Extra Thanksgiving Weekend Service

Off-Peak and Family Fares In Effect

Thanksgiving weekend is the official start for many to the holiday busy season and the MTA Long Island Rail Road is ready with additional service to get travelers where they want to be. Additional trains will be operating on Wednesday, November 25 and on Thanksgiving Day, November 26 and off-peak fares will be in effect for the entire four-day holiday weekend. On Black Friday, November 27, traditionally one of the busiest shopping days of the year, off-peak fares will be in effect all day, including the special Family Fare discount, while a full weekday train schedule will be in effect. Under the Family Fare program, up to four children ages 5-11 can ride trains that day for the advance purchase fare of 75-cents each (one-way) when accompanied by a fare-paying parent or guardian. Weekly and monthly ticket holders just pay for the kids. Children under five ride free.

Open alcoholic beverage containers will not be allowed on LIRR trains, stations and on platforms from 8:00 PM, Wednesday, November 25 through 5:00 AM, Thursday (Thanksgiving Day), November 26. MTA Police will enforce this restriction.

Customers are reminded to purchase round trip tickets including MetroCards for connecting subway and bus service in advance in order to save time and avoid lines at LIRR ticket windows and New York City Transit MetroCard windows and TVM’s.

On Thanksgiving Eve, Wednesday, November 25, there will be nine extra trains departing Penn Station between 2:09 PM and 4:01 PM for customers leaving work early for the holiday.

Three trains will operate on the Babylon Branch, three on the Port Jefferson Branch (one to Hicksville, two to Huntington), one on the Port Washington Branch to Great Neck, one on the Far Rockaway Branch and one on the Montauk Branch.

Wednesday, November 25
The extra afternoon service from Penn Station includes:
Port Jefferson Branch to Hicksville/Huntington:
• 2:09 PM stopping at Jamaica, Carle Place, then all stops to Huntington
• 2:26 PM stopping at Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Jamaica, New Hyde Park, then all stops to Huntington
• 3:24 PM stopping at Jamaica, Mineola, Westbury and Hicksville
Babylon Branch
• 2:22 PM express to Lynbrook, then all stops to Babylon
• 3:00 PM stopping at Jamaica, Rockville Centre, then all stops to Babylon
• 3:31PM express to Rockville Centre, then all stops to Babylon
Port Washington Branch to Great Neck
• 3:40 PM stopping at Woodside, Flushing, then all stops to Great Neck
Far Rockaway Branch
• 3:48 PM express to Locust Manor, then all stops to Far Rockaway
Montauk Branch
• 4:06 PM train from Hunterspoint Avenue to Montauk (4:01 PM train from Penn Station connects with this train at Jamaica)

Thanksgiving Day, November 26
Throughout Thanksgiving Day, a holiday schedule will be in effect. Cars will be added to select trains to accommodate holiday travelers. Extra service for those attending the Parade includes six extra westbound and ten extra eastbound trains.

Westbound
Babylon Branch from Wantagh
• 7:13 AM and 7:45 AM trains from Wantagh, making all stops to Lynbrook, Jamaica and Penn Station
Montauk Branch
• 6:09 AM from Speonk, making all stops to Babylon, Jamaica and Penn Station
Ronkonkoma Branch
• 6:29 AM and 7:10 AM trains from Ronkonkoma, making all stops to Hicksville, Mineola, Jamaica and Penn Station
Port Jefferson Branch
• 6:39 AM from Port Jefferson making all stops to Huntington, Jamaica and Penn Station

Eastbound
Between 11:37 AM and 2:03 PM, ten extra trains will depart from Penn Station to accommodate customers returning from the parade. Three of the extra trains will operate on the Babylon Branch, four will operate on the Ronkonkoma Branch, two will operate on the Port Jefferson Branch and one will operate on the Montauk Branch to Speonk. Branch timetables dated November 9-December 13 contain regular eastbound departures from Penn Station, as well as the times of the extra trains.

Friday, November 27
Although LIRR trains will operate on a normal weekday schedule, off-peak fares will be in effect all day, making it more economical to travel to the city for holiday shopping and events.

For additional information, customers can contact the LIRR’s Travel Information Center, 24-hours a day, in Suffolk County at 631-231-LIRR, in Nassau County at 516-822-LIRR or in New York City at 718-217-LIRR. The Travel Information Center’s TDD telephone number for the hearing impaired is 718-558-3022.