LIRR, NJ Transit, and Amtrak all run from Penn Station — each with its own schedule, app, and departure board. Here's where to find every train time.
Penn Station NYC is North America's busiest rail terminal — and unlike most stations, it serves three independent operators, each with its own schedule format, ticketing app, and departure board.
This guide pulls the official schedule sources for all three together in one place. Live schedules are best checked via each operator's app, since planned timetables can shift due to track work, weather, or service disruptions.
Quick rule: if you're catching a specific train, use the operator's app for live status. If you're planning a future trip, the published schedule on the operator's website is fine.
11 branches reaching from Penn Station to the eastern tip of Long Island. Schedules vary by branch and by season — the Hamptons-bound Cannonball, summer weekends, and Friday peak periods all have different timetables.
Five lines run directly into Penn NY: Northeast Corridor (to Trenton), North Jersey Coast Line (to Bay Head), Morris & Essex via Midtown Direct (Morristown Line + Gladstone Branch), and Montclair-Boonton. Other NJT lines terminate at Hoboken — transfer there to PATH for Manhattan.
Acela and Northeast Regional run the busy Boston-NYC-DC corridor, plus long-distance trains to Chicago, Miami, New Orleans, Toronto, Montreal, Vermont, and beyond. Most departures use Moynihan Train Hall as the primary boarding area.
Only LIRR has peak/off-peak rail pricing. NJ Transit and Amtrak charge the same fare regardless of time.
| Operator | Peak Hours (Weekdays) | Off-Peak / Weekends |
|---|---|---|
| LIRR | Inbound: arriving Penn 6–10 AM Outbound: leaving Penn 4–8 PM |
All other times — lower fares, CityTicket valid |
| NJ Transit | Same fare 24/7 | Same fare 24/7 |
| Amtrak | Same fare structure (dynamic pricing) | Same fare structure (dynamic pricing) |
LIRR CityTicket exception: $5.25 off-peak / $7.25 peak for trips entirely within NYC (Penn → Jamaica, Forest Hills, Far Rockaway, etc.). Off-peak only — does not apply on peak trains.
Amtrak fares are dynamic. Same train, same date, but the price depends on when you book. Acela and Northeast Regional fares can vary by 50%+ between cheap-advance booking and walk-up. Book early for the best price.
Tracks are not assigned in advance. The departure boards inside Penn Station and Moynihan Train Hall post the track 5–15 minutes before departure. Once your track is announced, head to the staircase or escalator labeled with that track number.
| Operator | Track Posted | Tracks Used |
|---|---|---|
| LIRR | 5–10 min before | 13–21 |
| NJ Transit | 5–10 min before | 1–12 |
| Amtrak | 10–15 min before (sometimes earlier for long-distance) | 5–16 (varies) |
Where to watch the boards: the LIRR concourse (lower level, 7th Ave side), NJ Transit concourse (lower level, 8th Ave side), Moynihan Train Hall (covers all three), and the iconic Solari split-flap board in Moynihan. Most live apps now duplicate the same info on your phone.
Don't sprint until the track is up. Trains aren't boarded until the track is posted, and gates often hold passengers until 5 minutes before departure. Standing near the escalators with luggage 20 minutes early just blocks foot traffic.
Penn Station service is reliable but not bulletproof. Weekend track work, weather, and incidents (like signal problems in the East River tunnels) can cause cascading delays across all three operators. Check live alerts before traveling, especially weekends.
Apps beat boards for live data. The MTA TrainTime and NJ Transit Mobile App show live departure boards on your phone — no need to find the in-station screens. Useful when the concourse is crowded or you're not yet inside the station.
Friday afternoons are chaos. 3–7 PM Friday is the worst combination of commuters + weekend travelers. Build in extra buffer — even an on-time train can be hard to board if the platform is jammed.
Weekend track work happens often. The MTA, NJ Transit, and Amtrak all do major maintenance Friday night through Monday morning. Schedules differ from weekday timetables — always check before traveling on weekends.
Use Moynihan Train Hall. Better seating, fewer crowds, more daylight, the iconic Solari board, and the Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge. Same trains, same tracks — Moynihan and original Penn share platforms.
Know your operator before you arrive. Penn Station and Moynihan are big — knowing whether you're on LIRR, NJT, or Amtrak determines which concourse and entrance you should use.
Late-night service thins out. Last LIRR and NJT trains depart around 1:00–1:30 AM. After that, Penn Station is essentially closed to rail traffic until ~5 AM. Check the last-train time on your branch before staying out late.
"Express" vs. "Local" matters on every operator. LIRR has skip-stop branches; NJ Transit has Express NEC service that skips Newark Penn; Amtrak Acela is faster than Northeast Regional. The schedule will say which is which — pick wisely.
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