The Long Island Rail Road's busiest terminal — 11 branches reaching from Midtown Manhattan to the eastern tip of Long Island.
The Long Island Rail Road operates from tracks 13–21 at Penn Station, on the western side near 8th Avenue and Moynihan Train Hall. It's the busiest commuter railroad in North America, carrying hundreds of thousands of riders daily across 11 branches that reach from Penn Station to Montauk, Greenport, Port Jefferson, and everywhere in between.
Most LIRR trains pass through Jamaica Station in Queens — the system's central transfer hub. Many branches require a transfer at Jamaica, so always check whether your train is direct or requires a connection.
LIRR also serves Grand Central Madison and Atlantic Terminal. Since 2023, LIRR runs into Grand Central via the East Side Access tunnel. Brooklyn-bound riders can use Atlantic Terminal in Downtown Brooklyn. Trains are split between all three terminals — check your schedule.
All branches connect to Penn Station, though some require a transfer at Jamaica. Frequency varies by branch — busy commuter lines like Babylon and Ronkonkoma run frequently, while branches like Oyster Bay and West Hempstead have limited service.
South Shore service through Rockville Centre, Freeport, and Massapequa. One of the busiest branches — frequent service to/from Penn.
Serves southeastern Queens and the Rockaway peninsula. Stops at Lawrence, Inwood, and Cedarhurst. Often paired with the Babylon Branch.
Direct service to central Nassau County via Garden City and Mineola. Many trains require a Jamaica transfer.
South Shore service to the beach community of Long Beach. Stops at Lynbrook, Centre Avenue, and Island Park. Heavy summer ridership.
The Hamptons line — serves Westhampton, Southampton, East Hampton, and Montauk. Limited service most of the year, expanded summer schedule. Most trains require a Jamaica transfer.
North Shore service via East Williston and Glen Cove. Limited frequency. Most trips require a Jamaica transfer.
North Shore line through Hicksville, Syosset, Stony Brook, and Port Jefferson. Major commuter route — diesel service east of Huntington.
Direct service through Flushing, Bayside, Great Neck, and Manhasset. Only LIRR branch that does not pass through Jamaica.
Main Line service through Hicksville, Bethpage, Farmingdale, and Ronkonkoma. Continues to Greenport on the North Fork (limited service). Connects to MacArthur Airport.
Short branch to West Hempstead via Malverne and Lakeview. Most trips require a Jamaica transfer. Limited frequency.
Penn Station connects to Jamaica, Woodside, and Forest Hills via the City Terminal Zone — the NYC portion of the LIRR system. CityTicket fares apply for trips entirely within NYC.
LIRR fares are zone-based — Penn Station is Zone 1, and prices increase as you travel further east. Peak fares apply weekdays during commuter rush hours; off-peak fares apply all other times including weekends and holidays.
| Ticket Type | Off-Peak | Peak |
|---|---|---|
| CityTicket (within NYC, zones 1–3) | $5.25 | $7.25 |
| Zone 1 → Zone 4 (e.g., Mineola, Hicksville) | $10.75 | $14.75 |
| Zone 1 → Zone 7 (e.g., Babylon, Huntington) | $15.25 | $20.75 |
| Zone 1 → Zone 9 (e.g., Ronkonkoma, Patchogue) | $20.50 | $28.00 |
| Zone 1 → Zone 14 (e.g., Montauk, Greenport) | $26.50 | $36.25 |
Fares shown are approximate one-way 2026 rates. Always verify the exact fare for your trip on the official MTA fare calculator. Source: fares.mta.info.
Peak hours (weekdays only): trains arriving Penn Station 6:00am–10:00am, or departing Penn Station 4:00pm–8:00pm. All other trains — including all weekends and holidays — are off-peak.
Buy before you board. Buying a ticket from the conductor onboard adds a $6.50 surcharge if a ticket machine or office was available at your origin. Use the TrainTime app, ticket machines, or staffed windows.
MTA TrainTime app (fastest). Buy electronic tickets on your phone before boarding. Activate just before the train arrives. Free download for iOS and Android. The same app shows live track assignments and train times.
Ticket vending machines. Located throughout the LIRR concourse and Moynihan Train Hall. Accept credit/debit cards and cash. Print paper tickets in seconds.
Staffed ticket windows. Located in the LIRR concourse and Moynihan Train Hall. Useful for monthly passes, complex itineraries, or refunds.
Onboard purchase. Conductors sell tickets onboard, but a $6.50 step-up fee applies if a ticket machine or window was available at your boarding station. Avoid unless absolutely necessary.
LIRR splits service across three Manhattan/Brooklyn terminals. Choose the one closest to your final destination — many trains stop at only one terminal, not all three.
Midtown West (8th Ave & 33rd St). Best for: Hudson Yards, Times Square, Chelsea, Hell's Kitchen, Madison Square Garden. Tracks 13–21.
Midtown East (42nd St & Park). Best for: East Midtown, UN, Murray Hill, Upper East Side. New since 2023 via East Side Access tunnel.
Downtown Brooklyn (Atlantic Ave & Flatbush). Best for: Brooklyn destinations, Barclays Center, Park Slope, Fort Greene.
Tracks aren't assigned until 5–10 minutes before departure. Watch the departure boards in the LIRR concourse or Moynihan Train Hall. Once your track is announced, head to the staircase or escalator labeled with that track number.
Use Moynihan Train Hall when possible. Most LIRR trains can be boarded from either the original Penn Station LIRR concourse or Moynihan Train Hall (across 8th Avenue). Moynihan is brighter, less crowded, and has better seating, food, and bathrooms.
Jamaica is the great equalizer. Almost every LIRR branch except Port Washington passes through Jamaica. If your train doesn't go directly to your destination, you can transfer at Jamaica to one that does. Same-direction transfers are usually across the platform.
CityTicket is a deal for NYC trips. $5.25 off-peak gets you from Penn to Jamaica in 18 minutes — much faster than the subway. Available off-peak only, for trips entirely within NYC.
Heading east on weekends? Off-peak fares apply all weekend. The Hamptons (Westhampton, Southampton) is a 2½-hour ride; Montauk is 3 hours. The Cannonball summer express runs Friday afternoons May–September.
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