MTA, NYRA restore Belmont's train service

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority and New York Racing Association announced today that the Long Island Rail Road's train service to Belmont Park has been restored for the summer, beginning Friday, April 29.

The restoration came just in time for Belmont's Spring/Summer Meet, which begins at 1 p.m. on Friday. The train service was eliminated in 2010 due to a $900 million budget shortfall faced by the MTA. Several other service reductions were also implemented by the LIRR, due to the shortfall.

"This is a unique agreement that brings in new revenue for the LIRR while restoring an important service for customers," said Helena Williams, president of the LIRR. "We are grateful that The New York Racing Association has stepped up to bring back a service that the LIRR could no longer afford to provide on our own in the current financial climate. The LIRR has been taking racing fans to Belmont for decades and we hope this new partnership between our organizations will continue for decades to come."

Williams and NYRA officials made the announcement at a news conference in Penn Station today, where they were joined by Sam the Bugler, the famed racetrack musician who summons fans to the rail with stirring renditions of “Call to the Post.”

For opening weekend at Belmont Park's Opening Day, this Friday, LIRR customers will be entitled to free grandstand admission at the racetrack. Regular admission to the grandstand is $3. For the remainder of the Spring/Summer Meet, LIRR customers who purchase “Belmont Package” tickets will receive a $1 discount off the regular $3 admission.

LIRR Service to Belmont Park:

Trains to and from Belmont Park will run at the following times:

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

Eastbound

· 11:58 a.m. from Penn Station, stopping at Woodside at 12:09 p.m. and Jamaica at 12:20 p.m., will arrive at Belmont Park at 12:32 p.m.

· 1:14 p.m. from Penn Station, stopping at Woodside at 1:25 p.m., and Jamaica 1:40 p.m. will arrive at Belmont Park at 1:53 p.m.

Westbound

· 3:56 p.m. from Belmont Park, stopping at Jamaica at 4:09 p.m. and Woodside at 4:23 p.m., will arrive at Penn Station at 4:34 p.m.

· 6 p.m. train from Belmont Park, stopping at Jamaica at 6:12 p.m. and Woodside at 6:24 p.m., will arrive at Penn Station at 6:34 p.m.