Amtrak's first-ever one-seat train will connect Long Island to the rest of civilization
For the first time ever, the national railroad has announced plans for a direct, one-seat (a.k.a. no-transfer) train route connecting Long Island to Washington, D.C., and other Northeast Corridor cities. The proposal would extend three daily Northeast Regional roundtrips east from Penn Station to Ronkonkoma, with stops in Jamaica and Hicksville, creating a seamless link between the island and the mainland U.S.
Translation: No more juggling the LIRR, NJ Transit and the PATH just to get to Philly.
The plan, first revealed at Amtrak's May 22 board meeting and reported by Gothamist, wouldn't launch until at least 2030 and hinges on several factors—namely, the completion of East River Tunnel repairs and the arrival of new Airo trains, which can run on both overhead catenary and third-rail systems.
Nicole Bucich, Amtrak's vice president of network development, confirmed the demand: 'We're not just competitive, we're probably faster and we're getting people to the center of the city.' She added there's strong interest in direct service from Long Island to D.C., Philadelphia and New Jersey.
The proposed service is still in early planning but would run three daily off-peak trains east from Penn Station to Ronkonkoma, and three westbound trips back to D.C., totaling around five hours per ride. The federal government has listed the corridor as one of 69 priority routes for expansion, and Amtrak has applied for up to $500,000 in funding to conduct a technical study.
This wouldn't require building new stations or major infrastructure, but it would require the MTA's cooperation. Amtrak relies on LIRR-owned tracks, and the two agencies are already at odds over tunnel closures impacting LIRR service. For now, the MTA says it's cooperating with the study.
Commuter advocates say this modest step could finally inch the region toward long-desired 'through-running' service, integrating NJ Transit and LIRR so passengers don't have to switch at Penn. It's an idea long championed by former NYC Transit president and current Amtrak exec Andy 'Train Daddy' Byford.
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