available, with the ride included in the $3.25 one-way fare. With gasoline hovering around $4 a gallon on the East End, the price is an inducement to travelers.
The drive from Speonk to Amagansett is 35 miles, and the train covers that ground in just 52 minutes. Avoiding the “trade parade” will not only save commuters time, but they might also benefit from lower blood pressure.
