Governor Hochul celebrates the official opening of the new Yaphank-BNL Long Island Rail Road station to boost travel and economic growth

Albany, New York – A new chapter in Long Island rail travel is beginning as New York officials celebrate the opening of the new Yaphank-BNL Long Island Rail Road station, a project designed to improve transportation links for commuters, employees, students and visitors traveling across Suffolk County. The newly relocated station replaces the former Yaphank stop with a modern, fully accessible facility positioned closer to major employment centers and some of the region’s busiest road connections.

Passenger service at the station officially begins on Saturday, July 18, with the first departures scheduled for 5:36 a.m. toward Greenport and 8:02 a.m. heading to Ronkonkoma. The opening marks a significant milestone for the Long Island Rail Road, becoming the first entirely new station introduced on Long Island since Elmont-UBS Station opened in 2021. It is also only the second new station added to the LIRR network in the past five decades.

State leaders say the relocation was planned with the future of eastern Long Island in mind. By moving the station closer to Brookhaven National Laboratory, nearby industrial employers and major transportation corridors including the William Floyd Parkway and the Long Island Expressway, officials hope to encourage increased rail use while supporting continued economic development throughout the area.

Read also: Monroe County announces temporary closures of parks, Seneca Park Zoo, and outdoor facilities as air quality reaches very unhealthy levels

“The LIRR is the lifeblood of Long Island, and through projects like the brand new Yaphank-BNL station, we are investing in it like never before,” Governor Hochul said. “By locating this new and improved station right next to major employers and critical regional connections, we are ready to move the entire east end towards a future of economic growth and opportunity.”

The station has been designed to meet modern accessibility standards, ensuring that travelers of all abilities can use the facility comfortably. Built in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, it features ramp access to the platform and several improvements aimed at making everyday travel easier.

Among those upgrades are a 50-space parking lot, an integrated bus loop to simplify passenger pickups and drop-offs, bicycle racks, an information totem displaying train schedules, and a Help Point intercom that allows customers to contact assistance directly from the platform when needed.

The platform itself accommodates two train cars, matching the train lengths currently operating on the diesel-powered route between Ronkonkoma and Greenport.

MTA officials described the relocation as a strategic investment that reflects the area’s changing transportation needs and population growth.

MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, “Relocating Yaphank station to be closer to the action was the right choice for a fast-growing community focused on the future. Now that it’s open, we can ramp up the feasibility study now underway that’s exploring new ways to improve and increase service on the Ronkonkoma branch.”

Long Island Rail Road President Rob Free emphasized that the project is intended to deliver a better travel experience while preparing the railroad for future demand.

“Customers on eastern Long Island are getting a modern, fully accessible station designed to better meet their needs today and into the future. Yaphank-BNL improves the customer experience with better amenities, stronger regional connections and the reliable service riders expect from the LIRR.”

Construction leaders also pointed to the project as an example of how transportation improvements can be completed more efficiently while still delivering long-term benefits.

Read also: Rochester’s first-ever Maplewood Nature Center officially opens to the community on Tuesday, July 21 with interactive learning and outdoor experiences

MTA Construction & Development President Jamie Torres-Springer said, “Modern, accessible infrastructure is the key to strengthening the region’s transit network. We’re proving that we can deliver transformational upgrades like the new Yaphank station better, faster, and cheaper than ever — giving riders the reliable service they deserve.”

Accessibility remained a central focus throughout the station’s planning and construction, according to MTA Chief Accessibility Officer Quemuel Arroyo.

“Every new station we open is an opportunity to make public transit more accessible for all our riders. Accessibility is at the heart of every new station we build, ensuring that every customer — regardless of ability — has access to safe and reliable public transportation which ensures access to independence from day one. Yaphank-BNL Station reflects that commitment and expands access to Long Island Rail Road service for generations of riders to come.”

The station’s new location is expected to have a particularly meaningful impact on Brookhaven National Laboratory, one of the country’s leading scientific research institutions. By placing rail service closer to the laboratory, officials believe travel will become easier for researchers, employees, students and international collaborators visiting the campus.

Brookhaven Lab Director John Hill said, “This station creates a direct line to discovery. We are very excited to have it open. It improves access for scientific collaborators from around the world, students from across the region, and staff and visitors from Long Island and New York City. As we build the Electron-Ion Collider and carry out cutting-edge research, it will lead to benefits locally and beyond.”

Business leaders also welcomed the investment, describing transportation improvements as an important ingredient for sustained economic expansion throughout eastern Long Island.

LIA Acting President & CEO Stacey Sikes said, “Infrastructure investments deliver long-term economic returns, and the opening of the new, modernized Yaphank-BNL Station will create a ripple effect across our region. The LIA appreciates the commitment of Governor Hochul, the MTA, and Long Island Rail Road for advancing future upgrades to support growth and opportunity on the East End.”

The station’s debut coincides with a broader effort by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to evaluate the future of rail service east of Ronkonkoma. The agency has launched a comprehensive study examining ways to improve reliability, increase train frequency and modernize infrastructure along the eastern portion of the Main Line.

Today, trains operating beyond Ronkonkoma face several limitations. The route remains a single-track railroad and has not been electrified, requiring diesel-powered trains that operate less frequently than electric service elsewhere on the Long Island Rail Road system.

As part of the study, engineers and planners will examine several possible improvements. These include upgrading signal systems and communications technology, constructing a second track along some or all of the section between Ronkonkoma and Riverhead, and extending electrification farther east.

A second track would allow trains traveling in opposite directions to pass more efficiently while reducing operational bottlenecks. Officials note that such an expansion would build upon the success of the earlier Double Track Project completed between Farmingdale and Ronkonkoma. Electrifying additional portions of the route could also lead to quicker trips, more frequent schedules and reduced dependence on diesel locomotives.

The study will also examine the supporting infrastructure needed to make those upgrades possible, including additional electrical substations, while evaluating both construction costs and the long-term benefits of potential investments.

Results from the analysis are expected in early 2027. Those findings will help guide future discussions regarding investment priorities across the Long Island Rail Road network. Funding for the study comes from the MTA’s $68 billion Capital Plan covering 2025 through 2029, which received full funding through the state’s fiscal year 2026 budget.

The history of rail service in Yaphank stretches back more than 180 years. The Long Island Rail Road first began serving the community in 1844 when trains started operating to Greenport. During World War II, the station became an important transportation link because of its location near Camp Upton, helping support military operations during the war.

Officials believe the relocated station is positioned to serve a different but equally important role for decades to come. With nearby research facilities, expanding business parks and improved highway connections, the new Yaphank-BNL station is expected to attract more riders while strengthening transportation options across eastern Long Island. By pairing modern passenger amenities with plans for future rail improvements, state and transit leaders see the station not simply as a replacement for an older stop, but as the foundation for the next phase of growth along one of Long Island’s historic rail corridors.