First Train, First Day. It would be hard to tell exactly how long the planning for MTA LIRR East Side Access (ESA)/Grand Central Madison (GCM) has been ongoing, but it's safe to say it has a very long time. In 1965, construction began on the 63rd Street Tunnels under the East River, which would eventually become the route for ESA. In September of 2007, active tunnel boring began. On January 25, 2023, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul and MTA Chairmen Janno Lieber boarded a 12-car train of M9s (9161 leading) at the Jamaica, New York LIRR station. At 11:07 AM, it became the first scheduled train to arrive at Grand Central Madison, platforming on track 302. The affixed drumhead "Grand Central Direct - 2023" describes the shuttle service to Jamaica (stopping at Woodside) that will be in place until fully integrated service launches.
