LIRR passengers get new seating at Grand Central Madison

Weary rail Long Island Rail Road commuters looking for somewhere to rest have a new place to do so at Grand Central Madison.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority unveiled a new seating area at the train station Friday.

Commuters can find the new waiting area on the mezzanine level, which MTA officials said is closer to train platforms than existing seating areas.

In total, 14 curved aluminum backless benches were installed. Each has a set of bars separating the bench into two seats, which can accommodate 28 people.

In a news release, officials said the seating area is available only to ticketed LIRR customers, who are asked to limit their stay to 90 minutes.

The MTA did not respond to questions about the cost of the new waiting area.

Grand Central Madison opened in January 2023 as LIRR ridership increased by 41%, or nearly 300 trains, from Monday to Friday, officials said in the release.

Scarce seating options have been a common refrain from commuters across the LIRR system.

A new waiting room with just 25 seats was unveiled at Penn Station in May, drawing a lukewarm reaction from riders, Newsday previously reported.

According to the news release, the Grand Central Madison seats were built by Forms+Surfaces, a Pittsburgh-based architecture and design firm.

More areas to sit and grab a bite are expected to open at the Manhattan terminal. Tracks, a commuter favorite that operated at Penn Station for more than two decades, is expected to open at Grand Central Madison this fall.

The MTA also is seeking proposals for a “master tenant” to operate 25,000 square feet of retail and dining space at the facility.