Retro Train Cars And Return Of Rose’s Pizza: LIRR Travel ‘Nostalgic’

Traffic & Transit Retro Train Cars And Return Of Rose’s Pizza: LIRR Travel ‘Nostalgic’ With the return of the 1980s-era Long Island Rail Road cars and Rose’s Pizza announcing a comeback, LI commuters are experiencing déjà vu. Reply
The 1980s-era M3 train cars are in service, and Rose’s Pizza will come back to Penn Station, two classic LIRR experiences. (Joel Van Houten)
LONG ISLAND, NY — A trip to Penn Station on the Long Island Rail Road is triggering waves of nostalgia and déjà vu for many Long Islanders lately. Vintage 1980s-train cars have been pressed back into service this year, and beloved Penn Station eatery Rose’s Pizza has announced it will return in 2023.
Because of a delay with the LIRR’s new fleet of M8 train cars and an increase in demand, the 1980s-era M3 cars are back in service: The cars are the iconic red and blue seat models, known for duct tape on the seat, and, as one recent rider, told Patch, a distinctive “smell.” Joel Van Houten is a Long Island nurse who caught the retro train on his way to spectate the New York City Marathon on Sunday.
“From the outside I couldn’t tell it was an older train. But when the doors opened and I took my first step in it definitely was nostalgic. It reminded me of going into the city for many Knicks games when I was a kid. As bad as the smell was, it was enjoyable for the fact it was a time piece.” Other riders aren’t as happy with the transportation throwback.
Gerry Bringmann from the LIRR Commuter Council, told News 12 that he wasn’t thrilled when the news broke in July. “The heat doesn’t work quite right, air conditioning is not what it should be, the bathrooms are kind antiquated and it bothers a lot of commuters…they’re more likely to break down.”
Van Houten reported that the seats were in surprisingly good condition. Rose’s Pizza is another iconic LIRR experience. The slice joint was a favorite of rushed commuters, and many missed Rose’s when it closed in 2019 at the beginning of Penn Station’s expansion. Rose’s Pizza is another iconic LIRR experience. The slice joint was a favorite of rushed commuters, and many missed Rose’s when it closed in 2019 at the beginning of Penn Station’s expansion. The LIRR posted on Twitter that several new retailers would open in the Penn concourse next spring, and Rose’s Pizza would return.