Commuters in the Bay Ridge area complain that the R train is unreliable, and a city councilman is calling on the MTA to make changes.

Councilman Vincent Gentile says the MTA should improve R train service by implementing shorter routes and more frequent service in the evening, when the train is packed with commuters heading home from work.

Earlier in the week, Gentile sent a letter to MTA Chairman Joe Lhota calling out what he sees as the train's most pressing problems: excessive lateness, overcrowded cars and dirty stations.

"In the minds of many people in Bay Ridge, 'R' stands for 'rarely,' because that's how often the train shows up," Gentile says.

News 12 contacted the MTA for a response, but the agency said it can't justify breaking up routes. It has not issued a response to Gentile's other demands.