All Aboard In Westhampton

Need a ride out east? You can now hop on the South Fork Commuter Connection train in Westhampton.

Following requests by riders, and the urging of Assemblyman Fred Thiele, Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman, and East Hampton Town Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc, the service line was extended to Westhampton beginning September 3.

The new schedule alters the original afternoon westbound train schedule departure times by two minutes. Instead of the train heading westbound from Montauk leaving at 4:50 PM, it will depart at 4:52. The time heading west from Bridgehampton, which was 5:23 PM will now be 5:25. That trip used to end in Hampton Bays at 5:43 PM, but many riders requested that the train continue to at least Westhampton to help them get closer to home. The train will stop in the hamlet at 6:01 PM.

“I am pleased that we have been able to address the needs of commuters and improve their experience with the South Fork Commuter Connection by adding an evening stop in Westhampton,” Thiele said. “We are also continuing to work with the Long Island Rail Road to provide needed infrastructure, such as sidings, so that commuters will be able to enjoy more frequent and convenient service in the future. I thank the towns and the LIRR for their ongoing commitment to this critical transportation service.”

This change allows early morning commuters to board the train in Westhampton, rather than Hampton Bays, thereby avoiding some of the morning eastbound commuter traffic as well.

“We listened to what riders wanted and we were able to accommodate this added stop,” Schneiderman said. “We are still working with the railroad to make other changes to improve the system in the future.”

The South Fork Commuter Connection also resumes Friday service beginning September 6. For more information on the train schedule and amenities, visit www.sfcclirr.com or Southampton Town’s website at www.southamptontownny.gov.

desiree@indyeastend.com