Popular Morning Train Restored on West Hempstead Branch

NYS Assemblyman Brian Curran and Sen. Dean Skelos announced Friday that efforts to restore the 7:23 a.m. westbound Long Island Railroad train from the Malverne train station have paid off.

This train, operating on LIRR’s West Hempstead Branch, also services the Westwood, Lakeview, West Hempstead and Lakeview stations.  The morning schedule will revert back to the old 2009 schedule, which was preferred by more commuters, on March 4, 2013. 

Curran and Skelos worked with local officials including Malverne Mayor Patricia Norris McDonald to change the Long Island Railroad’s schedule to reinstate the recently cut popular morning train. The village of Malverne conducted a survey in 2012 among West Hempstead branch commuters, which showed that they clearly favored the 7:23 a.m. train.

"The train service on the West Hempstead line, in particular the 7:23 a.m. train, is critically important to many residents whom I represent," Skelos said. "I'm pleased that the Long Island Rail Road has listened and was able to make this much needed restoration and thank them on behalf of all the commuters who will benefit from this change.

“I’m very happy that the MTA/Long Island Railroad listened to our community,” Curran said. “An overwhelming majority of responses to both my survey, as well as Mayor McDonald and the Village of Malverne’s survey, indicated that they favored bringing back this train. It’s a convenient commuting option, and I’m glad that I was able to lead the efforts to restore it with Senator Skelos and Mayor McDonald,” Curran said.

Mayor McDonald added, "The commuters from Malverne and Westwood stations are pleased to see the morning service restored and all of the village residents are eager for the return of weekend and holiday trains."

But although this is a victory, Assemblyman Curran reminded residents that “it’s only the first step.”  With the start of the new legislative session, Curran pledged to continue working with Senator Skelos to reinstate the West Hempstead Branch’s weekend service.  

“I’m entirely hopeful that the MTA will listen to our suggestions to find the needed resources to start weekend train service again.  We were successful in getting the morning schedule back, and we should continue our fight to restore Saturday and Sunday options too,” Curran said.