On June 5, members of the LIRRCC manned a table in Penn Station under the departure boards and talked with some 200-300 riders. Over 100 riders added their names to the LIRRCC email list while staff recorded almost a dozen pages of complaints and comments. This phenomenal response points to the frustration that riders have trying to get answers from LIRR. The range of grievances covered operations (lack of stops, short trains), the hated refund policy, train environment (temperature, dirty cars, inaudible announcements), ticket machines, the crowded waiting room in Penn Station on weekends, non-working escalators, the ineffectual Lost and Found, ticket prices and Mail & Ride. The Council will be compiling these comments and meeting with LIRR personnel to discuss what actions can be taken. Wherever possible the LIRRCC will follow-up with the individual riders to let them know the LIRR response/explanation.
Representing the Council were: Mark Epstein, Chair; Matt Kessler, Vice Chair; Shelia Carpenter; Michael Godino; Bryan Peranzo; and Larry Rubinstein.
Information about membership on the Council can be obtained by calling the office (212-878-7087) or emailing [email protected].