The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) offers different train tickets to accommodate your travel needs. The service offers single-ride, round trip, weekly, monthly and 10-trip passes to give riders some options. Rates vary according to the distance and time of day, which is typically more expensive at high demand hours. The CityTicket provides a discount on a large majority of trips within New York City, costing $5 during non-peak periods, and $7 at other times.
There are several ways to buy tickets. Use the MTA TrainTime app to purchase and activate mobile train tickets before boarding. Tickets are also sold at vending machines and ticket offices at stations, which take cash, credit or debit cards. Tickets can be bought on board but there will be a higher surcharge.
Discounted fares are available for seniors, individuals with disabilities, and Medicare recipients, taking as much as 50% off standard peak fares, with certain limitations. Under-21 students attending accredited schools are also eligible for reduced monthly ticket prices. Weekly and monthly passes are for people who use the bike sharing system a lot and want unlimited rides between some stations so that daily commuters can avoid the cost of other modes of transportation.
LIRR Tickets Online
All tickets for LIRR travel can be purchased online using the MTA eTix app or by selecting “Tickets” on the MTA TrainTime app and choosing LIRR. The app also has Combo and discounted CityTickets for seamless travel in New York City.
MTA TrainTime App: Digital Ticketing Simplified
The MTA has a website and an app where LIRR passengers can buy tickets online. The app is available on iOS and Android, and lets users plan trips, check live train updates and buy different ticket types, like one-way and round-trip, as well as weekly, monthly and 10-trip passes. You can pay via credit/debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. If you pay with a ticket, you must validate it before getting on; validity is the same as for the tickets you buy at the vending machines.
Mail&Ride Program: AutoMail Monthly Ticket Delivery
You can also receive a monthly ticket in the TrainTime app from the Mail&Ride service (for regular commuters) to be automatically delivered to the app by the 25th of the prior month. This service is extended to students as well for their convenience.
Combo Tickets: Seamless Transfers Between LIRR and Metro-North
Combo Tickets provide riders with a single, convenient ticket that permits travel on the LIRR and Metro-North. These tickets are a double cost of $8 each way and can be purchased on demand through the TrainTime app or at ticket windows, and are valid for peak and off-peak travel. Tickets are valid until 4 a.m. the next day.
CityTicket: Discounted Trips in New York City
CityTicket, with lower fares for trips limited to New York City on the LIRR and Metro-North, is $5 off-peak/$7 during peak. The tickets can be purchased via the app, vending machines or ticket offices. Please be aware that CityTickets are not good for travel across the Hudson River.
Payment and Ticket Management
The TrainTime app accepts all major credit and debit cards as well as mobile wallets. Users can buy, activate and manage tickets for several persons easily. Tickets can’t be turned off or transferred once activated though.
LIRR Ticket Prices
Fares The cost of LIRR tickets will vary based on distance, fare zones and which type of ticket you buy as well as age of rider (senior or child discounts are available). Tickets are available at stations and on the MTA TrainTime app.
LIRR Fare Zones
The MTA has classifieds the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) system’s fares into eight fare zones, Zones 1, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14. Your fare is determined by the zones in which your trip begins and ends. In general, fares go up the farther you get from New York City.
Zone Details
- Zone 1: Spans entire City Terminal Zone, including key NYC stations such as Penn Station, Grand Central Madison, Atlantic Terminal, Hunterspoint Avenue and Long Island City.
- Zone 3: All points in Jamaica (a major transfer center), and all Queens stations east of Jamaica — Flushing-Main Street, Bayside, and Forest Hills, to name a few.
- Zones 4 & 7: Centers which service in Nassau County are listed in However. Zone 4 is closer to the city and includes Far Rockaway, while Zone 7 covers stations to the east of the county.
- Zones 9, 10, 12 & 14: Be representative of stations in Suffolk County, with Zone 9 near Nassau County and Zone 14 out farthest east, that would include stations like Montauk and Greenport.
MTA LIRR Peak vs. Off-Peak Fares
Peak fares are charged for trips taken during weekday AM peak periods (to NYC 6 AM – 10 AM) (from NYC 4 PM – 8 PM). These rates are more expensive because demand is higher and so are operational costs for drivers during periods of heavy demand. Off-peak fares are in effect on weekdays outside of peak hours, all day on weekends and major holidays, and on trains leaving New York City during the AM peak or arriving into the city during the PM peak, when they are less crowded. There is a reason for this: peak fares help control demand during the rush and are free in the sense that if one increases frequency of service, it will in fact be free due to variable costs per passenger remaining the same.
LIRR Ticket Types and Pricing
| Ticket Type | Description | Key Details |
| One-Way | Single journey from point of origin to point of destination | 60 days if not used; Peak or Off-Peak fare applied; Onboard purchase surcharge when a ticket office / ticketing kiosk was open (usually $5-$15 extra) |
| Round-Trip | Two single tickets booked at the same time | Prices applies to each leg/Peak/Off-Peak values |
| 10-Trip Ticket | 10 one-way discounted adult tickets | Peak, Off-Peak available, Off-Peak frequently ~15% discount, Valid for one year 222GBP, 202GBP? |
| Weekly Pass | Unlimited rides in the designated zones for one calendar week (Sat– Fri) | Out of the occasional weekly commuter budget |
| Monthly Pass | Unlimited travel on designated zones for a calendar month | Cheapest for daily commuters; varies by zones (Jamaica-Penn ~$198) |
| CityTicket | Half-price fare for travel solely within NYC zones | $5 – off-peak$7 – peakOnly valid for purchase on dayFor travel not valid outside NYCIncludes Special Far Rockaway ticket |
| Reduced-Fare | For seniors, the disabled and those on Medicare | Booked at half price; evidence of eligibility will be required |
| Family Fare | Kids up to a certain age always ride free or at a reduced rate with adult | Typically until 5 years old, exceptions and variations apply |
| UniTickets | The fare for the LIRR and connecting mass transit services is $9.50 | Permits single fare for more than one mode of transit; |
LIRR Senior Ticket Prices
The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) provides reduced-fare tickets for seniors aged 65 and older and people with qualifying disabilities or medicare recipients. This program makes it easier to afford travel for those who qualify.
To qualify, you must:
- Be at least 65 years old,
- Are disabled or have a disability, or
- Be a Medicare recipient.
Proof that will suffice includes a Reduced-Fare MetroCard, a Medicare card, a Reduced-Fare MTA ID (issued before 1995) and some paratransit cards. Please be aware that Medicaid cards are not accepted for this discount.
LIRR Senior Ticket Fare Discount
Those eligible for the fare would save up to 50 percent on standard one-way peak fares. But this discount is not available for weekday morning rush hours (6 to 10 a.m.) going into New York City terminals. These are off peak times with normal charges.
Thus, for example, for a regular peak boarding cost of $9.25, a senior or disabled boarder would pay approximately $4.50 if they were to travel during non-restricted peak hours.
How to Buy Discounted MTA LIRR Fare Tickets
Discount tickets are available:
- Online, through the MTA website or mobile app,
- At the ticket vending machines in most LIRR stations,
- By the conductors on (most) trains (fees may apply).
Valid ID must be presented to receive the discount when purchasing items onboard the ship.
Conversion to OMNY Fare Payment System
The MTA is inching toward phasing out MetroCards in favor of OMNY, a contactless payment system. There is a Reduced-Fare OMNY card available for seniors and riders with disabilities, to which they can link their reduced-fare eligibility and easily pay by touching a contactless debit/credit card or mobile wallet.
How to Apply for Reduced Fare
For Reduced-Fare Program:
- Stop into an MTA Customer Service Center,
- Submit proof of age or disability,
- Fill out the application form.
If approved, you will receive a Reduced-Fare OMNY card or information about how to link your reduced fare to a payment card. Times for processing are inconsistent, so you are better off doing it in advance.
How to Buy LIRR Tickets
- TrainTime App: The simplest way to purchase tickets. Get the app, plan your trip, buy and activate tickets directly from your phone. Supports Apple Pay, Google Pay and cards.
- Ticket Machines: Available at most stations, take cash and cards. Various types of tickets are sold by various machines. There are no group or monthly school tickets here.
- Ticket Offices: (not at all stations, for all ticket types) Take cash, cards and some transit benefits. Read office hours before you visit.
- Onboard Purchase: One-way ticket available from conductor with additional charge; those boarding at stations without machines or qualifying for discounts exempt from extra charge.
- Employer Benefits: Purchase tickets tax-free through your company’s transit benefit program.
- Mail&Ride: Automatically receive your monthly ticket directly to your TrainTime app.
- Combo Tickets: Buy a Combo Ticket that is valid on both railroads if your trip includes both the LIRR and Metro-North.
- CityTicket: Discount fare for travel within NYC on LIRR during off-peak and peak periods.
LIRR Tickets Monthly
The LIRR monthly ticket provides unlimited travel to and from designated zones in any month. Purchase through the TrainTime app, machines, offices or Mail&Ride. They’re good on all trains, including the special weekend loophole.
Fare Zones and Pricing
LIRR fares are based on fare zones, with Zone 1 covering Penn Station and Grand Central, and higher zones including stations farther east in Nassau and Suffolk counties. The cost of monthly tickets depends on which zones you are traveling between. For example:
- It costs nearly $198.00 from Zone 1 to Zone 3.
- Between Zone 3 and Zone 7, it’s about $314.00.
- Cost is approximately $416.00 from Zone 7 to Zone 14.
Prices are subject to change, so it’s a good idea to visit the MTA site to check the latest fare charts.
Validity and Usage
Monthly passes allow unlimited travel from the selected origination zone(s) to destination zone(s) for the month printed on the pass.
The tickets can be used on all peak and off-peak services.
You might have to pay an extra fare if you venture outside the zones specified on your ticket.
How to Purchase
- TrainTime App: Purchase & Maintain Your Monthly Tickets On Your Phone.
- Ticket Machines: Ticket machines are available at most LIRR stations.
- Ticket Offices: Full ticketing services at staffed locations.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can I purchase LIRR tickets on my phone?
As you can probably imagine, there’s an official TrainTime app for iOS and Android that will sell you LIRR tickets right on your device, then activate them. You can plan your trip and pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay or credit/debit cards in the app.
2. Where can I buy LIRR tickets?
]LIRR tickets can be purchased through the TrainTime app, at most stations’ ticket vending machines and at staffed ticket offices. You can also buy one-way tickets the old-fashioned way, on the trains, but those come with an additional surcharge.
3. Can I buy LIRR tickets online?
Yes, you can buy the refills online with just-in-time ticket delivery and activation on the TrainTime app. Schedule and fare information are available on the MTA website, though it does not sell tickets directly.
4. What are LIRR ticket prices?
Ticket costs vary depending on the zones you travel in between and the time of day that you travel. Monthly passes are for unlimited rides within certain zones. For the latest on fares, visit the MTA website.
5. How do I purchase LIRR tickets at a station?
Most LIRR stations accept payment for tickets using vending machines or staffed ticket offices. They accept both cash and cards but do not sell group tickets or monthly school tickets. Ticket windows sell all types of tickets and take many payments. And some stations will have neither machines, nor offices, so it’s best to check before you go.