The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) recently appointed Rob Free as Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) president.
In his new role, Free will oversee the railroad’s 700 miles of tracks and 126 stations. His goals are to continue to adjust schedules to improve on-time performance and boost ridership.
Free began his career 31 years ago as a station cleaner. Most recently he served as chief transportation officer and senior vice president of operations, and for the last six months has been acting president.
“Rob Free was the natural choice for the job – a native Long Islander who’s committed his working life to the LIRR, rising through the ranks from cleaner to running operations to now leading North America’s busiest commuter railroad,” MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber said. “Rob intrinsically understands the level of service customers expect, and I know he will continue to deliver in this now permanent role. I would also like to thank Cathy Rinaldi for helping to ease this transition, first serving as Interim President of LIRR and then as an advisor to Rob.”
In February, the railroad had 96.3 percent of trains arrive on time.
Free oversaw a 41 percent increase in service following the Grand Central Madison terminal’s opening.