LIRR Routes: Comprehensive Long Island Rail Network
May 21, 2025
LIRR Routes – Offering easy travel options for daily commuters, tourists, and pleasure travelers, LIRR offers 11 major branches, including ones from Babylon, Ronkonkoma, Port Jefferson, and Montauk. Major transfer points, including Penn Station, Grand Central Madison, Jamaica Station, and Atlantic Terminal, allow seamless connections to subways, abuse, and AirTrain JFK. From business travel to leisure trips, LIRR’s express and local services, picturesque routes, and modern railcars deliver a relaxing and seamless trip throughout the region.
LIRR Routes explain the connectivity of the entire Long Island Rail Road ( LIRR ), one of the busiest commuter railroads in the United States. The LIRR serves Long Island by connecting it to New York City. It is operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and has 11 branch lines, which service over 124 stations and thousands of commuters each day.
Major LIRR Routes and Branches
Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) routes along with their key terminals:
Route Name
Western Terminal(s)
Eastern Terminal
Key Stops
Babylon Branch
Penn Station, Grand Central, Atlantic Terminal
Babylon
Jamaica, Rockville Centre, Freeport
Far Rockaway Branch
Penn Station, Grand Central, Atlantic Terminal
Far Rockaway
Jamaica, Valley Stream, Inwood
Hempstead Branch
Penn Station, Grand Central, Atlantic Terminal
Hempstead
Jamaica, Floral Park
Long Beach Branch
Penn Station, Grand Central, Atlantic Terminal
Long Beach
Jamaica, Lynbrook
Montauk Branch
Penn Station, Long Island City
Montauk
Babylon, Patchogue, Southampton, East Hampton
Oyster Bay Branch
Penn Station, Grand Central, Atlantic Terminal
Oyster Bay
Mineola, Glen Cove
Port Jefferson Branch
Penn Station, Grand Central
Port Jefferson
Hicksville, Huntington
Port Washington Branch
Penn Station
Port Washington
Woodside, Great Neck, Manhasset
Ronkonkoma Branch
Penn Station, Grand Central
Greenport (seasonal)
Hicksville, Ronkonkoma, Riverhead (limited)
West Hempstead Branch
Penn Station, Grand Central, Atlantic Terminal
West Hempstead
Jamaica, Valley Stream
Babylon Branch: Operates between New York City terminals (Penn Station, Grand Central) via Jamaica to Babylon. That electrified line connects 13 stations. ​
Far Rockaway Branch: Running from New York City terminals in Jamaica to Far Rockaway (11 stations total) ​
Hempstead Branch: Runs from New York City terminals via Jamaica to Hempstead, 9 stations.
Long Beach Branch: Connects New York City terminals via Jamaica to Long Beach, serving 6 stations.
Montauk Branch: Runs from New York City terminals through Jamaica out to Montauk and 16 stations. The Jamaica–Babylon section is electrified, with diesel operation beyond Babylon to Montauk.
Oyster Bay Branch: From Jamaica through Mineola to Oyster Bay and 10 stations. The first section is electrified to East Williston; the remainder runs with diesel service.
Port Jefferson Branch: From New York City terminals through Jamaica and Hicksville to Port Jefferson, 16 stations. The segment through Huntington is electrified, while the service from there to Port Jefferson is diesel. ​
Port Washington Branch: Branches off the Main Line west of Woodside and runs east to Port Washington, serving 13 stations. Notably, this is the only branch that does not go through Jamaica Station. ​
Ronkonkoma Branch — From New York City terminals to Jamaica and Hicksville, to Ronkonkoma, 14 stations The line is electrified to Ronkonkoma; service beyond that to Greenport is diesel-powered. ​
West Hempstead Branch — Connects terminals in New York City via Jamaica to West Hempstead. 6 Total Stations ​
City Terminal Zone — All the stations within New York City, from Penn Station, Grand Central Madison, and Atlantic Terminal to 12 other stations. ​
While Most Branches originate from Penn Station, Grand Central Madison, or Atlantic Terminal,extend to various destinations across Long Island. Some like Montauk and Ronkonkoma, extend deep into Suffolk County, And some others, such as the Port Washington and Far Rockaway branches, serve specific suburban communities.
Major LIRR Connectivity Junctions
The network extends out from Penn Station, Grand Central Madison, Atlantic Terminal, and Long Island City east through the Nassau and Suffolk counties. You’ll observe the Main Line running between Penn Station and Ronkonkoma and on to Greenport, with the important stops of Mineola, Hicksville, and Farmingdale. One of the longest routes, the Montauk Branch, stretches from Long Island City to Montauk, serving stations including Babylon, Patchogue, and Southampton.
Key branches, or in better words, Key Stations, include the Port Washington Branch, which operates independently of Penn Station to Port Washington via Great Neck, and the Babylon Branch, which serves key South Shore communities. The Port Jefferson, Oyster Bay, and Hempstead branches serve passengers on the North Shore and central Long Island. Recently, Grand Central Madison, the new station for East Side commuters, was opened.
Train Interval & Schedule of the LIRR Routes
LIRR trains vary throughout the day; during peak and off-peak hours:
 Peak Times (weekday am & pm): Express trains yield quicker travel times.
 Off-Peak Hours (Midday, nights, weekends) more stops, discounted fares
 Weekend & Holiday Schedules: Limited frequency, although some express  services run to certain popular destinations.
 Local, express, and peak-hour trains provide flexibility to passengers on the  LIRR. Monthly passes, as well as reduced fares and real-time tracking through the  MTA TrainTime app, also make travel even more convenient. More recently, infrastructure improvements have expanded capacity and reduced congestion, mainly through the Third Track Project and East Side Access.
Destinations & Travel Perks via LIRR Routes
LIRR caters to not only commuters but also tourists and leisure travelers headed to Long Island’s top attractions:
Long Beach — Ideal for an overnight beach getaway.
Montauk & The Hamptons – Perfect for a weekend trip.
Belmont Park –  Live racing for fans.
Jones Beach — Easy access for concerts and summer fun.
Full Story buffs and New irons in the Fire
Decades ago, the LIRR was forced to drop outdated use with a new travel concept. Notable projects include:
Grand Central Madison — A direct link to Manhattan’s East Side, making it easier to alleviate congestion at Penn Station.
Third Track Project – Constructing a new track between Floral Park and Hicksville to increase service reliability.
New M9 Railcars — Better Commuter Experience With Wi-Fi, digital screens and USB charging ports
LIRR Routes and Fares
Zone
Example Stations
Off-Peak
Peak
Monthly Pass
Zone 1
Penn Station, Grand Central, Atlantic Term.
$5.00
$7.00
$138.00
Zone 3
Woodside, Jamaica, Kew Gardens
$5.00
$7.00
$138.00
Zone 4
Forest Hills, Hollis, Valley Stream
$6.25
$8.75
$192.00
Zone 7
Mineola, Freeport, Hempstead
$7.75
$10.75
$238.00
Zone 9
Hicksville, Babylon
$9.25
$13.00
$284.00
Zone 10
Ronkonkoma, Patchogue, Port Washington
$10.00
$14.00
$313.00
Zone 12
Port Jefferson, Riverhead, Bellport
$11.50
$16.00
$356.00
Zone 14
Montauk, Greenport
$13.50
$19.25
$416.00
Why Stress when you can Travel Smarter
Whether you travel daily or just occasionally, LIRR routes connect you swiftly and conveniently to essential locations throughout New York. LIRR offers direct routes to almost anywhere on Long Island and NYC with reliable schedules, comfortable trains, and easily accessible transfers to make traveling simple and stress-free.
Importance
Boasting comprehensive coverage, the LIRR is still a critical connection for New Yorkers, uniting neighborhoods, increasing economic activity, and offering a dependable way for Long Island residents to travel.
However, you’ll need to keep some important points in mind. Let me just sum them up for you :
The Ronkonkoma Branch extends seasonally to Greenport, which of course! means service beyond Ronkonkoma is fairly not much accessible.
The Montauk Branch includes both local and express services, where you’ll notice some trains will bypass stations for a faster coverage of distance. No wonder why LIRR is convenient.
Some branches share tracks for part of the journey, particularly near Jamaica Station, which serves as a major junction or a significant hub.
LIRR routes provide you with New York City and Long Island with a seamless, efficient, and well-connected travel experience. With major branches radiating from key destinations, direct and local trains, and easy transfers at Penn Station, Grand Central Madison, Jamaica, and Atlantic Terminal, commuting has never been easier. Whether you ride as a daily commuter or for leisure, LIRR offers comfort, reliability, and accessibility. With the continuous growth and modernization of the network, it is an important means of transportation, allowing all users to travel faster, smoother, and more conveniently.
