By Philip Newman
The Long Island Rail Road plans to increase its Quiet Car program starting Monday as the result of what LIRR President Helena Williams calls “very positive response from our customers.”
The LIRR said the special cars will include all peak, single-level trains running to and from Penn Station and Atlantic Terminal during morning and evening rush hours
The railroad began the pilot program in the peak period on the Far Rockaway branch in December and expanded it to include the Long Beach, Hempstead and West Hempstead branches earlier this year.
Quiet Cars are for LIRR riders who want peace and quiet free of cellphone talk, noise from other electronic devices and annoying, one-sided conversations from fellow travelers.
“We have closely monitored the pilot Quiet Car program since its inception at the end of 2011 and through its first expansion in March and have seen a very positive response from our customers,” said Williams. “Some of our customers are eager to enjoy some quiet time during their commutes and this expansion is designed to meet those requests. We all have been on a train when someone is talking too loudly on a cellphone or playing music on headsets at a high volume. This program gives customers an alternative.”
Conductors on board Quiet Cars will hand out special “Shh” cars to riders who do not comply with rules.
