Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) recently announced the expansion of their LIRR Care program, for passengers who require assistance boarding trains. Previously the Call Ahead program allowed customers to call three hours in advance to request station assistance at all stations. The new program includes the same offering for non-terminal stations, but also includes new Customer Care Ambassadors at Penn Station, Atlantic and Jamaica Terminals.

Customers can request assistance at non-terminal stations by calling 718-LIRR-CARE at least three hours in advance.

Customers at Penn Station, Atlantic and Jamaica Terminals can contact a uniformed Customer Service Ambassador at least 15 minutes in advance, for boarding assistance. An ambassador will escort the passenger to an elevator and down to the track, where they will be met by a conductor who will assist with the bridge plate and help the customer on the train. The conductor will also assist the passenger at their destination with the bridge plate and disembarkation.

The Customer Service Ambassadors can be found at the Customer Service Desk at Penn Station, and at the ticket offices at Atlantic and Jamaica Terminals.

Assistance is available to anyone who needs help boarding the train, and it is not limited to people who use a mobility device. For more information about the LIRR Care program, call 718-LIRR-CARE; and for more information about the LIRR, visit www.mta.info/lirr.