LIRR service enhanced for pope's visit

Be prepared for street closures, entrance/exit closures at Penn

Posted

Pope Francis will have a full schedule of events across the city on Friday, Sept. 25, including an evening Mass at Madison Square Garden. The LIRR plans to operate normal AM and PM peak train service to/from Penn Station during the Pope’s visit, and extra trains will be provided during certain off-peak periods.

However, certain entrances, exits and stairways at Penn Station will be closed for security reasons. The LIRR’s 34th Street Entrance and the Amtrak entrance at 32nd Street and Seventh Avenue under the MSG marquee are expected to remain open. Customers should expect heavier than normal volume at these access points.

MTA Police and additional LIRR staff will be available in Penn Station to assist customers.

Access to the pope’s events is strictly limited to ticket-holders; those without tickets are advised to avoid the areas the pope is visiting. People who can avoid traveling into Manhattan on those days should do so, since street closures will result in traffic congestion and pedestrian diversions. Consider traveling to/from Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn instead, where there are subway connections to the 2, 3, 4, 5, B, D, N, Q and R subway lines.

The LIRR will operate eight extra westbound trains to Penn Station on Friday, including three leaving Babylon at 12:20 PM, 12:43 PM and 1:20 PM; two departing Huntington at 12:19 PM and 1:19 PM; one leaving Hicksville at 1:07 PM; and two departing Ronkonkoma at 12:40 PM and 1:40 PM. Customers taking the LIRR to papal events should buy round-trip train tickets and MetroCards in advance and expect some crowding. Extra eastbound trains will be on standby at Penn Station to carry travelers back to Long Island on Friday night at the conclusion of the Papal Mass.

Prior to the pope’s visit, travelers are encouraged to check news and traffic reports, and sign up for text/email alerts about changing transit conditions. You can sign up for LIRR alerts at www.mymtaalerts.com