Editing Long Island Rail Road (section)

==== East Side Access ====
{{Main|East Side Access}}
The East Side Access project built a LIRR spur to Grand Central Terminal that will run in part via the lower level of the existing [[63rd Street Tunnel]].<ref name=":3">[http://web.mta.info/capital/esa_alt.html Project overview] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908150551/http://web.mta.info/capital/esa_alt.html|date=September 8, 2018}}, MTA, Accessed June 7, 2018</ref> The East Side Access project added a new eight-track terminal called [[Grand Central Madison]] underneath the existing Grand Central Terminal.<ref name=":3" /> The project was first proposed in the 1968 [[Program for Action]], but due to various funding shortfalls, construction did not start until 2007.<ref>{{cite web |last=Neuman |first=William |date=May 11, 2007 |title=Awaiting Rock-Eating Beast, L.I.R.R. Tunnel Is Poised to Finish Trip to Grand Central |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/11/nyregion/11tunnel.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204182611/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/11/nyregion/11tunnel.html |archive-date=February 4, 2018 |access-date=February 3, 2018 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> {{As of|April 2018}}, the project was expected to cost $11.1 billion and was tentatively scheduled to start service in December 2022.<ref name="Siff 2018">{{cite web |last=Siff |first=Andrew |date=April 16, 2018 |title=MTA Megaproject to Cost Almost $1B More Than Prior Estimate |url=http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/East-Side-Access-MTA-Project-Cost-Infrastructure-479628223.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417024310/https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/East-Side-Access-MTA-Project-Cost-Infrastructure-479628223.html |archive-date=April 17, 2018 |access-date=April 16, 2018 |website=NBC New York}}</ref><ref name="Castillo 2018">{{cite news |last=Castillo |first=Alfonso A. |date=April 15, 2018 |title=East Side Access price tag now stands at $11.2B |url=https://www.newsday.com/long-island/east-side-access-tour-1.18020231 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180415065109/https://www.newsday.com/long-island/east-side-access-tour-1.18020231 |archive-date=April 15, 2018 |access-date=April 16, 2018 |website=Newsday}}</ref> It opened on January 25, 2023, with limited shuttle service between Jamaica and Grand Central.<ref>{{cite web |last=Siff |first=Andrew |date=January 23, 2023 |title=NYC's New LIRR Stop at Grand Central Madison Set to Open This Week – What to Know |url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/nycs-new-lirr-stop-at-grand-central-madison-set-to-open-this-week-what-to-know/4063632/ |access-date=January 24, 2023 |website=NBC New York}}</ref> Full service to Grand Central began on February 27, 2023.<ref>{{cite news |date=February 9, 2023 |title=MTA announces when full LIRR service will begin at Grand Central Madison |url=https://abc7ny.com/lirr-train-service-grand-central-madison-opens/12788713/ |access-date=February 18, 2023 |work=ABC7 New York |language=en}}</ref>

Several "readiness projects" were also completed to increase peak-hour capacity across the LIRR system in preparation for expanded peak-hour service after the completion of East Side Access.<ref name="TimesLedger Readiness">{{Cite web |last1=Anuta |first1=Joe |last2=Newman |first2=Philip |date=June 5, 2013 |title=Queens Tomorrow: LIRR headed to Grand Central |url=https://www.timesledger.com/stories/2013/22/queenstransit_qt_2013_05_31_q2.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180525133216/https://www.timesledger.com/stories/2013/22/queenstransit_qt_2013_05_31_q2.html |archive-date=May 25, 2018 |access-date=May 24, 2018 |website=TimesLedger |publisher=[[TimesLedger Newspapers]]}}</ref><ref name="Jan 2013">{{cite web |date=January 2013 |title=MTA Capital Program Oversight Meeting |url=http://web.mta.info/mta/news/books/archive/130128_1330_CPOC.pdf#page=8 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025231644/http://web.mta.info/mta/news/books/archive/130128_1330_CPOC.pdf#page=8 |archive-date=October 25, 2017 |access-date=May 24, 2018 |work=[[Metropolitan Transportation Authority|mta.info]] |publisher=[[Metropolitan Transportation Authority]] |page=8}}</ref><ref name="Nov 2017">{{cite web |date=November 2017 |title=MTA Long Island Rail Road Committee Meeting |url=http://web.mta.info/mta/news/books/archive/140623_1345_CPOC.pdf#page=35 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205130002/http://web.mta.info/mta/news/books/archive/140623_1345_CPOC.pdf#page=35 |archive-date=February 5, 2018 |access-date=May 24, 2018 |work=[[Metropolitan Transportation Authority|mta.info]] |publisher=[[Metropolitan Transportation Authority]] |page=35}}</ref> The LIRR constructed a new platform for [[Atlantic Terminal]]-bound trains at [[Jamaica station]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kulick |first=Beth |date=2014 |title=Jamaica Interlocking Reconfiguration Operations Simulation |url=http://www.apta.com/mc/rail/previous/2014/papers/Papers/Beth%20Kulick%20Reconfiguration.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305225627/http://www.apta.com/mc/rail/previous/2014/papers/papers/beth%20kulick%20reconfiguration.pdf |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |access-date=February 5, 2018 |website=apta.com |publisher=TranSystems Corporation}}</ref> converting most [[Atlantic Branch]] service between these two stations into a high-frequency shuttle.<ref name="MTA-LIRR-Hicksville-2016" /> The LIRR also installed a new storage track east of [[Massapequa station|Massapequa]] and extended one east of [[Great Neck station]],<ref name="Nov 2017" /><ref name="Great Neck Record">{{cite web |author=Wendy Karpel Kreitzman |date=November 19, 2010 |title=MTA Announces Second Pocket Track Proposed for LIRR in Great Neck |url=https://antonnews.com/greatneckrecord/news/11688-mta-announces-second-pocket-track-proposed-for-lirr-in-great-neck.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101209021339/https://antonnews.com/greatneckrecord/news/11688-mta-announces-second-pocket-track-proposed-for-lirr-in-great-neck.html |archive-date=December 9, 2010 |access-date=May 24, 2018 |publisher=Great Neck Record}}</ref> in addition to expanding the train yard at [[Ronkonkoma station|Ronkonkoma]].<ref name="Nov 2017" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=L60601YL Port Washington Yard Reconfiguration |url=http://web.mta.info/capitaldashboard/allframenew_head.html?PROJNUM=l60601yl&PLTYPE=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170903211912/http://web.mta.info/capitaldashboard/allframenew_head.html?PROJNUM=l60601yl&PLTYPE=1 |archive-date=September 3, 2017 |access-date=September 3, 2017 |website=web.mta.info |publisher=Metropolitan Transportation Authority}}</ref><ref name="schedule">{{cite web |title=Mid-Suffolk Yard Schedule |url=http://web.mta.info/lirr/midsuffolkyard/schedule.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906021615/http://web.mta.info/lirr/midsuffolkyard/schedule.htm |archive-date=September 6, 2015 |access-date=November 2, 2015 |work=mta.info |publisher=Metropolitan Transportation Authority}}</ref> An expansion of the yard at [[Port Washington station|Port Washington]] was also proposed, but {{As of|September 2022|lc=y}}, the MTA has not come to an agreement with the [[Town of North Hempstead]],<ref name="Nov 2020">{{cite report |url=https://new.mta.info/document/23951 |title=Joint Metro-North and Long Island Committees Meeting |date=November 2020 |access-date=June 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211013091935/https://new.mta.info/document/23951 |archive-date=October 13, 2021 |url-status=live |website=mta.info}}</ref>{{rp|65}} resulting in the project being postponed indefinitely.<ref name="senate092822">{{cite web |last=Kaplan |first=Anna M. |author-link=Anna Kaplan |date=September 28, 2022 |title=Important LIRR Commuter Update: Express Trains Have Been Saved |url=https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/articles/2022/anna-m-kaplan/important-lirr-commuter-update-express-trains-have-been-saved |access-date=October 1, 2022 |website=nysenate.gov}}</ref><ref name="Nov 2021">{{cite report |url=https://new.mta.info/document/64116 |title=Joint Metro-North and Long Island Committees Meeting |date=November 2021 |access-date=June 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707000115/https://new.mta.info/document/64116 |archive-date=July 7, 2022 |url-status=live |website=mta.info}}</ref>{{rp|61}}

There are also plans to build [[Sunnyside station (New York)|a new station]] in the Queens neighborhood of [[Sunnyside, Queens|Sunnyside]], in between the New York terminals and the [[Woodside station (LIRR)|Woodside]] station, serving as a rail hub for all LIRR branches and potentially some Amtrak and New Jersey Transit trains, as well.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=February 12, 2019 |title=Queens Officials Renew Call For Sunnyside LIRR Station |url=https://patch.com/new-york/queens/queens-officials-renew-call-sunnyside-lirr-station |access-date=July 19, 2020 |website=Queens, NY Patch |language=en}}</ref> The Sunnyside station is to be built after the completion of East Side Access, due to current capacity constraints.<ref name=":4" />

<gallery mode="packed" heights="150">
ESA Progress Photos - Concourse and Terminal - 40254364453.jpg|One of Grand Central Madison's lower-level platforms under construction in January 2019
Massapequa Pocket Track with Third rail.jpg|The new pocket track in Massapequa, located in between the two outer tracks, as viewed from a passing Babylon Branch train
Platform F construction from AirTrain, August 2019.JPG|Construction on Jamaica's new platform in August 2019
</gallery>