1980s-era LIRR trains back with nostalgia, duct tape, 'funky' smells and breakdowns

Massapequa commuter Chris Arbisi stepped onto his morning train last Thursday and was transported back in time.

“The conductor welcomed everyone one with a ‘Welcome to throwback Thursday,’” said Arbisi, 51, recalling boarding a Long Island Rail Road “M3” train for the first time several years. “I said out loud, ‘We are going old school today.’”

After pulling the 1980s-era trains from service early in 2020 — when the railroad curtailed service because of low ridership during the COVID-19 pandemic — the M3s are back.

The rolling relics, known for their faux wood-paneled interiors, flickering lights, and upholstery held together by duct tape, have caught some riders by surprise, though the railroad had signaled its intention to bring back the old trains by the end of the year.

Source consulted www.newsday.com