I know this probably has been covered, But, as a resident of LongIsland, eastern Suffolk. I would love the chance of being able to get on a Amtrak train near where I live, rather than to have to take the LIRR into Penn. I know of a lot of others who would also like to be able to do this. I know it would promote much more traffic to ride Amtrak. The problem with living on LI is that the railroad schedules don't coincide with Amtrak trains very well. Plus the additional cost of fare around $20 if you live in the farthest zone, is very high, only to have to catch a later train due to the railroad schedules not matching. example, got back from Boston at 7:35, just missed connection for railroad by 10 min. and no matter which train it was always the same. had to hang out in lovely Penn station for 2 hrs before next train was available. Now I know everyone will say it can't be done due to no overhead power, ext. but, the engines that the railroad operates outside of electric area are the same as Amtrak engines. In fact what was the killer was that when entering Manhattan the other night, Amtrak came thru sunny side yards and into the same tunnels that the LIRR uses and I actually seen the eastbound LIRR train I just missed going past me. My point is, if Amtrak can share other rail lines going northeast and north and south why can't they share trackage on LI. Living out here stinks, rail transport is bad we are stuck driving or riding a bad handled railway thats so outdated. (had to switch trains just 4 stops from my destination) I don't understand why Amtrak can't at least think about this service, so many more would travel if they didn't have to travel miles on another train just to get to an Amtrak train. Im not saying all over the Island, just maybe 3 trains a day going out to at least Hicksville, or even Jamaica at the very least. Living on the Island sucks, there is so direct transport out of here, and LI is a huge distance from NYC this isn't like Hartford, or Philly or other cities. Can you imagine the increase in revenue it would be to Amtrak if they had this service. Well sorry for the long rant, I just wish I knew why this has never happened. After all, at one time the Penn RR owned and operated the LIRR which Amtrak was once was as well as all the other RR (NYC ect. ) My thought is that its political in some way, or municipal politics, but whatever it is It needs to be addressed. We need better means of getting "away" out here in the sticks. thanks for reading, please reply.