Brooklyn, NY - August 4, 2015 - The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) is introducing enhanced service to make New York Islanders games in Brooklyn easily accessible for fans on Long Island.
On weekdays, the new schedule will include two additional eastbound trains that will depart from Atlantic Terminal 20 minutes following the conclusion of each Islanders home game. The trains will run to Babylon and Farmingdale, respectively, stopping first at Jamaica and then making all local stops. Riders traveling to destinations on those two lines will not have to change trains at Jamaica. All other riders will change at Jamaica to catch eastbound trains serving their branch.
For weekday westbound service, fans heading to Barclays Center from stations on the Hempstead Branch and Far Rockaway Branch can travel directly to Atlantic Terminal, with a stop in Jamaica, without changing trains. All other riders will change at Jamaica for Brooklyn-bound service. Trains depart from Jamaica for Atlantic Terminal every 15 minutes for the 15-20 minute ride to Barclays Center.
On weekends and holidays, there will be two additional pre-game westbound trains and two additional post-game eastbound trains. Eastbound trains will leave 20 minutes following the conclusion of each game and will run on the same lines as weekday trains. Islanders fans traveling round trip from/to Babylon or Farmingdale, and all local stops in between, will not have to change trains at Jamaica. All other riders will change at Jamaica to catch eastbound trains serving their branch.
Barclays Center will communicate train schedules in real-time during Islanders games on arena monitors located throughout the concourse and on the center-hung scoreboard.
“Throughout the Islanders relocation to Barclays Center, we have made it a priority to ensure that the team’s fans on Long Island follow the team to Brooklyn,” said Brett Yormark, CEO of Barclays Center. “We are proud to partner with the LIRR to announce additional trains that will make that process easier and more convenient for our Long Island fans.”
“Park the car at your local LIRR station because Barclays Center is right across the street from our Atlantic Terminal station in Brooklyn,” said LIRR President Patrick A. Nowakowski. “There is just no faster or more convenient way to get to and from an Islanders game than the LIRR.”
Since Barclays Center opened nearly three years ago, LIRR ridership to Brooklyn has increased by approximately 300%.
About MTA Long Island Rail Road:
MTA Long Island Rail Road is the nation’s busiest commuter line and the oldest U.S. railroad still operating under its original name and charter. The LIRR carries more than 270,000 customers daily to and from 124 stations spread over 11 branches and covering more 500 miles of track between Midtown Manhattan and the East End of Long Island. It is also one of the few commuter systems in the world that runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round. Founded in 1834 as a private company, the LIRR today operates as a subsidiary of the New York State Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which oversees public transportation in a 12 county downstate region of New York, operating trains, buses, bridges and tunnels.
About Barclays Center:
Barclays Center opened on September 28, 2012, and is a major sports and entertainment venue in the heart of Brooklyn, New York. One of the most intimate seating configurations ever designed into a modern multi-purpose arena, Barclays Center offers 17,732 seats for basketball, 15,795 for hockey, and up to 19,000 seats for concerts, and has 101 luxury suites, four bars/lounges, four clubs, and 40/40 CLUB & Restaurant by American Express.
Barclays Center hosts an extensive variety of events, including premier concerts, major professional boxing cards, top college basketball, family shows, the Brooklyn Nets and, starting next season, the New York Islanders.
Barclays Center has redefined the arena customer service and culinary experience. Its more than 2,000 employees are trained by Disney Institute, the business advisory arm of The Walt Disney Company, and its BrooklynTaste™ food program features selections from 55 well-known restaurants and vendors in the borough.
Barclays Center engages the customer with state-of-the-art technology to enhance the fan experience. As the first arena in the world to utilize Cisco StadiumVision mobile multicast streaming technology, Barclays Center allows fans to watch live video and instant replays from their mobile phones while connected to the arena’s free Wi-Fi.
Located atop one of the largest transportation hubs in New York City, Barclays Center is accessible by 11 subway lines, the Long Island Rail Road, and 11 bus lines.