During weekdays, the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) provides peak-hour service between 6:00 AM and 10:00 AM for LIRR morning peak schedule whereas 4 PM to 10 PM are LIRR evening peak hours, focusing on commuters going into New York City. Trains during these hours travel to major terminals such as Penn Station, Atlantic Terminal, and Long Island City. The holiday is more frequent, but trains are usually overcrowded, particularly at major transfer stations like Jamaica Station.
The rush hour during the evening occurs between 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., serving outbound commuters from the city. Trains departing Manhattan between these hours are defined as peak service and tend to have heavy ridership on heavy-hitting branches such as Ronkonkoma, Babylon, and Hempstead. Peak fares are collected in these weekday periods. Off-peak fares are charged at other times, such as weekends and holidays. Riders are urged to use the TrainTime app to plan trips and check schedules optimally during peak travel hours.
Peak Period for LIRR
LIRR peak period normally operates from 6–10 AM for trains going into NYC and 4–8 PM for trains leaving NYC, but some branches may have slight deviations. Friday evening peak can start as early as 2 PM and no bikes are permitted on peak-period trains except when folded, and even then should not occupy aisles. Peak fares are charged within these periods, and off-peak fares otherwise. The CityTicket, initially for off-peak travel within a city, also extends to peak hours at a premium fare. Off-peak fares are given to seniors and people with disabilities at all times except on weekday morning peak. With the inauguration of Grand Central Madison, some peak schedules and transfer points have been realigned, particularly at Jamaica Station.
What are LIRR Peak Hours?
LIRR peak hours are held on weekdays and are specific to the direction and time of travel. Westbound trains traveling into New York City—Penn Station, Grand Central Madison, Atlantic Terminal, and Long Island City—with scheduled arrivals between 6:00 AM and 10:00 AM are considered morning peak hours. Evening peak hours are for eastbound trains departing NYC between 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM. These peak times affect both train overcrowding and fare costs, with greater peak fares levied within these periods.
Notably, peak hours depend on the time that a train departs or arrives at its terminal, rather than when it departs from your station. Friday evening peak service can begin earlier to meet higher ridership. No bicycles are permitted on peak trains unless they are foldable and stored securely. Passengers in NYC may utilize the CityTicket—$7 peak-hour fare and $5 off-peak—with local trips.
MTA LIRR Peak Hours [Morning Peak & Evening Peak]
This table points out weekday rush-hour timetables along LIRR branches, illustrating timing and frequency differences. While the majority of branches adhere to the typical 6:00 AM–10:00 AM (inbound) and 4:00 PM–8:00 PM (outbound) rush periods, levels of service vary.
Branches such as Babylon, Ronkonkoma, and Port Washington provide frequent trains every 15–30 minutes. West Hempstead, Oyster Bay, and Montauk have limited service or involve transfers. The table allows commuters to easily compare rush-hour choices by branch.
| Branch | Morning Peak (Inbound to NYC) | Evening Peak (Outbound from NYC) | Service Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oyster Bay | 5:45 AM – 8:25 AM | 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Morning trains require transfers for NYC-bound passengers. |
| Far Rockaway | 5:45 AM – 9:18 AM | 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Trains every 30 minutes; consistent peak-hour frequency. |
| Ronkonkoma | 4:55 AM – 9:14 AM | 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Peak service operates every 20–30 minutes. |
| Montauk (East End) | 5:40 AM – 8:25 AM | 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Minimal peak service; transfers needed for travel to NYC. |
| Babylon | 4:32 AM – 9:36 AM | 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM | High-frequency service with trains every 15–25 minutes. |
| Hempstead | 5:08 AM – 9:31 AM | 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Trains available every 30 minutes during peak hours. |
| Long Beach | 5:22 AM – 9:35 AM | 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Service operates every 30 minutes during peaks. |
| Port Washington | 4:42 AM – 9:32 AM | 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Trains run every 15–30 minutes during peak periods. |
| West Hempstead | 6:10 AM – 8:35 AM | 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Limited peak-hour service with 2–3 trains per rush hour. |
| Huntington / Port Jefferson | 5:13 AM – 9:17 AM | 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Trains run every 25–30 minutes through peak windows. |
LIRR Peak and Off-Peak Hours
The LIRR charges peak and off-peak fares, the former being more expensive, for trains that travel into New York City between 6:00 am and 10:00 am and return from between 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm on weekdays. Beyond these windows — including LIRR off peak hours weekend — you will find fares lower, trains less crowded, and travel cheaper. Riders can also participate in the CityTicket program, which offers reduced price tickets of $5 off-peak and $7 peak for travel entirely within NYC. Knowledge of those fare windows helps commuters save money and avoid the most-packed trains.
| Feature/Ticket Type | Peak Hours | Off-Peak Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Higher | Lower |
| One-Way Tickets | Peak One-Way | Off-Peak One-Way |
| 10-Trip Tickets | Sold at 10x Peak One-Way price (no discount). | Offers ~15% discount compared to 10 individual Off-Peak One-Way tickets. |
| Monthly/Weekly Passes | Valid for unlimited travel, regardless of peak/off-peak. | Valid for unlimited travel, regardless of peak/off-peak. |
| CityTicket | $7 | $5 |
| Onboard Purchase | Generally incurs a surcharge (higher for peak). | Generally incurs a surcharge. |
| Exceptions | Some trains or connections might be off-peak even if they seem to fall within general peak windows; always check the TrainTime app or official schedules for specific trips. | Travel exclusively between stations in certain outer zones (e.g., Zones 4-14) generally has the same fare regardless of time, usually equivalent to the off-peak rate. |
LIRR Peak Hours Price
| Zone | Distance from NYC | Peak One-Way Fare | Off-Peak One-Way Fare | 10-Trip Peak | Weekly Pass | Monthly Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0–3 miles | $9.25 | $6.75 | $92.50 | $65.00 | $165.00 |
| 3 | 4–10 miles | $11.25 | $8.50 | $112.50 | $78.75 | $198.00 |
| 4 | 11–16 miles | $13.00 | $9.75 | $130.00 | $90.00 | $253.00 |
| 7 | 17–22 miles | $14.50 | $10.75 | $145.00 | $102.00 | $287.00 |
| 9 | 23–30 miles | $17.50 | $12.50 | $175.00 | $123.00 | $346.00 |
| 10 | 31–38 miles | $20.50 | $15.00 | $205.00 | $134.50 | $378.00 |
| 12 | 39–55 miles | $24.50 | $18.50 | $245.00 | $160.00 | $426.00 |
| 14 | 56–95 miles | $31.75 | $24.75 | $317.50 | $206.00 | $468.00 |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the LIRR peak hours?
LIRR peak hours are imposed on weekdays to trains that arrive in New York City between 6:00 AM and 10:00 AM and trains that leave NYC between 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM.
2. How much more are LIRR peak fares?
Peak fares are usually more than off-peak fares, frequently by $3 to $5 on longer journeys.
3. When are LIRR off-peak hours?
Off-peak times consist of all periods other than weekday morning and evening rush times, along with entire days on weekends and national holidays.
4. Can I travel with an off-peak ticket on a peak train?
You may, but you’ll have to pay the fare difference and may incur an onboard surcharge except if you’re exempted.
5. How do peak and off-peak regulations affect various types of tickets?
One-way and round-trip tickets travel by time. Ten-trip tickets come in peak and off-peak. Weekly and monthly passes are anytime.
6. What is CityTicket and how does it vary by time?
The CityTicket permits NYC zone travel at a fixed price: $5 off-peak and $7 peak.
7. How can I determine if my train is peak or off-peak?
TrainTime and LIRR’s website or app indicate whether a train is off-peak or peak.
8. Are there exceptions to the peak hour definitions?
Certain trains near the border times of peak hours are still defined as off-peak depending on their schedule and service information.