RAILROAD INFORMATION - INTERCITY AND INTERNATIONAL

Long Island Railroad (LIRR):

General Information: The Long Island Railroad, which transports an average of 296,000 passengers a day, is the busiest railroad in the United States. There are 701 miles of track which comprise the twelve branches that serve Nassau and Suffolk counties, Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan. Service operates twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. However, fewer trains run on the holidays and between midnight and 6:00 AM. Although the trains can become quite crowded during peak hours, the LIRR is still one of the most convenient means of reaching New York City from the Long Island suburbs. The LIRR can be contacted by phone for information. In New York, dial (718) 217-5477. In Nassau County, dial (516) 822-5477 and in Suffolk County, dial (516) 231-5477. There is also a website offering general, ticket and fare information and service advisories at www.mta.nyc.ny.us/lirr/index.html.

Branches: There are eleven branches in the Long Island Railroad system. Each station should have a map of the branches and a map is available on the LIRR website. The Port Washington branch runs through the northern section of Queens and makes stops at Shea Stadium, Flushing-Main St., Bayside and Port Washington. The City Terminal Zone runs from Penn Station to Woodside where it splits off into a line going to Hunterspoint Ave. and Long Island City and into another line going to Jamaica. At Jamaica, the branch turns and runs to western Brooklyn, making stops at East New York and Flatbush Ave. The Far Rockaway Branch splits off from the main line at Jamaica and runs through southwest Queens and part of southern Nassau County. It makes stops at Locust Manor, Laurelton, Cedarhurst and Far Rockaway. The Long Beach Branch diverges from the Babylon Branch at Lynbrook and runs down to Oceanside and Long Beach on the South Shore. The West Hempstead Branch splits off from the Babylon Branch between Valley Stream and Lynbrook and runs up through the middle of Nassau County to West Hempstead. The Babylon Branch runs along the South Shore, making stops at Freeport, Merrick, Bellmore, Massapequa, and Babylon. At Babylon, the Montauk Branch begins. The Montauk Branch runs along the South Shore in Suffolk County, making stops at Patchogue, Bellport, West Hampton, South Hampton, East Hampton and Montauk. The Hempstead Branch begins at Jamaica and runs to Hempstead, making stops at Hollis, Queens Village, Belmont Park, and Floral Park. The Port Jefferson Branch starts at Floral Park. The Port Jefferson Branch runs along the North Shore of Suffolk County, making stops at New Hyde Park, Westbury, Hicksville, Cold Spring Harbor, Huntington, Smithtown, Stony Brook and Port Jefferson. The Oyster Bay Branch splits off from the Port Jefferson Branch at Mineola and makes stops at Albertson, Roslyn, Sea Cliff, Glen Cove and Oyster Bay. The Ronkonkoma Branch begins at Hicksville and runs through the middle of Suffolk County, making stops at Farmingdale, Deer Park, Ronkonkoma, Yaphank, Riverhead, Southhold and Greenport.

Tickets and Fares: Tickets prices are based on fare zones and tickets cost between $15.50 and $5.50 for a oneway trip to or from Penn Station. Information on ticket prices can be found at your local train station or obtained from the LIRR website. Off-peak tickets are discounted by over thirty percent. Daily, weekly and monthly tickets are available. It is wisest to buy tickets either from the ticket booth or a ticket vending machine, as there is an $2.00 surcharge added to the price of tickets purchased on the train. However, if there is no ticket booth, or the vending machine is broken, the surcharge is waived. A piece of advice about the vending machines - bring small bills! The machines can give change for twenty dollar bills, but it will be in coins. For ticket refunds call (718) 558-3488, and for vending machine assistance call (800) 325-5477.

Train Schedules: Train schedules are available either from your local train station or from the LIRR website.

Handicapped Accessible Railroad Stations: There are eighteen desiginated Key Stations within the LIRR system. These key stations feature an platform that is accessible by a ramp or elevator, braille and large type signs in the waiting room, bridge plates, TTY text phones, a visual equivalent to the Public Address system, lower ticket counters and accessible restrooms. There are also many stations along each line that have wheelchair accessible platforms. A complete listing of Key Stations and other accessible stations can be obtained by calling the General Information numbers (New York City (718) 217-5477, Nassau County (516) 822-5477, Suffolk County (631) 231-5477, TDD (718) 558-3022), asking at your local station or on the LIRR website.

Other Important Numbers: The Lost and Found can be reached at (212) 643-5228 from 7:00 AM to 7:30 PM on weekdays. The MTA Police can be reached at (718) 558-3300 or (516) 733-3900. Information on Group Travel and Tours can be found at (718) 558-7498 from Monday to Friday between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM.

Metro-North Railroad (MNR):

General Information: The Metro-North Railroad, a subsidiary of the New York MTA, is the second-largest commuter line in the United States. Metro-North serves five counties in New York (Dutchess, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland and Orange Counties), the Bronx, Manhattan, and two counties in Connecticut (New Haven and Fairfield Counties) as well as Bergen and Passaic Counties in New Jersey. The Port Jervis Line and the Pasack Valley Line terminate at the Hoboken Terminal (from which passengers take the NJ Transit trains to Penn Station) and all other lines terminate at Garnd Central Station. For more information call 1(800) 638-7645 (In New York City dial (212) 532-4900) or try Metro-North website at www.mta.nyc.ny.us/mta/index.html.

Branches:: The Port Jervis Line services Orange County in New York and Bergen and Passaic Counties in New Jersey. It stops at Port Jervis, NY, Harriman, NY, Suffern, NY, Ramsey, NJ, Garfield, NY and terminates at the Hoboken Terminal. The Pascack Valley Line serves Rockland County in New York and Bergen County in New Jersey and stops at Spring Valley, NY, Pearl River, NY, Westwood, NJ, Hackensack, NJ and terminates at Hoboken Terminal. The Hudson Line runs through Dutchess, Putnam, and Westchester Counties and the Bronx in New York. The Hudson Line makes stops at Poughkeepsie, Cold Spring, Peekskill, Scarborough, Tarrytown, Yonkers, University Heights, Melrose and terminates at Grand Central Station. The Harlem originates at Dover Plains and moves through Dutchess, Putnam, and Westchester Counties and the Bronx. It stops at Patterson, Brewster, Croton Falls, Bedford Hills, Valhalla, White Plains, Bronxville, the Bronx Botanical Garden and Tremont and terminates at the Grand Central Station. The New Haven Line has three branches which serve Connecticut. The New Haven Branch originates in New Haven, the Danbury Branch starts in Danbury and meets the New Haven Line at South Norwalk, and the New Canaan Branch begins in New Canaan and joins the New Haven Line at Stanford.

Tickets and Fares: Tickets for the Hudson, Harlem and New Haven lines can be purchased at Grand Central Terminal, local stations and ticket vending machines which are available in many local stations. Tickets for the Port Jervis and Pasack Valley lines can be bought at the NJ Transit's Hoboken Terminal. One-way tickets can be bought aboard the train on all lines. However, a service charge may be added. Monthly, weekly, ten trip, peak and off-peak tickets can be purchased. Discounted tickets are available for those who commute to school, groups, families, children, senior citizens and those with disabilities. Ticket prices are based on a zone system and vary from $14.00 to $4.50. Ticket information is available at the General Information numbers, (800) 638-7645 or (212) 532-4900 or at the FAQs section of the Metro-North Railroad website.

Schedules: Schedules are available from the local offices, and online at the Schedules section of the Metro-North website.

Handicapped Accessible Railroad Stations: The New Haven, Hudson and Harlem Lines each have several stations with full ADA access. There are also stations along each line that offer wheelchair accessible platforms. Stations with full ADA access feature an platform that is accessible by a ramp or elevator, braille and large type signs in the waiting room, bridge plates, TTY text phones, a visual equivalent to the Public Address system, lower ticket counters and accessible restrooms. For more information call the the General Information numbers (800) 638-7645 or (212) 532-4900. There is also a TDD line at (800) 724-3322. Information is also available at the Disabled Access section of the Metro-North website.

New Jersey Transit:

General Information: The New Jersey Transit is a state commuter rail network that serves 161 stations statewide. It provides access to most of the state--from Bergen County to Atlantic City. It offers service from New York's Penn Station to Philadelphia. For general information contact the NJ Transit website at www.njtransit.state.nj.us". Information is also available from the Transit Information Center at (800) 772-2222 or (973)491-7600 for No. New Jersey and Mercer County or at (800) 582-5946 or (215) 569-3752 for So. New Jersey, and Customer Service at (800) 772-3606 or (973) 491-9400.

Tickets and Fares: Tickets are available at local stations, at the train, or through the mail. Mail-in applications can be picked up at the local stations or use the NJ Transit's Quik-Tik to purchase tickets online. Monthly, weekly, and ten-trip tickets can be purchased. Discounts are available for students, children, senior citizens and those with disabilities. For more information on fares and tickets see the Rail Fare Options section of the NJ Transit website. Information is also available from the Transit Information Center at (800) 772-2222 or (973)491-7600 for No. New Jersey and Mercer County or at (800) 582-5946 or (215) 569-3752 for So. New Jersey.

Schedules: Schedules are available from local stations and online at the Schedules and Fares section of the NJ Transit website. Information is also available from the Transit Information Center at (800) 772-2222 or (973)491-7600 for No. New Jersey and Mercer County or at (800) 582-5946 or (215) 569-3752 for So. New Jersey.

Handicapped Accessible Stations: Wheelchair accessible stations with elevators or ramps to the platform and bridge plates to provide level access to the train are available. Accessible stations are denoted on the train schedule with the International Symbol for Disability. For more information call the Transit Information Center at (800) 772-2222 or (973)491-7600 for No. New Jersey and Mercer County or at (800) 582-5946 or (215) 569-3752 for So. New Jersey. TDD service is available at (800) 772-2287. Information on Accessible Services can also be found at the NJ Transit website.

Other Important Numbers: Within New Jersey dial (800) 772-3606 for Customer Service, and out of state dial (973) 491-9400. For Mail Tik for Rail, PATH and Hoboken Ferry monthly passes dial (973) 491-8491. To receive a MAIL-FARE application dial (973) 378-6402 in New Jersey and out of state dial (800) 648-0215. For the Lost and Found at the New York Penn Station dial (212) 630-7389. Lost and Found at the Newark Penn Station can be reached at (973) 491-8792. For the Lost and Found Department at the Hoboken Terminal dial (201) 714-2739. The Lost and Found at the Atlantic City Terminal can be reached at (609) 343-7174. For information on Special Promotions dial (800) 626-7433. The Reduced Fare Office can be reached at (973) 378-6401.

PATH Trains:

General Information: The Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) rapid transit trains provide twenty-four hour a day service between New Jersey and New York City. It is the primary transit link between New York City, the nearby New Jersey urban communities and the suburban NJ Transit rail services. There are seven PATH stations in New Jersey and six in New York City. For the street locations of the stations and a map of the PATH lines check the System Map section of the PATH website. For more information call the PATH information line at (800) 234-7284. Information can also be found on line at the PATH website, www.panynj.gov/path.

Tickets and Fares: The PATH fare is $1.00 at all stations and children under age five ride for free. QuickCards are available in 2, 10, 20 and 40 dollar denominations.

Schedules: Weekdays from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM and weekends from 9:00 AM to 7:30 AM four lines are in operation. These lines include: the Newark - Journal Square - World Trade Center line, the Journal Square - 33rd Street line, the Hoboken - World Trade Center line, and the Hoboken - 33rd Street line. Overnight, two lines, the Newark - Journal Square - World Trade Center line and the Journal Square - Hoboken - 33rd Street line, are in operation. Schedules are available at local stations and on-line at the PATH Timetable portion of the PATH website.

Handicapped Accessible Stations: There are seven stations which have platforms that are accessible by elevator. For information on the locations of these stations call (800) 234-7284.

Staten Island Railway:

General Information: Service runs between the St. George and Tottenville stations twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Passengers can make connections to the Staten Island Ferry from the St. George Station. For more general information call the MTA Staten Island Railway at (718) 966-7478 or visit the SIRsection of the MTA website (www.mta.nyc.ny.us). A map of the SIR route can be found at the MTA website as well.

Tickets and Fares: All SIR fares can only be paid at the St. George Terminal. Fares can be paid using a MetroCard or a NYC Transit subway token. MetroCards can be purchased at the St. George Terminal. For more information on fares, see the Fare and Transfer portion of the SIR section of the MTA website.

Schedules: The SIR trains run twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Schedules are available in pdf format on the SIR section of the MTA website.

Handicapped Accessible Stations: Seven of the fifteen SIR stations are wheelchair accessible. These stations are as follows: St George, Dongan Hills, Great Kills, Richmond Valley, Tompkinsville, Stapleton and Tottenville. For more information on accessibility call SIR customer information at (718) 966-7478.