Long Island Railroad Makes Service Cuts

NEW YORK -- As of Monday, the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) cut service to five branches due to a budget shortfall. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) said they had to make the cuts to LIRR to help plug an approximately $800 million budget deficit for 2010, adding that they also need to do construction on some of the stations.

LIRR stops in Babylon, Long Beach, Oyster Bay, Port Jefferson, and Port Washington will experience reduced service or no service altogether, the MTA said. In addition, the trains will not go to Belmont Park unless the Belmont Stakes races are going on. Several weeks ago, the MTA also voted to cut service to several bus lines, as well as the M and W trains in New York City.