The LIRR Today
@thelirrtoday.com
The latest news on commuting and travelling across Long Island. Opinions are the personal views of their author. Not an official LIRR account.
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The CapeFLYER is the only example I can think of (which is extra impressive considering there are decent highways to there)
February 11, 2026 at 4:31 AM
The CapeFLYER is the only example I can think of (which is extra impressive considering there are decent highways to there)
Fire Island is not accessible by train
But all of those other places were developed and got rail access because they had existing population/commercial activity that otherwise supported rail service. I think there's very few examples in the US of building rail for predominantly seasonal recreation.
But all of those other places were developed and got rail access because they had existing population/commercial activity that otherwise supported rail service. I think there's very few examples in the US of building rail for predominantly seasonal recreation.
February 11, 2026 at 4:29 AM
Fire Island is not accessible by train
But all of those other places were developed and got rail access because they had existing population/commercial activity that otherwise supported rail service. I think there's very few examples in the US of building rail for predominantly seasonal recreation.
But all of those other places were developed and got rail access because they had existing population/commercial activity that otherwise supported rail service. I think there's very few examples in the US of building rail for predominantly seasonal recreation.
Intra-Island travel is another little and often overlooked market that has been growing a ton the last few years...
In 2024, intra-Island travel exceeded pre-pandemic levels by almost 300k trips. There are now 31 stations where intra-Island travel accounts for more than 10% of journeys.
In 2024, intra-Island travel exceeded pre-pandemic levels by almost 300k trips. There are now 31 stations where intra-Island travel accounts for more than 10% of journeys.
February 11, 2026 at 4:11 AM
Intra-Island travel is another little and often overlooked market that has been growing a ton the last few years...
In 2024, intra-Island travel exceeded pre-pandemic levels by almost 300k trips. There are now 31 stations where intra-Island travel accounts for more than 10% of journeys.
In 2024, intra-Island travel exceeded pre-pandemic levels by almost 300k trips. There are now 31 stations where intra-Island travel accounts for more than 10% of journeys.
Strong "are we even trying" vibes coming from the region's mass transit agencies so far in 2026...
All those new taxes, tolls, fees, charges, etc. flowing into the coffers has made people complacent.
All those new taxes, tolls, fees, charges, etc. flowing into the coffers has made people complacent.
February 11, 2026 at 2:07 AM
Strong "are we even trying" vibes coming from the region's mass transit agencies so far in 2026...
All those new taxes, tolls, fees, charges, etc. flowing into the coffers has made people complacent.
All those new taxes, tolls, fees, charges, etc. flowing into the coffers has made people complacent.
This was postponed, but it is [not] hilarious that this NJT bypassing of the EWR Raillink station was not coordinated to be the same time as the AirTrain EWR outages every weekday.
The people running mass transit in this region put so little effort into making it easy/convenient to use
The people running mass transit in this region put so little effort into making it easy/convenient to use
February 11, 2026 at 1:52 AM
This was postponed, but it is [not] hilarious that this NJT bypassing of the EWR Raillink station was not coordinated to be the same time as the AirTrain EWR outages every weekday.
The people running mass transit in this region put so little effort into making it easy/convenient to use
The people running mass transit in this region put so little effort into making it easy/convenient to use
Babylon is very nice. Bay Shore, Sayville, and Patchogue are good too but medium walks from the station. Great Neck, Port Wash closer.
Lynbrook, Long Beach (big, lots of cars), Massapequa Park (small but there's also the preserve), Farmingdale, Mineola (dead on weekends), Floral Park are nice too.
Lynbrook, Long Beach (big, lots of cars), Massapequa Park (small but there's also the preserve), Farmingdale, Mineola (dead on weekends), Floral Park are nice too.
February 10, 2026 at 2:39 AM
Babylon is very nice. Bay Shore, Sayville, and Patchogue are good too but medium walks from the station. Great Neck, Port Wash closer.
Lynbrook, Long Beach (big, lots of cars), Massapequa Park (small but there's also the preserve), Farmingdale, Mineola (dead on weekends), Floral Park are nice too.
Lynbrook, Long Beach (big, lots of cars), Massapequa Park (small but there's also the preserve), Farmingdale, Mineola (dead on weekends), Floral Park are nice too.
NJT + PATH do cross-honoring right. They're not nearly as stingy as the MTA, and I can count on 1 hand times I've had issues.
Usually they have staff at turnstiles to let you in. Otherwise you pick up phone & they remotely unlock turnstile.
100x better than LIRR/NYCT which make it too difficult
Usually they have staff at turnstiles to let you in. Otherwise you pick up phone & they remotely unlock turnstile.
100x better than LIRR/NYCT which make it too difficult
February 10, 2026 at 2:36 AM
NJT + PATH do cross-honoring right. They're not nearly as stingy as the MTA, and I can count on 1 hand times I've had issues.
Usually they have staff at turnstiles to let you in. Otherwise you pick up phone & they remotely unlock turnstile.
100x better than LIRR/NYCT which make it too difficult
Usually they have staff at turnstiles to let you in. Otherwise you pick up phone & they remotely unlock turnstile.
100x better than LIRR/NYCT which make it too difficult
~20 years ago I bought a Hoboken-NYK NJT Rail ticket for $3 and subsequently got probably $500+ worth of PATH and ferry rides out of it from cross-honoring. Had to retire it in 2024 when they went to all QR code tickets (and it was quite faded).
February 10, 2026 at 2:34 AM
~20 years ago I bought a Hoboken-NYK NJT Rail ticket for $3 and subsequently got probably $500+ worth of PATH and ferry rides out of it from cross-honoring. Had to retire it in 2024 when they went to all QR code tickets (and it was quite faded).
It's like they're not even going to bother to try!
PATH is going to restore HOB-WTC AM Peak service to pre-pandemic levels in March. Might be a good idea to bring that forward...
I will enjoy a month of free PATH trips though.
PATH is going to restore HOB-WTC AM Peak service to pre-pandemic levels in March. Might be a good idea to bring that forward...
I will enjoy a month of free PATH trips though.
February 10, 2026 at 2:05 AM
It's like they're not even going to bother to try!
PATH is going to restore HOB-WTC AM Peak service to pre-pandemic levels in March. Might be a good idea to bring that forward...
I will enjoy a month of free PATH trips though.
PATH is going to restore HOB-WTC AM Peak service to pre-pandemic levels in March. Might be a good idea to bring that forward...
I will enjoy a month of free PATH trips though.
Reposted by The LIRR Today
Not that we would have any way of knowing for sure, because @mta.info made this very significant fare policy change without publishing any real data on the fare capping "pilot". They would not answer questions I had about specific numbers. www.thelirrtoday.com/2025/11/nyct...
Elimination of 30-day Unlimited MetroCard would make frequent Subway travel among most expensive in the world
The series of fare and toll changes approved by the MTA Board this past September includes a number of fare policy changes that will drive u...
www.thelirrtoday.com
February 9, 2026 at 11:55 PM
Not that we would have any way of knowing for sure, because @mta.info made this very significant fare policy change without publishing any real data on the fare capping "pilot". They would not answer questions I had about specific numbers. www.thelirrtoday.com/2025/11/nyct...
Not that we would have any way of knowing for sure, because @mta.info made this very significant fare policy change without publishing any real data on the fare capping "pilot". They would not answer questions I had about specific numbers. www.thelirrtoday.com/2025/11/nyct...
Elimination of 30-day Unlimited MetroCard would make frequent Subway travel among most expensive in the world
The series of fare and toll changes approved by the MTA Board this past September includes a number of fare policy changes that will drive u...
www.thelirrtoday.com
February 9, 2026 at 11:55 PM
Not that we would have any way of knowing for sure, because @mta.info made this very significant fare policy change without publishing any real data on the fare capping "pilot". They would not answer questions I had about specific numbers. www.thelirrtoday.com/2025/11/nyct...
I can see it being relatively neutral. The extra 14% that people who were buying 30-day unlimited passes will have to pay now offsets the extra revenue they would get from people who buy passes but down fully use them/accidentally hit the cap.
February 9, 2026 at 11:03 PM
I can see it being relatively neutral. The extra 14% that people who were buying 30-day unlimited passes will have to pay now offsets the extra revenue they would get from people who buy passes but down fully use them/accidentally hit the cap.
BART's fares are also much higher
February 9, 2026 at 8:32 PM
BART's fares are also much higher
And there's issue of whether the $100 million return is actually achievable, depending if
(1) $100m is the actual losses to fare evasion in the first place and not some inflated number
(2) 100% of riders that currently evade the fare will convert to paid trips (vs. not traveling, Fair Fares, etc)
(1) $100m is the actual losses to fare evasion in the first place and not some inflated number
(2) 100% of riders that currently evade the fare will convert to paid trips (vs. not traveling, Fair Fares, etc)
February 9, 2026 at 8:31 PM
And there's issue of whether the $100 million return is actually achievable, depending if
(1) $100m is the actual losses to fare evasion in the first place and not some inflated number
(2) 100% of riders that currently evade the fare will convert to paid trips (vs. not traveling, Fair Fares, etc)
(1) $100m is the actual losses to fare evasion in the first place and not some inflated number
(2) 100% of riders that currently evade the fare will convert to paid trips (vs. not traveling, Fair Fares, etc)
Reposted by The LIRR Today
And less than zero hustle in turning the train around at Lorimer. Took 5 mins, even though the train arrived on the track it needed to leave from. The union is always like “what if there’s an emergency?” when it comes to automation, but a driverless train could’ve switched directions immediately
February 9, 2026 at 7:17 PM
And less than zero hustle in turning the train around at Lorimer. Took 5 mins, even though the train arrived on the track it needed to leave from. The union is always like “what if there’s an emergency?” when it comes to automation, but a driverless train could’ve switched directions immediately
Reposted by The LIRR Today
Nothing on the screens at street level, neither of the two types of in-station screens, no audio announcements. Then when the train arrives, everybody has to figure it out using context clues or on in-train speakers. Young people figured it out on their phones, older people were left to wonder.
February 9, 2026 at 7:14 PM
Nothing on the screens at street level, neither of the two types of in-station screens, no audio announcements. Then when the train arrives, everybody has to figure it out using context clues or on in-train speakers. Young people figured it out on their phones, older people were left to wonder.
Reposted by The LIRR Today
Amazing how the MTA has lost all will or ability to make in-station announcements about service disruptions. L is not running between Lorimer and Myrtle due to a passenger struck by a train 30 mins ago, and there’s no communication whatsoever about this at Lorimer.
February 9, 2026 at 7:14 PM
Amazing how the MTA has lost all will or ability to make in-station announcements about service disruptions. L is not running between Lorimer and Myrtle due to a passenger struck by a train 30 mins ago, and there’s no communication whatsoever about this at Lorimer.
My submission for Philadelphia
February 9, 2026 at 5:10 PM
My submission for Philadelphia
I'll say, for the 3,000th time, that NYCT's attention to service delivery on the R train is wholly inadequate for a service that's the only real link between a bunch of important secondary connecting hubs. Especially in Downtown Brooklyn.
February 6, 2026 at 12:02 AM
I'll say, for the 3,000th time, that NYCT's attention to service delivery on the R train is wholly inadequate for a service that's the only real link between a bunch of important secondary connecting hubs. Especially in Downtown Brooklyn.
We seem to be rapidly going down the same road as SBS buses where MTA's enforcement of the rules is extremely sloppy and lazy—and seems to punish honest, fare paying riders almost as frequently as those who evade the fare.
All because @mta.info employees can't be bothered to do their jobs properly!
All because @mta.info employees can't be bothered to do their jobs properly!
February 5, 2026 at 2:04 PM
We seem to be rapidly going down the same road as SBS buses where MTA's enforcement of the rules is extremely sloppy and lazy—and seems to punish honest, fare paying riders almost as frequently as those who evade the fare.
All because @mta.info employees can't be bothered to do their jobs properly!
All because @mta.info employees can't be bothered to do their jobs properly!
Passenger activates their mobile ticket at the scheduled departure time, two minutes before the train arrived late.
@mta.info still hits them with a late activation strike, saying they didn't activate the ticket before the SCHEDULED departure time. www.reddit.com/r/nycrail/s/...
@mta.info still hits them with a late activation strike, saying they didn't activate the ticket before the SCHEDULED departure time. www.reddit.com/r/nycrail/s/...
From the nycrail community on Reddit: Got a warning for activating my ticket at the same time the train was scheduled to come, even though it arrived two minutes later. MNR refuses to admit their mist...
Explore this post and more from the nycrail community
www.reddit.com
February 5, 2026 at 1:52 PM
Passenger activates their mobile ticket at the scheduled departure time, two minutes before the train arrived late.
@mta.info still hits them with a late activation strike, saying they didn't activate the ticket before the SCHEDULED departure time. www.reddit.com/r/nycrail/s/...
@mta.info still hits them with a late activation strike, saying they didn't activate the ticket before the SCHEDULED departure time. www.reddit.com/r/nycrail/s/...
Letter to the editor in Newsday: "The new Long Island Rail Road fare policy insults everyone... We are throwing money at the LIRR. This system seems rigged against the riders. Roll it back and rewrite it." www.newsday.com/opinion/lett...
LIRR's new fare system, MTA overtime, Blydenburgh dam, Gateway tunnel project
We are throwing money at the LIRR, a reader writes.
www.newsday.com
February 4, 2026 at 6:49 PM
Letter to the editor in Newsday: "The new Long Island Rail Road fare policy insults everyone... We are throwing money at the LIRR. This system seems rigged against the riders. Roll it back and rewrite it." www.newsday.com/opinion/lett...