The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has discreetly commenced construction on a new train platform at the Hampton Bays station on Long Island. This development aims to facilitate the transport of crowds attending the 2026 US Open golf tournament at Shinnecock Hills.
Rob Free, President of the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), confirmed the initiative during the LIRR committee meeting on Monday. This announcement followed initial coverage by the Southampton Press.
“We’re still in the construction phase, which is why we’ve yet to publicly discuss it,” Free informed board members, emphasizing that the objective is to complete the platform in time for the tournament in June.
The need for an additional platform arises from the predominantly single-track layout of the Montauk Branch, extending approximately 72 miles east of Patchogue to Montauk. This configuration necessitates eastbound and westbound trains to “meet” at Hampton Bays to pass each other, Free explained.
Adding another platform at the station will expedite these train meets and provide dispatchers with increased operational flexibility, especially with the anticipated influx of tens of thousands of South Fork visitors during the US Open, Free noted.
He mentioned that the platform is initially a temporary structure, with the potential to become permanent through capital funding. This project is part of the MTA’s broader “enhancements” planned for the South Shore, he added.
