Debate Over LIRR Pronunciation Escalates
The Long Island Railroad, often referred to as the LIRR, has become a topic of contention among commuters, particularly regarding its acronym. Some on the East End have taken to calling it “LURR,” which has prompted eye rolls from many New Yorkers.
King Law, a commuter from Massapequa who travels to Midtown, expressed her disbelief at the term. “If you call it LURR, you’re probably not from New York,” she remarked. “I’ve never heard anyone say that. It just doesn’t sound right.”
Kevin, a New Yorker from Queens, echoed her sentiments, insisting, “I grew up saying Long Island Railroad. Nobody calls it LURR. That’s just not something I recognize.” He believes the proper way to refer to the railroad is “LI double R.”
Following the conclusion of the recent LIRR strike, conversations around the railroad surged, bringing to light the peculiar tendency among some Long Islanders to pronounce the acronym as a single syllable. While a few locals defended the term, most commuters considered it absurd.
Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino humorously remarked, “Calling LIRR ‘LURR’ is like auditioning for ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ at the Oyster Bay branch.” He added, “At that point, your monthly pass should come with a parrot and a bottle of rum.”
Margaret, another commuter from Bayside, noted that “LURR sounds like a hoax.” She contended, “Most people just say Long Island Rail Road or simply ‘train.’” Out of 17 commuters surveyed at Bayside Station, not a single person had heard of the term, and only one of the 15 at Mineola Station knew of the controversy.
However, Emilio Onolfi, a Long Island local, claimed, “I’ve been hearing that all along. I grew up on the South Shore and that’s how I’ve always heard it.”
Adding another layer to the debate, ticket agent Uday Sekhon from Queens mentioned he often hears LIRR referred to as “LEER.” He believes that “LURR is definitely gaining momentum, especially online.” Sekhon observed a spike in discussions about the term during last week’s strike, stating, “There’s been a lot of chatter, and yeah, a lot of people are saying LURR.”
