About the Long Island Rail Road

Trains The Long Island Rail Road is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, carrying an average of 301,000 customers each weekday on 735 daily trains. Chartered on April 24, 1834, it is also the oldest railroad still operating under its original name. Throughout that time, the LIRR has been an essential component of the region's transportation infrastructure, leading to the development of the Long Island communities it serves and providing a gateway to the economic growth of the region. A subsidiary of New York State's Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the Long Island Rail Road is marking its 175th Anniversary in 2009.

The LIRR system is comprised of over 700 miles of track on 11 different branches, stretching from Montauk -- on the eastern tip of Long Island -- to the refurbished Penn Station in the heart of Manhattan, approximately 120 miles away. Along the way, the LIRR serves 124 stations in Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan, providing service for some 82 million customers each year, taking them to and from jobs, homes, schools, sporting events, concerts, beaches, Broadway shows, and the multitude of other attractions around the New York metropolitan region.

Nearly 500 of the LIRR's daily trains originate or terminate at Penn Station in Manhattan. Most of the remainder originate or terminate at Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, with a number of others originating or terminating at Hunterspoint Avenue and Long Island City in Queens. All of these terminals provide convenient connections to MTA New York City Transit subway service. All but one of the 11 branches pass through the important Jamaica hub, where customers may change trains to connect for other branches or terminals. Third-rail electric service is offered on the lines to Port Washington, Ronkonkoma, Babylon, Hempstead, Huntington, West Hempstead, Long Beach and Far Rockaway, and diesel service is provided on the lines to Oyster Bay, Port Jefferson, Montauk and Greenport.

A number of recent investments in the Railroad's infrastructure have brought improved service and added convenience to the Railroad's customers. All of the Railroad's new state-of-the-art M-7 electric MU cars have arrived, providing customers with improved levels of comfort and convenience. In addition, more than 65 LIRR stations throughout the system have been rehabilitated in recent years.

The Railroad is also preparing for the future with several major projects in work. The Port Authority's AirTrain provides a convenient rail link between the LIRR's Jamaica hub and JFK International Airport. As part of this project, Jamaica Station underwent an extensive rebuilding, turning this important hub into a first-class transportation facility allowing fast, easy connections between LIRR trains, AirTrain JFK, and NYC Transit subway and bus service. The Flatbush Avenue Terminal rehabilitation will provide Brooklyn customers with a modern, efficient facility. And the East Side Access Project will eventually bring LIRR trains to Grand Central Terminal, allowing direct LIRR service to the east side of Manhattan.

The LIRR operates 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week, including all holidays, with service intervals varying by destination and time of day.

Questions? Useful Phone Numbers
For travel information, call 1-718-217-LIRR, 1-516-822-LIRR or 1-631-231-LIRR.

MTA is committed to providing non-discriminatory service to ensure that no person is excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination in the receipt of its services on the basis of race, color or national origin as protected by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ("Title VI"). To request more information about Title VI or to submit a written complaint if you believe that you have been subjected to discrimination, you may contact the MTA Long Island Rail Road Diversity Management Department, 93-02 Sutphin Boulevard, 4th Floor, Jamaica, NY 11435.