Business & Tech

Romaine, North Fork Tourism Industry, Hoping Wine Train Rolls On

North Fork legislator and tourism business-owners continue working on promotion opportunities with LIRR for off-season.

While a promotional effort on the Long Island Rail Road shared by the train and local wineries has reportedly been a success so far, East Enders are hoping the North Fork Wine Train doesn't make its last stop in the near future.

An offering of local wines on a weekly Friday afternoon train from Ronkonkoma to Greenport has earned encouraging feedback so far, and is leaving local officials trying to figure out how else the North Fork can benefit from train service.

County Leg. Ed Romaine, R-Center Moriches, has been a vocal supporter for increased service on the Greenport line and helped coordinate the weekly wine train, which leaves Ronkonkoma at 5:21 p.m. and arrives at Greenport at 6:45 each Friday. He said getting increased amenities for North Fork residents has been no easy task.

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"We have had a kind of relationship with the LIRR over the last two years that hasn't been all that positive," Romaine said last week. "So we're going to keep on pushing to see ways we can use the LIRR as a way to help build the economy of the East End and create additional jobs," Romaine added. "That's the whole goal – jobs first."

Romaine said he's shooting for a few trains during the "off–season" – service increases on the Greenport line to include weekends between Memorial and Columbus Days – to spur activity in slower months. He said he foresees a "one-day package" for Jazz on the Vine, which could include a discount rate at a restaurant or something else. He also suggested a similar option for the fall during harvest season.

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Through October, the LIRR is also offering a once-a-month Wine Getaway Tour, in addition to the weekly train. The round trip from New York City costs $48 for a round-trip ticket, bus service to a couple of vineyards and Greenport Harbor Brewing Company and tastings.

Romaine's idea will certainly be considered, said a spokesman for the railroad. Whether or not it will happen depends on a number of factors. 

“The Long Island Rail Road is always willing to evaluate requests for extra service on a case by case basis, weighing such factors as customer demand, cost and equipment availability," said Sal Arena, via email. "Legislator Romaine is certainly welcome to submit a more formal proposal outlining his ideas to the LIRR for consideration.” 

Bill Faulk, a legislative aide for Romaine, said he is currently working on a more formal proposal to bring to the LIRR.

If one thing is sure, it's that local businesses are open to experimenting to see what works and what doesn't.

"People are very happy with the wine train. I've heard the feedback is very good," said Ron Goerler, president of the Long Island Wine Council and owner of Jamesport Vineyards. But we need to do anything we can do to help bring more tourism to the East End."

North Fork Promotional Council Director Andrea Parks said she's on board, though some notice would help get the promotion off the ground faster.

"We did something similar last summer to the wine train," she recalled. "We didn't have much time to get people to buy in, and that was hard. But these opportunities open a lot of people's eyes to the area and what it has to offer. It's heavily reliant on subjective opinion, though I've yet to hear anything negative about it."


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