Skip to main content

Commuter Schedule Tweaked

Thu, 02/23/2023 - 11:15
Durell Godfrey

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.

Villages

Tariffs Are Sobering News for Liquor Stores

It’s not clear when, or if, President Trump’s European alcohol tariff will ever go live. Nonetheless, the threat is looming over South Fork wine and liquor retailers, who have been forced to react to the uncertainty. 

Mar 27, 2025

East Hampton Star Shines at Better Newspaper Contest

Durell Godfrey, The East Hampton Star’s longtime staff photographer and a fixture at community events from Montauk to Southampton, has once again been named one of New York State’s top photographers. At the New York Press Association’s annual conference last week in Saratoga Springs, The Star’s newsletter also repeated in winning first place in the Best Newsletter category, capping a successful awards season for the paper. 

Mar 27, 2025

A Short Parade That’s Become a Big Success

For the first Am O'Gansett Parade in 2009, the organizers jokingly promised Clydesdales, Macy's balloons, and floats. With good humor and an enthusiastic response from the community, the very short parade has been an annual event ever since.

Mar 20, 2025

 

Your support for The East Hampton Star helps us deliver the news, arts, and community information you need. Whether you are an online subscriber, get the paper in the mail, delivered to your door in Manhattan, or are just passing through, every reader counts. We value you for being part of The Star family.

Your subscription to The Star does more than get you great arts, news, sports, and outdoors stories. It makes everything we do possible.