Memorial Day weekend has long marked the start of summer stirrings on the East End, with hordes of people pouring in from the train and Jitney. Stations and stops this weekend are expected to be uncrowded in comparison to years past.
Since May 7, the Hampton Jitney has run a limited schedule between the East End and New York City. A number of seats have been removed, and capacity is limited, plus passengers are required to wear masks and follow passenger safety rules.
Usually, South Fork bound Jitneys to East Hampton would be expected to leave from the last stop in New York City (40th Street) over Memorial Day weekend starting Friday at 6 a.m. and continuing until 11:30 p.m., roughly at hour or half-hour intervals. A normal Memorial Day Friday in pre-pandemic times would have 20-plus trips.
On Friday, 14 of the usual 20 are either booked or not running, leaving 7 — two of which have departed and five of which are available to book as of this afternoon. Saturday will follow similar scheduling with six trips available.
Following the weekend, there are about six South Fork trips departing from New York City that stop in East Hampton during the week.
The Long Island Rail Road's "Essential Service" schedule normally has Montauk Line trains leaving Penn Station at 12:47, 6:45, 7:45, 9:45, and 11:45 a.m. and 9:12 p.m.
On Friday and Saturday, L.I.R.R. service will be upped with additional trains at 9:12 and 11:45 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. from New York City. On Sunday the trains run at 12:47, 7:45, 9:45, and 11:45 a.m. and 9:12 p.m. On Monday the Essential Service schedule will resume.