Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials commemorated the 180th anniversary of the Long Island Railroad on Thursday with a celebration at its Mineola train station.
“We remain committed to delivering safe, secure and reliable rail transportation for Long Island and we look forward to expanding our ridership in the years ahead,” said Long Island Railroad President Helena E. Williams, who was joined at the Mineola station by MTA board members and historians.
Historic photographs and other Long Island Railroad artifacts were displayed in the station’s waiting room, and officials held drawings for free tickets to several upcoming events in the Metropolitan area.
Long Island Railroad historians Dave Morrison and Steve Quigley also offered anecdotes to commuters passing through the station.
The Long Island Railroad was first chartered by the state of New York on April 24, 1834.
In 1836, the railroad ran its first passenger train. By 1844, the LIRR conducted its first trip from Brooklyn to Greenport.
“When we started operation, Long Island was a very rural area. Andrew Jackson was in the White House and horses ruled the roads,” Williams said. “Today, the LIRR is a key economic driver for Long Island, connecting its residents to high-skilled, high-paying jobs in New York City as well as the wealth of leisure opportunities the city has to offer.”
The Long Island Railroad makes approximately 300,000 trips on an average weekday across 670 miles of track to 124 train stations, MTA officials said.
In 2013, the Long Island Railroad carried approximately 83.4 million riders, making it the busiest commuter rail line in the United States, officials said.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the LIRR “play[s] a vital role in helping to make Long Island one of the most desirable places to live in the nation.”
Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano said the Long Island Railroad was one of the most important assets in the growth of the county’s economy.
“It is hard to conceive what Long Island would be like were it not for the railroad’s ability to move people and commerce in a safe and efficient manner,” Mangano said.
Williams said she is looking forward to the MTA’s East Side Access project, which for the first time would provide direct service to Grand Central Terminal and Manhattan’s East Side.
