Cannonball (LIRR train)

Last updated

Cannonball
LIRR Cannonball train 2798.jpg
The Cannonball passing through Bay Shore in 2008.
Overview
Service type Commuter rail
Inter-city rail
StatusOperating
Locale Northeast United States
Long Island
First service1899 (as Cannon Ball)
Current operator(s) Long Island Rail Road
Route
Termini New York City
Montauk, New York
Stops9 (Westbound)
6 (Eastbound)
Distance travelled118.0 miles (190 km)
Average journey time3 hours
Service frequencyWeekly [1]
Eastbound on summer Fridays
Westbound on summer Sundays
Train number(s)16 (eastbound) [1]
6017 (westbound) [1]
On-board services
Class(es)
  • Unreserved Coach
Seating arrangementsCoach seating (2 by 2)
Baggage facilitiesOverhead racks
Technical
Rolling stock
Track gauge 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electrification 750 V (DC) third rail (Penn Station to Babylon)
None (Babylon to Montauk)
Track owner(s) LIRR

The Cannonball is a seasonal named train operated by the Long Island Rail Road between Penn Station in New York City and the Montauk station on Long Island, New York. The train operates from May through October, running Fridays to Montauk and Sundays to New York. [2]

Contents

History

Cannon Ball and Sunrise Special (1899–1939)

Inaugural westbound run of the Cannon Ball from Montauk in 1899 First run of the LIRR Cannonball.jpg
Inaugural westbound run of the Cannon Ball from Montauk in 1899
The Cannonball approaching Eastport via the Manorville Branch in 1923 Cannonball at Eastport via the Manorville Branch, 1923.jpg
The Cannonball approaching Eastport via the Manorville Branch in 1923

The predecessor of the Cannonball was a seasonal afternoon express train from New York City to Sag Harbor, which began operation shortly after the now-abandoned Sag Harbor Branch was completed in 1870. [3] [4] The name Cannon-ball was first used informally for this train, which was officially known as the Shelter Island and Hamptons Express, around 1893. [5] In 1895, the railroad between Bridgehampton and Montauk was completed, [6] and four years later, the Cannon Ball Express was inaugurated. [7] [8] :110 It ran between Long Island City and either Montauk or Greenport. This service pattern had the train's consist split at the now-closed Manorville station: [9] one section would continue via the Main Line to Greenport, while the other would travel via the Manorville Branch to join the Montauk Branch at Eastport, thereafter continuing to Montauk. Under its original service pattern, the train operated eastbound on Friday and Saturday afternoons and westbound on Saturday and Monday mornings, running nonstop between Jamaica and Speonk. [10] [11] For service to or from Atlantic Terminal or Penn Station, passengers had to change at Jamaica.

In summer 1922, the LIRR renamed the train as the Sunrise Special. Between Memorial Day and Columbus Day, service was operated eastbound from Penn Station to Montauk on Friday afternoons and westbound on Monday mornings, with bidirectional Monday–Saturday service during July and August. At this time, the train consisted entirely of pullman cars. [8] :114 By 1930, the name Cannon Ball was again used for the train departing late Friday afternoons and serving both Montauk and Greenport, while the name Sunrise Special was given to a newly-inaugurated early afternoon Montauk Branch train. [9]

LIRR decline and regrowth (1939–1965)

During and after World War II, the LIRR faced financial troubles and implemented a number of service cuts. [12] Cannonball service to Greenport was discontinued in 1942,[ citation needed ] and the train was permanently rerouted via the Montauk Branch by 1944, when passenger and freight traffic via the Manorville Branch between Manorville and Eastport ceased. [13] The LIRR declared bankruptcy in 1949, [12] and later that year, abandoned the Manorville Branch and eliminated the Cannonball express service. [13] [14] [15] [6] In place of the westbound train, the railroad ran a train making additional stops and without special coaches, and no alternative service was provided to replace the eastbound train. [15] The removal of the Cannonball sparked outcry and protests from commuters, who highlighted that it was the only express train to and from the East End. [16] [17] After several hearings following commuters' complaints, the Cannonball was reinstated in early 1950. [15]

In Februrary 1953, amid bankruptcy, the LIRR sought to cease operations on the Montauk branch east of Patchogue and operate bus service in its place. It cited low, predominantly non-commuter ridership, proximity to the Main Line (at least as far east as Riverhead), and potential savings of $450,000 per year, which included track maintenance costs to run trains such as the Cannonball. [18] [19] The Town of East Hampton protested this proposed closure, highlighting the potential for increased vehicular traffic due to lack of alternative means of travel. [19] The railroad began to recover from bankruptcy in 1954 and the Montauk Branch remained operational. During the subsequent revitalization of the railroad, new rolling stock – which included amenities such as air conditioning – would be acquired to replace decades-old equipment. [20] [21]

Beginning in summer 1961, the western terminus of the Cannonball was changed from Jamaica to Hunterspoint Avenue, eliminating the need for some passengers traveling to or from Manhattan to change at Jamaica. The following year, the train was operated entirely with parlor cars, which offered roomettes and full dining car service. [20] Previously, the train had operated with both standard-fare coaches and parlor cars. Historically, the train has been known for its parlor car service and party scene (in which cocktails were served), [22] and ridership on the train has been accordingly perceived as a status symbol. [7] The train's popularity also meant that it would frequently draw in larger crowds than it could seat. [20] Also in 1962, the name of the train changed to the Cannonball Express. [23] This new name of the train paid homage to jazz musician Cannonball Adderley. [24]

MTA takeover (1965–2013)

An eastbound Cannonball passing through Woodside in 2009 LIRR DM30AC 505 with Cannonball Sign at Woodside.jpg
An eastbound Cannonball passing through Woodside in 2009

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the Cannonball continued to utilize exclusively parlor cars in its consist. [21] [25] The Cannonball operated with as many as 18 cars, requiring it to make two or even three stops at each station because only eight cars could platform at a time. [22] Railroad Director of Special Services Walter McNamara stated that the Cannonball was the only all-parlor car train in the United States. [25] Within the next few years, the railroad reinstated regular coach seating on the Cannonball, while continuing to provide parlor car service for an additional fee. During the late 1970s, the segment of the Montauk Branch between Speonk and Montauk was rehabilitated, which allowed the Cannonball to offer a total Manhattan–Montauk travel time of less than three hours. [26] This enabled the railroad to remain competitive with the newly-established Hampton Jitney bus service, which began operations in 1974 to provide an alternative means of transportation to and from the Hamptons and expanded operations into New York City by the early 1980s. [27]

Between 1998 and 2000, the LIRR retired its P72 and P75 coaches and replaced them with double-decker C3 coaches. The new rolling stock did not include any bar cars; some riders felt this had eliminated the party scene common aboard the train in previous years. [7] The retirement of parlor cars has also been considered a symbol of decreasing popularity of rail travel, especially among the wealthy. [28] Beginning in 2001, the LIRR has instead offered a Hamptons Reserve service, which included advanced seating reservations, bar service to passengers in their seats, and special luggage storage, at a premium over the standard ticket price. [7] [29] Hamptons Reserve service was offered in two cars, with the remainder of the train having unrestricted seating. [28] [30] Seat reservations were unique to the Cannonball's Hamptons Reserve cars and were not offered on any other LIRR train; various passengers described "relaxing" rides in contrast to overcrowding in the nonreserved cars. [31] [32] For several years, the train's nonreserved cars also offered bar service, though without extra attendants and catering. [31]

Dual-mode service (2013–present)

Departure information at Penn Station for the first Cannonball trip of 2021 LIRR 'Cannonball' (51210347300).jpg
Departure information at Penn Station for the first Cannonball trip of 2021

Beginning in 2013, the western terminus of the train was changed from Hunterspoint Avenue to Penn Station, with the train utilizing dual-mode DM30AC locomotives. [2] This change also eliminated the stop at Jamaica; the Cannonball would run nonstop between Penn Station and Westhampton with a scheduled travel time of 94 minutes. MTA officials expressed that Penn Station was better equipped to handle large crowds, in contrast to Hunterspoint Avenue and Jamaica, an issue that customers had also reported. [29] The schedule change also brought about a substantial fare increase, however, as its departure time was adjusted to be within the peak pricing period during the afternoon rush hour. [33] At the same time, the MTA introduced the Cannonball West, a Sunday evening train between Montauk and Penn Station that would run nonstop between Westhampton and Jamaica and also offer Hamptons Reserve service, [34] though on 2024 timetables, only the eastbound train is named the Cannonball. [1]

In the 2013 season, Hamptons Reserve ridership was reported to have increased by more than 100% compared to the previous year. [30] [35] The following year, the LIRR instituted a policy by which refunds for Hamptons Reserve reservations would not be provided after the day before the scheduled trip. MTA officials believed that 20–30% of Hamptons Reserve seats were unfilled because they were part of multiple-seat bookings by the same customers – "seat hoarding" – which resulted in lost revenue for the MTA and greater difficulty (e.g., longer waitlists) for customers seeking to make reservations aboard the train. [36] [35]

In 2015, the Federal Railroad Administration investigated concerns of safety due to crowding aboard the Cannonball; some runs of the train were reported to be filled at almost 150% capacity in the non-reserved section. [37] Beginning that season, the LIRR had allocated three cars to Hamptons Reserve service, rather than two as in previous years. [37] [38] The LIRR responded to these concerns by imposing new restrictions on oversized luggage, effective beginning with the train's run on August 21. [39] Despite these restrictions, excess loading – and thereby passengers not having seats – remained an issue aboard the Cannonball, as well as aboard other Montauk Branch trains during the summer. [40]

The Cannonball was suspended for the entirety of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The train resumed operating in 2021; it carried approximately 585 passengers on its first run of the season on Memorial Day weekend. [41] However, Hamptons Reserve service was not reinstated, and thus only unreserved seating has been available aboard the train following its restoration. [42] [43] Although overall ridership on the Long Island Railroad has not fully recovered following the pandemic, [44] the Cannonball transported roughly 1,575 passengers east on Memorial Day weekend in 2023, a figure comparable to pre-pandemic levels. [45]

Operation

The boarding of a Hamptons Reserve car of the Cannonball at Penn Station on its inaugural run from there on May 24, 2013 LIRR 3336 (8819165900).jpg
The boarding of a Hamptons Reserve car of the Cannonball at Penn Station on its inaugural run from there on May 24, 2013

Equipment

The Cannonball train consists of two dual-mode DM30AC locomotives, one on each end of the train, and usually runs with twelve C3 coach cars eastbound and eight cars westbound. This equipment is not unique to the Cannonball; all diesel trains on the Long Island Rail Road have used the same equipment since the fleet was delivered in the late 1990s. Because the eastbound Cannonball operates with twelve cars, and most station platforms in the Hamptons are 6–8 cars long, [lower-alpha 1] the train makes two stops at each station to allow passengers to alight from all cars. [46] Its schedule builds in two additional minutes for each stop relative to the off-season Friday express train. [1]

The LIRR uses 750 volt DC third rail to power its electric lines, [47] though dual-mode trains such as the Cannonball do not run long-distance in electric mode, only doing so near the beginning or end of their runs to travel through the East River Tunnels. On the eastbound run, the locomotives are switched to diesel power at Woodside station. Going west, the mode switchover occurs at VALLEY interlocking (near Valley Stream station) or QUEENS interlocking (near Elmont-UBS Arena station), before the train arrives at Jamaica station. [48] :I-72

Route

Closeup of the Drumhead on the front of the train LIRR Cannonball Drumhead.jpg
Closeup of the Drumhead on the front of the train

The Cannonball utilizes the Main Line between Penn Station and Jamaica. East of Jamaica, the train continues to Babylon either via the Montauk Branch or via the Main Line to Bethpage and Central Branch to Babylon, before following the Montauk Branch east to Montauk. In the 2010s and 2020s, the Cannonball has usually been routed over the Montauk Branch west of Babylon. [48] :42 Unlike regular Montauk Branch trains, the eastbound Cannonball does not make any intermediate stops between Penn Station and the Hamptons. [1] Thanks to this express segment, the scheduled run time of the Cannonball is 2 hours, 41 minutes; it is scheduled to depart from Penn Station at 4:07 p.m. and arrive at Montauk at 6:48 p.m. Similarly, the Cannonball West, which makes no intermediate stops between Westhampton and Jamaica, has an end-to-end travel time of 2 hours, 51 minutes. These travel times are over 30 minutes shorter than those of some trains that operate year-round and make local stops west of Westhampton. [1] The train reaches a maximum speed of 80 miles per hour (130 km/h) in electrified territory west of Bethpage or Babylon and a maximum speed of 65 miles per hour (105 km/h) in diesel territory, though several curves and interlockings along the route have a lower maximum acceptable speed. [48] :I-28–I-30 Signalization of the entire Montauk Branch was completed in 2017, allowing the speed limit to be raised east of Speonk. [49] [50]

Fare and service

As of August 20, 2023, an adult one-way ticket from Penn Station (Zone 1) to stations in The Hamptons (Zone 14) costs $31.75 (at the ticket machine or MTA TrainTime app) or $38.00 (if purchased onboard the train). [51] Due to the train's departure time during the PM rush hour, peak pricing is in effect. [1] As with all other peak trains and some other seasonal Montauk Branch trains, bicycles are not allowed aboard the Cannonball. [42] The C3 coaches offer 2×2 seating in a split bi-level configuration and have a capacity of 137–143 seated passengers per car. The middle level is used for boarding and alighting – as all LIRR stations have high-level platforms – and offers ADA-accessible seating; odd-numbered cars are also equipped with a lavatory. [52] Between 2001 and 2019, the Hamptons Reserve Service was a premium service with reserved seating and full bar service in two or three designated cars. [2] [7] [53] [lower-alpha 2] It was introduced to replace the discontinued parlor cars and cost an additional $20.00 over the base ticket price, [2] [7] though it has not been offered since before the pandemic. [43]

Interior of a C3 car formerly used for Hamptons Reserve service, with stickers enumerating reserved seats LIRR C3 interior - former Hamptons Reserve seating.jpg
Interior of a C3 car formerly used for Hamptons Reserve service, with stickers enumerating reserved seats

The Cannonball operates eastbound on Fridays from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend inclusive. It also operates on July 3rd (the day preceding Independence Day) when that date falls between Monday and Thursday inclusive, [1] though does not operate when July 4th falls on a Friday, as the railroad operates on a weekend schedule that day. [38] On off-season Fridays, as well as summer Thursdays, a similar express train to the Cannonball operates, though this train operates with a shorter consist. [46] The westbound Cannonball operates on Sundays from Memorial Day weekend through Columbus Day weekend inclusive, as well as on July 4th when it falls between Sunday and Wednesday inclusive, though on Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends, it operates on Monday rather than Sunday. On summer weekends, a number of other seasonal Montauk Branch trains operate, though these trains no longer have special names. [1] Travel on the Cannonball and other seasonal trains is typically greatest on holiday weekends.

Stations

The Cannonball stops at the following stations: [1]

Zone [55] Town/CityStation Miles (km)
from NYP [lower-alpha 3]
Date
opened [6]
Connections and notes
1 New York City Penn Station 0.0 (0)1910 BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg Amtrak (long-distance): Cardinal , Crescent , Lake Shore Limited , Palmetto , Silver Meteor , Silver Star [56]
BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg Amtrak (intercity): Acela , Adirondack , Berkshire Flyer , Carolinian , Empire Service , Ethan Allen Express , Keystone Service , Maple Leaf , Northeast Regional , Pennsylvanian , Vermonter [56]
MTA NYC logo.svg LIRR:   Babylon Branch,   Far Rockaway Branch,   Hempstead Branch,   Montauk Branch,   Long Beach Branch,   Oyster Bay Branch,   Port Jefferson Branch,   Port Washington Branch,   Ronkonkoma Branch,   West Hempstead Branch
NJT logo.svg NJ Transit:   North Jersey Coast Line,   Northeast Corridor Line,   Gladstone Branch,   Montclair-Boonton Line,   Morristown Line
BSicon SUBWAY.svg NYC Subway: NYCS-bull-trans-1-Std.svg NYCS-bull-trans-2-Std.svg NYCS-bull-trans-3-Std.svg NYCS-bull-trans-A-Std.svg NYCS-bull-trans-C-Std.svg NYCS-bull-trans-E-Std.svg
PATH logo.svg PATH: HOB-33 JSQ-33 JSQ-33 (via HOB)
Bus-logo.svg NYC Transit Bus
3 Jamaica, Queens Jamaica
(westbound only)
11.2 (18.0)1836 MTA NYC logo.svg LIRR:   Atlantic Branch,   Babylon Branch,   Far Rockaway Branch,   Hempstead Branch,   Montauk Branch,   Long Beach Branch,   Oyster Bay Branch,   Port Jefferson Branch,   Ronkonkoma Branch,   West Hempstead Branch
BSicon SUBWAY.svg NYC Subway: NYCS-bull-trans-E-Std.svg NYCS-bull-trans-J-Std.svg NYCS-bull-trans-Z-Std.svg (at Sutphin Boulevard–Archer Avenue–JFK Airport)
Aiga bus trans.svg NYC Transit Bus
Aiga bus trans.svg Nassau Inter-County Express Bus
AirTrain JFK notext logo.svg AirTrain JFK
14 Westhampton Westhampton 76.5 (123.1)1870
Hampton Bays Hampton Bays
(westbound only)
83.4 (134.2)1869Aiga bus trans.svg Suffolk County Transit Bus (regular service) [57]
Southampton Southampton 91.5 (147.3)1871Aiga bus trans.svg Suffolk County Transit Bus (regular service and Southampton on-demand zone) [57] [58]
Bridgehampton Bridgehampton 96.2 (154.8)1870Aiga bus trans.svg Suffolk County Transit Bus (regular service) [57]
East Hampton East Hampton 103.1 (165.9)1895Aiga bus trans.svg Suffolk County Transit Bus (regular service and East Hampton on-demand zone) [57] [58]
Amagansett Amagansett
(westbound only)
104.3 (167.9)1895Aiga bus trans.svg Suffolk County Transit Bus (East Hampton on-demand zone) [58]
Montauk Montauk 118.0 (189.9)1895Aiga bus trans.svg Suffolk County Transit Bus (East Hampton on-demand zone) [58]

See also

Notes

  1. The exception is Amagansett, whose platform is one and a half cars long, though the eastbound Cannonball does not stop there.
  2. The cars designated for Hamptons Reserve service had lavatories and a reduced capacity of 108 passengers (compared to 137), with the extra space dedicated to amenities such as luggage racks. [31] [54] However, they were otherwise physically identical to the other C3s, and could be operated in regular service without amenities during the off-season.
  3. Mileage varies depending on the precise route. These numbers assume using the Main Line from New York Penn to Jamaica and the Montauk Branch from Jamaica to Montauk. [48] :IV

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