The City Terminal Zone is a vital portion of the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), falling between Penn Station, Amazing Central Madison, Atlantic Terminal, Jamaica, Hunters Point Road, and Long Island City in New York City.
As the transportation nexus for commuters, the City Terminal Zone gives simple access to the metro, buses, AirTrain JFK, and other rail administrations. Visiting trains and a strategically chosen urban area lets it viably interface Long Island with the heart of NYC. The City Terminal Zone is basic for clients trying to find fast, solid, and seamless trips to and from the city.
City Terminal Zone Overview
Below is the branch overview.
City Terminal Zone stations
-
Penn Station
-
Grand Central Madison
-
Atlantic Terminal
-
Jamaica Station
-
Woodside Station
-
Hunters Point Avenue
-
Long Island City Station
Here is the complete information on the Ronkonkoma Branch Stations.
| Station Name | Borough | Key Services | Transfers Available | ADA Accessible | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penn Station | Manhattan | LIRR, Amtrak, NJ Transit | NYC Subway (1,2,3, A,C,E), Buses | ✅ | Major transit hub |
| Grand Central Madison | Manhattan | LIRR | NYC Subway (4,5,6,7, S), Metro-North nearby | ✅ | Newest LIRR terminal |
| Atlantic Terminal | Brooklyn | LIRR | NYC Subway (2,3,4,5,B,D,N,Q,R), Buses | ✅ | Connected to Barclays Center |
| Jamaica Station | Queens | LIRR, AirTrain JFK | NYC Subway (E,J,Z), Buses | ✅ | Central LIRR hub with JFK access |
| Woodside Station | Queens | LIRR | NYC Subway (7), Q32 Bus | ✅ | Local Queens access to LIRR |
| Hunterspoint Avenue | Queens | LIRR (Limited) | NYC Subway (7), Buses | ❌ | Peak-hour service only |
| Long Island City | Queens | LIRR (Limited) | NYC Subway (G,E,M), Buses | ❌ | Weekday-only service |
Key Highlights
- Midtown Manhattan Accessibility: Features major LIRR hotspots such as Penn Station and Grand Central Madison, providing seamless connections to Manhattan.
- Multi-Borough Coverage: Serve Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens; great for NYC commuters!
- High Connectivity: Seamless connections to NYC subways, buses, Amtrak, NJ Transit, and AirTrain JFK at Jamaica.
- ADA Accessibility: All City Terminal Zone stations with elevators, ramps, and lifts.
- Frequent Service: Gives high-frequency trains (particularly in crest, crest heading) with joins to all major LIRR branches
- Intermodal hubs: Atlantic Terminal and Jamaica Station as multimodal transportation centers
- Visitor Friendly: Easy to get to the major Unused attractions in New York City,like Times Square, and Barclays Center
- Reverse Commute options: In demand with reverse commuters going out to Long Island from the city
- WHAT’S NEW: Grand Central Madison speeds service for East Side Manhattan commuters.
- Limited-Service Stations: Hunters Point Avenue and Long Island City are available mostly during peak hours or only on weekdays.
Transfers & Connections
Penn Station
- Subway Lines: 1, 2, 3, A, C, E
- Buses: M34, M34A, M4, M7, M20, M11
- Other Connections: Amtrak, NJ Transit, PATH
Grand Central Madison
- Subway Lines: 4, 5, 6, 7, S
- Buses: M42, M1, M2, M3, M4
- Other Connections: Metro-North Railroad
Atlantic Terminal
- SUBWAY LINES 2, 3, 4, 5, B, D, N, Q, R
- Buses: B41, B45, B63, B67
- Other Transit Options: Barclays Center, NYC Ferry
Jamaica Station
- Subway Lines: E, J, Z
- Buses: Q6, Q8, Q9, Q30, Q31, Q54, Q56, Q60
- Transfers: JFK AirTrain; several L.I.R.R. branches
Hunters Point Avenue
- Subway Line: 7
- Buses: Q67, B62, Q32
- Other Connections: Reduced service to Long Island City, LIC Ferry
Long Island City
- Subway Line: 7, G
- Buses: Q67, B62, Q103
- Other Connections: NYC Ferry
Woodside
- Subway Line: 7
- BY BUS: Q32, Q60, Q70 SBS (JFK & LGA airports)
- Other Connections: Transfers to LIRR Port Washington & Main Line
Nostrand Avenue
- Subway Lines: A, C
- Buses: B44 SBS, B49, B65
- Other Connections: Brooklyn local bus
East New York
- Subway Line: L
- Buses: B20, B60
- Other Connections: Link to Broadway Junction transit hub
Parking & Accessibility Facilities
Penn Station
- Parking: No LIRR-specific parking; private garages nearby
- Accessibility: Fully ADA accessible; elevators, ramps, tactile warning strips
Grand Central Madison
- Parking: Not specific to the LIRR; private parking garages in nearby Midtown
- Accessibility: Completely ADA compliant (i.e., elevators, wide platforms, visual/audio helps)
Atlantic Terminal
- Parking: Few public garages close to the center; no LIRR-designated lot
- ADA Accessible: Yes, with elevators, escalators, ramps
Jamaica Station
- Parking: LIRR lot; municipal and private garages nearby
- Access: 100% ADA compliant with escalators, elevators, and wheelchair-accessible entry
Hunters Point Avenue
- Parking: Some street parking; no specific LIRR parking
- The first shall be last, and the last shall be first.
Long Island City
- Parking: Street parking only; no separate LIRR or garage options
- Accessibility: Some accessibility features; the station is not yet fully ADA-compliant
Woodside
- Parking: Limited street parking; no L.I.R.R. lot
- Accessibility: Fully ADA-Compliant with elevators & ramps
Nostrand Avenue
- Parking: Street only; no LIRR lot
- Accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible (ADA-compliant) ramps and elevators
East New York
- Parking: Parking is very limited, street parking only
- Walkability: Pantry Accessible with Elevators & Tactile Surfaces
Nearby Attractions:
Penn Station
- Madison Square Garden
- The High Line
- Macy’s Herald Square
- Empire State Building
- Pennsy Food Hall
Grand Central Madison
- Grand Central Terminal
- Chrysler Building
- Bryant Park
- New York Public Library
- Fifth Avenue shopping district
Atlantic Terminal
- Barclays Center
- Atlantic Terminal Mall
- Fort Greene Park
- Brooklyn Academy of Music
- Prospect Park
Jamaica Station
- Jamaica Performing Arts Center
- Rufus King Park & Manor
- King Manor Museum
- Archer Avenue retail strip
- Resorts World NYC
Hunters Point Avenue
- Gantry Plaza State Park
- MoMA PS1
- Vernon Blvd restaurants & cafés
- LIC Waterfront & Pier
Woodside
- Doughboy Plaza
- Local Irish pubs & eateries
- Quick access to Flushing Meadows via the 7 train
Long Island City
- Hunters Point South Park
- Pepsi Cola Sign
- Waterfront dining with skyline views
- SculptureCenter
Nostrand Avenue
- Brooklyn Children’s Museum
- Eastern Parkway Cultural District
- Weeksville Heritage Center
East New York
- Shirley Chisholm State Park
- Gateway Center Mall
Train Schedule
Weekday Eastbound Train Schedule:
| Departure Station | Departure Time | Destination | Approx. Travel Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penn Station | 06:12 | Jamaica | 20 mins | Peak AM hour service |
| Grand Central Madison | 06:45 | Jamaica | 22 mins | Direct to Jamaica |
| Atlantic Terminal | 07:00 | Jamaica | 21 mins | Brooklyn service |
| Penn Station | 07:30 | Babylon (via Jamaica) | 1 hr 15 mins | Express service after Jamaica |
| Grand Central Madison | 08:10 | Ronkonkoma (via Jamaica) | 1 hr 20 mins | Peak-hour commuter train |
| Atlantic Terminal | 09:00 | Hempstead (via Jamaica) | 55 mins | Local stops on route |
| Penn Station | 10:30 | Port Jefferson (transfer at Hicksville) | 2 hrs+ | Off-peak, longer run time |
| Grand Central Madison | 12:00 | Long Beach | 1 hr 5 mins | Midday off-peak |
| Penn Station | 14:45 | Far Rockaway | 1 hr 10 mins | Local stops included |
| Atlantic Terminal | 15:20 | Jamaica | 20 mins | Afternoon local service |
Weekday Westbound Train Schedule:
| Departure Station | Departure Time | Destination | Approx. Travel Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penn Station | 06:12 | Jamaica | 20 mins | Peak AM hour service |
| Grand Central Madison | 06:45 | Jamaica | 22 mins | Direct to Jamaica |
| Atlantic Terminal | 07:00 | Jamaica | 21 mins | Brooklyn service |
| Penn Station | 07:30 | Babylon (via Jamaica) | 1 hr 15 mins | Express service after Jamaica |
| Grand Central Madison | 08:10 | Ronkonkoma (via Jamaica) | 1 hr 20 mins | Peak-hour commuter train |
| Atlantic Terminal | 09:00 | Hempstead (via Jamaica) | 55 mins | Local stops on route |
| Penn Station | 10:30 | Port Jefferson (transfer at Hicksville) | 2 hrs+ | Off-peak, longer run time |
| Grand Central Madison | 12:00 | Long Beach | 1 hr 5 mins | Midday off-peak |
| Penn Station | 14:45 | Far Rockaway | 1 hr 10 mins | Local stops included |
| Atlantic Terminal | 15:20 | Jamaica | 20 mins | Afternoon local service |
Weekend Schedule (Both Directions):
| Direction | Departure Station | Departure Time | Arrival Station | Travel Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westbound | Jamaica | 07:30 | Penn Station | ~20 mins | Regular weekend service |
| Westbound | Jamaica | 08:00 | Grand Central Madison | ~22 mins | Direct service |
| Westbound | Long Beach | 08:15 | Atlantic Terminal | ~60 mins | Transfer at Jamaica |
| Westbound | Hempstead | 09:00 | Penn Station | ~65 mins | Transfer at Jamaica |
| Westbound | Port Washington | 10:00 | Penn Station | ~50 mins | Direct train |
| Eastbound | Penn Station | 11:00 | Babylon | ~1 hr 15 min | Direct off-peak train |
| Eastbound | Grand Central | 12:00 | Ronkonkoma | ~1 hr 20 min | Midday express |
| Eastbound | Atlantic Terminal | 13:00 | Long Beach | ~1 hr | Transfer at Jamaica |
| Eastbound | Penn Station | 14:30 | Hempstead | ~65 mins | Local service |
| Eastbound | Grand Central | 15:45 | Port Jefferson | ~2 hrs | Requires transfer at Huntington |
Additional tips:
- Check the MTA TrainTime App. The app provides real-time updates, including delays and track changes at Penn, Grand Central, and Atlantic Terminal.
- Buy Tickets Early – Skip the queues by buying tickets through either the TrainTime app or ticket machines.
- Travel Off-Peak — Weekend trains may be less frequent, so allow additional time to get to where you’re going.
- Know Your Transfer Points — Jamaica Station serves as the primary transfer hub for most of the connections across the L.I.R.R. branches.
- Search for Off-Peak Discounts — Weekends are generally off-peak, so you may have a more inexpensive travel option.