Lawmakers in Albany are threatening the Long Island Rail Road with state hearings to address the agency's performance problems.

State senators penned a letter to LIRR President Phil Eng, calling the railroad's performance "subpar and in desperate need of thorough review and revamping."

State Sen. James Gaughran is among those who signed the letter.

"We just feel so strongly that this has become a crisis," he says.

Gaughran and the others have announced hearings that will try to pinpoint a cause for constant delays, cancellations and other service disruptions.

Eng told News 12 in a statement: "I welcome the opportunity to continue the discussions we've been having with the senators, and to share information about the LIRR Forward plan and the initiatives underway to improve service for our customers."

With the rising cost of fares, commuters say service must be improved.

State senators say the hearings would include testimony from riders and could happen as soon as within the next six weeks.