Jamaica (LIRR station)
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Jamaica Station (often referred to simply as "Jamaica") is a major hub of the Long Island Rail Road, in Jamaica, Queens, in New York City. It is the largest transit hub on Long Island and is one of the busiest railroad stations in the New York City area—behind Pennsylvania Station, Grand Central Terminal, and Secaucus Junction—with over 1,000 trains passing through it every day. It has a direct rail connection to John F. Kennedy International Airport via AirTrain JFK. There are also elevator connections to the Archer Avenue Line of the New York City Subway at Sutphin Boulevard-JFK Airport (E J Z (1a)), directly below. Numerous bus routes stop just outside.
All LIRR branches and lines except the Port Washington Branch pass through Jamaica Station. The main track westwards leads to Pennsylvania Station in Manhattan, while the Atlantic Branch diverges along Atlantic Avenue to Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. East of Jamaica, tracks diverge and are routed along one of the Main Line branches. Because of its central location and proximity to New York City LIRR terminals in Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan, it is common for commuters to have to "change at Jamaica", meaning switch from one train to another heading for his or her final destination. "Change at Jamaica" is common lingo among LIRR riders.
The main entrance to the station, where tickets may be purchased and where waiting areas are located, is a 100-year old building that also serves as the offices and headquarters of the Long Island Rail Road Company.
[edit] Expansion
In 2006, the MTA completed major renovations, begun in 2001, to expand and upgrade the station. The renovations make it more modern and efficient and provide easier access to all eight LIRR tracks. Additionally, the renovations provide an easier link to the New York City subway and AirTrain, and are compliant with ADA requirements. The $500 million effort was named "2006 Project of the Year" by the Long Island branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers. [1]
Two major transit expansions in active planning will, if completed, increase Jamaica's importance as a gateway to Manhattan: the East Side Access project to a new Manhattan terminal at Grand Central, and the Lower Manhattan-Jamaica/JFK Transportation Project using the Atlantic Branch and a new tunnel under the East River to a new station at the World Trade Center Transportation Hub.
| Next station west | Long Island Rail Road | Next station east | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| To: Penn Station (via Main Line) Kew Gardens To: Long Island City (via Main Line Express and Hunterspoint Branch) Hunterspoint Avenue To: Long Island City (via Lower Montauk Branch) Long Island City To:Flatbush Avenue (via the Atlantic Branch) Boland's Landing (employees-only stop) East New York |
City Terminal Zone | see branch lines below | ||
| see City Terminal Zone above | Belmont Park Branch | To: Belmont Park Hillside Facility (employees-only stop) Belmont Park |
||
| see City Terminal Zone above | Hempstead Branch | To: Hempstead Hillside Facility (employees-only stop) Hollis |
||
| see City Terminal Zone above | Port Jefferson Branch | To: Huntington, Port Jefferson Hillside Facility (employees-only stop) Floral Park (limited service) New Hyde Park |
||
| see City Terminal Zone above | Oyster Bay Branch | To: East Williston, Oyster Bay Hillside Facility (employees-only stop) Floral Park (limited service) Mineola |
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| see City Terminal Zone above | Ronkonkoma Branch | To: Ronkonkoma Hillside Facility (employees-only stop) New Hyde Park (limited service) Mineola |
||
| see City Terminal Zone above | Babylon Branch | To: Babylon Saint Albans |
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| see City Terminal Zone above | West Hempstead Branch | To: West Hempstead Saint Albans |
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| see City Terminal Zone above | Montauk Branch | To: Patchogue, Speonk, Montauk Hillside Facility (employees-only stop) Mineola (limited service) Babylon |
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| see City Terminal Zone above | Far Rockaway Branch | To: Far Rockaway Locust Manor |
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| see City Terminal Zone above | Long Beach Branch | To: Long Beach Locust Manor |
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[edit] See also
[edit] External links
| Active terminals: | Penn Station (PT&T) - Grand Central - Flatbush Avenue - Long Island City - Hoboken |
| Former terminals: | Communipaw - Exchange Place - Pavonia - Weehawken |
| Other stations: | Jamaica - Newark Penn Station |
