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About the MTA Long Island Rail Road

TrainsThe MTA Long Island Rail Road is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, carrying an average of 274,000 customers each weekday on 730 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 MTA Long Island Rail Road will mark its 170th Anniversary in 2004.

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 81 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 railroad'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. Diesel territory customers have seen the total replacement of the diesel train fleet with modern, comfortable bi-level coaches and new diesel and dual mode locomotives. On the Railroad's electrified branches, new state-of-the-art M-7 electric MU cars are currently arriving, replacing the oldest of the long-running M-1 cars, and providing customers with new 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 new AirTrain provides a convenient rail link between the LIRR's Jamaica hub and JFK International Airport. As part of this project, the Jamaica Station is undergoing 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 ensuring that no person is excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of its services on the basis of race, color or national origin as protected by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (“Title VI”). If you believe you have been subjected to discrimination under Title VI, you may file a written complaint with MTA Office of Civil Rights, 2 Broadway, 16th floor, New York, N.Y. 10004.

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