Senior Guide

Train Travel is Easy, Affordable and Fun!

MTA Long Island Rail Road is the best way to get to the excitement in New York City and on Long Island. The LIRR offers a host of ideas for families to save money and have fun too.

Introduction
There are many interesting and fun things for Senior Citizens to do in New York City and on Long Island. MTA Long Island Rail Road can take you to them and save you money as well.

The LIRR is the fast, convenient and relaxing way to travel and special fares are available for senior citizens 65 years or older and people with disabilities, regardless of age. These special fares are good at all times except on weekday morning westbound peak trains. Tickets cost about one-half of the peak one-way fare. To get the reduced fare, simply present a valid ID such as a Medicare card, birth certificate, driver's license or MTA Reduced-Fare MetroCard (required for people with disabilities and available from NYC Transit, LIRR website, or at 718-243-4999).

Buying Tickets
The best way to buy tickets is to purchase them in advance. Because reduced fares are not honored on all trains, purchasing tickets on board is the most expensive option. The Long Island Rail Road makes buying tickets easy. Tickets are sold at ticket offices, ticket machines or through WebTicket.

Ticket Offices
Ticket offices sell all ticket types and offer certain values of MetroCard when purchased with LIRR tickets. Ticket offices accept cash, checks, ATM/debit and major credit cards. Ticket office hours are posted at stations or on the web.

Ticket Machines
The Long Island Rail Road has three (3) types of ticket machines:

Gray, full-service ticket machines, which sell most ticket types and pre-valued MetroCards, accept cash, ATM/debit cards and credit cards.
Blue, ticket machines also sell most ticket types and pre-valued MetroCards, but accept ATM/debit or credit cards only.
Red, daily ticket machines sell one way and round trip tickets as well as some types of pre-valued Metrocards. These machines accept cash, ATM/debit or credit cards.

WebTicket
Tickets are sold on line at WebTicket. You can save 5% on one way, round trip, weekly and ten trip tickets, and 2% on monthly tickets, using a major credit card. Tickets are delivered within 3-5 business days and postage is FREE.

Ticket Types Designed to Help You Save

Ticket Types
If you are 65 years or older, the Long Island Rail Road offers several ticket type options for Senior Citizens. Fares are available for one way or round trip travel and are good for six months from date of sale. To save time, instead of buying tickets for each trip, why not try our Senior Ten-Trip Ticket. This convenience ticket is sold at the price of 10 senior/people with disabilities one-way fares. Ticket can be shared and is good for one year.

The above tickets are not good for travel on LIRR trains arriving in western terminals before 10:00 AM weekdays. These tickets are good anytime on Saturdays and Sundays.

If you or your companions are under 65 years of age, the following ticket types would be most advantageous if you are traveling with friends or family members.

Off-Peak Ten-Trip
Good on off-peak trains to/from Zone 1 only. Offers a discount of up to 15% off the price of 10 regular off peak fares. People traveling together can share these tickets. Ticket is valid for one year from date of purchase.

Family Fare
Good on off-peak trains only. Up to four children ages 5-11 travel for just 75 cents when purchased in advance, $1.00 onboard trains when accompanied by an adult. Children under 5 ride free.

The above tickets are not good for travel on LIRR trains arriving in western terminals before 10:00 AM and departing western terminals between 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM weekdays. These tickets are good anytime on Saturdays and Sundays.

Travel Planning Made Easy
Just about everything you need to plan a trip is available on our website. You can get Schedules & Fares information as well as station location and attributes. You can also find out information about our getaways and special discount offers.

Station and Branch Timetables
LIRR schedules are printed in a large version for each branch and in pocketsize for stations. They can be found in convenient timetable racks at stations and terminals. You can also get Schedule & Fare information online or by phone.

Manhattan Getaways
The best city in the world is just a train ride away. The Long Island Rail Road offers discount packages to many New York City attractions, such as Madame Tussauds New York and the American Museum of Natural History, that include round-trip fares and admissions for one low price.

Long Island One-Day Getaways
Discover some of the most beautiful and interesting spots on Long Island with an enjoyable One-Day Escorted Tour or Package. Our One-Day Getaways are offered from May through November and include discounted round-trip rail fare, sightseeing and admission to attractions. Some Getaways even include tastings or meals.

Packages and Discounts
Other offers are available throughout the year including free rail or discount packages to Broadway shows, Belmont Park, LI Beaches, and many more.

Restrooms
Restrooms are usually available in open station waiting rooms; hours of availability are posted. On trains, cars with odd numbers are restroom equipped. Restrooms on our newer trains are handicapped accessible.

Travel Information
You can also get details on all of the information above by calling our Travel Information Center. Our Travel Information Center is open 24 hours. We have a voice-activated system that's easy to use. Call in Suffolk County 631-231-LIRR, Nassau County 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.