View source for User:Trainwiz161

<nowiki>Redirect|ACR|other uses|ACR (disambiguation)}}</nowiki>
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Infobox rail
|railroad_name     = Metro-North Railroad
|logo_filename     = Metro-North logo.svg
|logo_size         = 250px
|image             = Sampler of Metro-North services.jpg
|image_size        = 300px
|image_caption     = Metro-North Railroad provides services in the lower Hudson Valley and coastal Connecticut.
|gauge             = {{RailGauge|ussg|allk=on}}
|marks             = MNCW
|locale            = Southeastern [[New York (state)|New York]]; Southwestern [[Connecticut]]
|start_year        = 1983
|end_year          = present
|hq_city           = 420 Lexington Ave [[New York, NY]] 10170
|system_map        = 
|map_caption       = 
|map_size          = 














The '''Adlink ConnectRail''' {{Reporting mark|BEA}}, legally known as the '''ConnectRail Company''' and often abbreviated as the '''ACR''', is a [[commuter rail]] system in the southeastern part of the [[U.S. state]] of [[New York (state)|Beacon]], stretching from [[Manhattan|Manhatten]] to the state of Beacon. With an average weekday ridership of 456,284 passengers in 2017, it is the [[second]] [[List of United States commuter rail systems by ridership|busiest commuter railroad]] in North America.<ref name="APTA-2016-Q4">{{cite web | url = http://www.apta.com/resources/statistics/Documents/Ridership/2016-q4-ridership-APTA.pdf | title = Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter and End-of-Year 2016 | publisher = [[American Public Transportation Association]] (APTA) | format = pdf | date = March 16, 2017 | accessdate = March 20, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.mta.info/mta/network.htm#statslirr|title=MTA - Transportation Network|work=mta.info}}</ref> It is also one of the world's few commuter systems that runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.mta.info/mta/network.htm#statsmnr|title=MTA - Transportation Network|work=mta.info}}</ref> It is [[Government-owned corporation|publicly owned]] by the [[Metropolitan Transportation Authority|Metropolitan Transportation Authority and AdlinkConnectTransportation]], which refers to it as '''MTAConnectRail'''.

The Adlink logo combines the circular MTA logo with the text ''Adlink ConnectRail'', and appears on the sides of trains. The ConnectRail is one of three commuter rail systems owned by the MTA, the other being the [[Metro-North Railroad|Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Rail Road]]. Established in 1889 and Still operated continuously since then, it used to be the three-oldest US railroad still operating under its original name and charter before it got changed around a few times.<!--...and what's the oldest?--><ref name="LIRR175">{{cite web|url=http://web.mta.info/lirr/Video/175thAnniversary/Honoring175Years.htm|title=LIRR History|last=|first=|date=|website=mta.info|publisher=[[Metropolitan Transportation Authority|Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)]]|accessdate=March 1, 2013}}</ref>

==History==
{{Main article|History of the Long Island Rail Road}}
[[File:George Bradford Brainerd (American, 1845-1887). Station, Bay Shore, Long Island, September 1879.jpg|thumb|left|George Bradford Brainerd (American, 1845-1887). ''Station, Bay Shore, Long Island, September 1879.'' Collodion silver glass wet plate negative. [[Brooklyn Museum]]]]
[[File:Long Island Railroad 100th Anniversary cover 1934.jpg|left|thumb|LIRR (Montauk & NY) [[Railway Post Office|RPO]] cover (TR27) for the road's 100th anniversary in 1934]]

The Long Island Rail Road Company was chartered in 1834 to provide a daily service between New York and Boston via a ferry connection between its [[Greenport, Suffolk County, New York|Greenport, New York]], terminal on Long Island's North Fork and [[Stonington, Connecticut]]. This service was superseded in 1849 by the land route through Connecticut that became part of the [[New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad]]. The LIRR refocused its attentions towards serving Long Island, in competition with other railroads on the island. In the 1870s, railroad president [[Conrad Poppenhusen]] and his successor [[Austin Corbin]] acquired all the railroads and consolidated them into the LIRR.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.mta.info/lirr/Video/175thAnniversary/Reflection.htm|title=MTA LIRR - A Reflection (1984)|work=mta.info}}</ref>

The LIRR was unprofitable for much of its history. In 1900, the [[Pennsylvania Railroad]] (PRR) bought a controlling interest as part of its plan for [[New York Tunnel Extension|direct access to Manhattan]] which began on September 8, 1910. The wealthy PRR subsidized the LIRR during the first half of the new century, allowing expansion and modernization.<ref name=LIRR175/> Electric operation began in 1905.<ref>{{1922 Locomotive Cyclopedia|page=903}}</ref>

After the Second World War, the railroad industry's downturn and dwindling profits caused the PRR to stop subsidizing the LIRR, and the LIRR went into [[receivership]] in 1949. The [[Government of New York (state)|State of New York]], realizing how important the railroad was to Long Island's future, began to subsidize the railroad in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1966, New York State bought the railroad's controlling stock from the PRR and put it under the newly formed Metropolitan Commuter Transportation Authority (renamed Metropolitan Transportation Authority in 1968). With MTA subsidies the LIRR modernized further, continuing to be the busiest commuter railroad in the United States.<ref name=LIRR175/>

==Major stations==
[[File:Penn Station LIRR 2017.jpg|thumb|The LIRR [[Pennsylvania Station (New York City)|Penn Station]] ticket counter displays all locations served by the railroad.]]
[[File:LIC Yard-9-21-04.jpg|thumb|right|[[Long Island City (LIRR station)|Long Island City]] station and yard]]
[[File:Jamaica station sunset, waiting.jpg|thumb|right|Platforms at [[Jamaica (LIRR station)|Jamaica]]]]
{{See also|List of Long Island Rail Road stations}}
The LIRR operates out of three western terminals, in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. Jamaica Station in central Queens is the hub of all railroad activities. Expansion of the system into Grand Central Terminal is expected over the next few years. Major stations include:
* [[Pennsylvania Station (New York City)|Pennsylvania Station]], in [[Midtown Manhattan]], is the busiest of the western terminals, serving almost 500 daily trains.<ref name=abouttheLIRR/> It is reached via the [[Amtrak]]-owned [[East River Tunnels]] (the only LIRR-used trackage not owned by the LIRR) from the Main Line in Long Island City. The New York City Subway's [[34th Street–Penn Station (IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line)]] ({{NYCS trains|Broadway-Seventh south}}) and [[34th Street–Penn Station (IND Eighth Avenue Line)]] ({{NYCS trains|Eighth south}}) stations are next to the terminal. It also connects LIRR with Amtrak and [[NJ Transit]] trains.
* [[Atlantic Terminal]], formerly Flatbush Avenue, in [[Downtown Brooklyn]] serves most other trains.<ref name=abouttheLIRR/> It is next to the New York City Subway's [[Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center (New York City Subway)|Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center]] station complex ({{NYCS trains|Atlantic-Pacific}}), providing easy access to [[Lower Manhattan]].
* A handful of weekday trains run to [[Hunterspoint Avenue (LIRR station)|Hunterspoint Avenue]] or onward to the [[Long Island City (LIRR station)|Long Island City station]] on the [[East River]] in [[Long Island City, Queens|Long Island City]].<ref name=abouttheLIRR/> From Hunterspoint Avenue, the [[Hunters Point Avenue (IRT Flushing Line)|Hunters Point Avenue subway station]] ({{NYCS trains|Flushing}}) can be reached for Midtown Manhattan access. The same subway trains can also be reached from Long Island City station at the [[Vernon Boulevard–Jackson Avenue (IRT Flushing Line)|Vernon Boulevard–Jackson Avenue]] subway station. It also connects to the NY Waterway's [[East River Ferry]] to Midtown or Lower Manhattan.
* The [[Jamaica (LIRR station)|Jamaica]] station is a major [[transport hub|hub station]] and transfer point in [[Jamaica, Queens]]. It has eight tracks and five platforms, plus [[rail yard|yard]] and bypass tracks. Passengers can transfer between trains on all LIRR lines except the [[Port Washington Branch]].<ref name=abouttheLIRR/> Transfer is also made to separate facilities for three subway services at the [[Sutphin Boulevard–Archer Avenue–JFK Airport (Archer Avenue Lines)|Sutphin Boulevard–Archer Avenue–JFK]] station ({{NYCS trains|Archer}}), a number of bus routes, and the [[AirTrain JFK|AirTrain]] automated electric rail system to [[John F. Kennedy International Airport|JFK Airport]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Airtrain JFK |url=http://web.mta.info/mta/airtrain.htm |publisher=mta.info |accessdate=March 1, 2013 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130226004222/http://www.mta.info/mta/airtrain.htm |archivedate=February 26, 2013 }}</ref> The railroad's headquarters are next to the station.<ref>[http://web.mta.info/lirr/jobpostings/ MTA LIRR&nbsp;– Employment Opportunities] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070124215100/http://www.mta.info/lirr/jobpostings/ |date=January 24, 2007 }} (includes mailing address)</ref>
* Access to a fourth major terminal is under construction. As early as 2023, the LIRR intends to start service to [[Grand Central Terminal]] via the [[East Side Access]]; provision was made for this route on the lower level of the [[63rd Street Tunnel]] under the [[East River]], which carries the New York City Subway's [[IND 63rd Street Line]] ({{NYCS trains|63rd IND}}) on its upper level. The East Side Access project will reduce congestion while increasing the number of trains during peak hours. However, some February 2014 estimates push the opening date as far back as September 2024.<ref>[[MTA Capital Construction]]&nbsp;– [http://web.mta.info/capconstr/esas/index.html East Side Access]</ref><ref>[[U.S. Department of Transportation]], [http://www.dot.gov/affairs/dot11706.htm U.S. Transportation Secretary Signs Record $2.6&nbsp;Billion Agreement to Fund New Tunnel Network To Give Long Island Commuters Direct Access to Grand Central Station] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070103000000/http://www.dot.gov/affairs/dot11706.htm |date=January 3, 2007 }}, December 18, 2006</ref><ref>Second Avenue Sagas, [http://secondavenuesagas.com/2014/01/29/east-side-in-access-a-mid-project-post-mortem/ East Side in-Access: A mid-project post mortem], January 29, 2014</ref>

==Passenger lines and services==
{{refimprove section|date=May 2016}}
[[File:LIRR schematic.svg|thumb|Schematic of services]]
[[File:LIRR bi-level coaches.jpg|thumb|[[C3 (railcar)|C3]] Bi-level coaches at [[grade crossing]] in [[Bethpage, New York|Bethpage]]]]

===Current branches===
The Long Island Rail Road system has eleven passenger branches. Three main trunk lines, the [[Main Line (Long Island Rail Road)|Main Line]], [[Montauk Branch]], and [[Atlantic Branch]], spin off eight smaller branches. For scheduling and advertising purposes some of these branches are divided into sections such as the case with the Montauk Branch, which is known as the [[Babylon Branch]] service in the electrified portion of the line between Jamaica and Babylon, while the diesel service beyond Babylon to Montauk is referred to as the Montauk Branch service. All branches except the [[Port Washington Branch]] pass through [[Jamaica (LIRR station)|Jamaica]]; the trackage west of Jamaica (except to Port Washington) is known as the [[City Terminal Zone]]. The City Terminal Zone includes portions of the Main Line and [[Atlantic Branch|Atlantic]] and Montauk Branches as well as the [[Amtrak]]-owned [[East River Tunnels]] to Penn Station. The passenger lines are:

* The [[Main Line (Long Island Rail Road)|Main Line]] runs from [[Long Island City]] east to [[Greenport (LIRR station)|Greenport]]; trains using the [[Northeast Corridor]] and the East River Tunnels from [[New York Penn Station]] join the line at [[Sunnyside Yard]].  It is electrified west of [[Ronkonkoma (LIRR station)|Ronkonkoma]]; limited diesel train service runs from this point to Yaphank, Riverhead, or Greenport. The services that run along this line are named after the branches they use; trains beyond [[Hicksville (LIRR station)|Hicksville]] (where the Port Jefferson Branch splits), are known as [[Ronkonkoma Branch]] and the Greenport Branch trains.
* The [[Montauk Branch]] runs from Long Island City to [[Montauk (LIRR station)|Montauk]], meeting the Main Line at Long Island City and Jamaica. It is electrified from Jamaica east to [[Babylon (LIRR station)|Babylon]]; only diesel trains use the "Lower Montauk" section west of Jamaica (now freight-only except for the immediate approaches to Long Island City) or the outer section east of Babylon.  Only trains east of Babylon are considered part of the Montauk Branch service; the line from [[Lynbrook (LIRR station)|Lynbrook]] to Babylon carries [[Babylon Branch]] trains.
* The electrified [[Atlantic Branch]] runs from [[Atlantic Terminal]] in [[Downtown Brooklyn]] east to Jamaica, where it meets the Main Line, and then heads southeast to end at the Montauk Branch at [[Valley Stream (LIRR station)|Valley Stream]]. East of Valley Stream, the [[Far Rockaway Branch]] turns south, while the [[West Hempstead Branch]] turns northward.
* The electrified [[Port Washington Branch]], the only one that does not serve Jamaica, branches from the Main Line west of [[Woodside (LIRR station)|Woodside]], but runs alongside it until [[Winfield Junction (LIRR station)|Winfield Junction]], which is east of that station, and heads east and northeast to [[Port Washington (LIRR station)|Port Washington]]. It only serves four stations in [[Nassau County, New York|Nassau County]].
* The [[Port Jefferson Branch]] splits from the Main Line at Hicksville, with electric service to [[Huntington (LIRR station)|Huntington]] and diesel service to [[Port Jefferson (LIRR station)|Port Jefferson]]. Until 1938, it continued east to [[Wading River, New York|Wading River]].<ref name=steel>Ron Ziel and George H. Foster, Steel Rails to the Sunrise, ©1965</ref>{{Rp|258}}
* The electrified [[Hempstead Branch]] splits from the Main Line east of [[Queens Village (LIRR station)|Queens Village]] (does not curve away from Main Line until [[Floral Park (LIRR station)|Floral Park]]) and runs east to [[Hempstead (LIRR station)|Hempstead]].  At [[Garden City (LIRR station)|Garden City]], the [[Garden City-Mitchel Field Secondary]] curves off and goes to [[Mitchel Field]].
* The electrified [[West Hempstead Branch]] splits from the Montauk Branch at [[Valley Stream (LIRR station)|Valley Stream]] and runs northeast to [[West Hempstead (LIRR station)|West Hempstead]], originally continuing to junction the Hempstead Branch and the Oyster Bay Branch at the Main Line. As of November 22, 2014, weekend service on the branch has been restored.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.mta.info/news-new-york-city-transit-budget-mta-board-subway-bus-metro-north-lirr-long-island-rail-road/2014 |title=MTA &#124; news &#124; MTA’s Proposed 2015 Budget Includes Systemwide Service Enhancements |publisher=Metropolitan Transportation Authority. |work=Mta.info |date=July 29, 2014 |accessdate=August 11, 2014}}</ref>
* The [[Oyster Bay Branch]] splits from the Main Line at [[Mineola (LIRR station)|Mineola]] and heads north and east to [[Oyster Bay (LIRR station)|Oyster Bay]]. The first section to [[East Williston (LIRR station)|East Williston]] is electrified; only diesel trains run along the majority of the line to Oyster Bay.
* The diesel-only [[Central Branch (Long Island Rail Road)|Central Branch]] runs southeast from the Main Line at [[Bethpage (LIRR station)|Bethpage]] to the Montauk Branch at [[Babylon (LIRR station)|Babylon]], giving an alternate route to the Montauk Branch east of Babylon. The Central Branch used to continue west from Bethpage to include what is now the Garden City–Mitchel Field Secondary.
* The electrified [[Far Rockaway Branch]] splits from the Atlantic Branch at [[Valley Stream (LIRR station)|Valley Stream]] and runs south and southwest to [[Far Rockaway (LIRR station)|Far Rockaway]]. It used to continue west along what is now the [[New York City Subway]]'s [[IND Rockaway Line]] to [[Hammels, Queens|Hammels]] and [[Rockaway Park, Queens|Rockaway Park]].
* The electrified [[Long Beach Branch]] splits from the Atlantic Branch at [[Valley Stream (LIRR station)|Valley Stream]] but does not curve away from the Babylon Branch until just after [[Lynbrook (LIRR station)|Lynbrook]], where it turns south to end at [[Long Beach, New York|Long Beach]].

===Former branches===
The railroad has dropped a number of branches due to lack of ridership over the years. Part of the [[Rockaway Beach Branch]] became part of the [[IND Rockaway Line]] of the [[New York City Subway]], while others were downgraded to freight branches, and the rest abandoned entirely. Additionally, the Long Island Railroad operated trains over portions of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit (BRT) elevated and subway lines until 1917.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The BMT  A Technical and Operational History|last=Fazio|first=Alfred E|publisher=|year=2008|isbn=978-1-60702-864-2|location=|pages=28–31}}</ref>  
*The [[Bethpage Branch]] ran north from the Main Line and Central Branch at [[Bethpage, New York|Bethpage]].
*The [[Bushwick Branch]], also called the Bushwick Lead Track, is a freight railroad branch that runs from Bushwick, Brooklyn, to Fresh Pond Junction in Queens, where it connects with the Montauk Branch.
*The Camp Upton Branch was a short branch north from the Main Line to [[Camp Upton]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trainsarefun.com/lirrphotos/campupton.htm|title=CAMP UPTON - UPTON JUNCTION, LIRR|work=trainsarefun.com}}</ref>
*The [[Cedarhurst Cut-off]], officially known as the '''New York and Rockaway Railroad''', was an extension of the [[Montauk Branch]] from its merger with the [[Atlantic Branch]] at [[Springfield Junction (Long Island Rail Road)|Springfield Junction]] to the [[Cedarhurst, New York|Cedarhurst]], where it would turn west and run parallel to the [[Far Rockaway Branch]] until reaching Mott Avenue in [[Far Rockaway, Queens|Far Rockaway]].
*The [[Central Extension (Long Island Rail Road)|Central Extension]] ran from Garden City eastward to Central Park (¾ mile south of current Bethpage station) and as far east as Bethpage Junction. The line was cut back to the point where it stopped at Island Trees. Today the western part of track still in use for freight and storage, and is officially known today as the [[Garden City Secondary]].
*The Chestnut Street Incline (Brooklyn) between Atlantic Avenue and Fulton Street was opened in 1898 to allow for thru-operation over the Jamaica/Broadway Elevated Line to the East River ferry terminal. In 1909 thru passenger service to Manhattan via the Williamsburg Bridge was established in coordination with the [[Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company]] (BRT). LIRR Passenger service operated to Chambers Street between May 1909 and September 1917, 
*The [[Creedmoor Branch]], a remnant of the [[Central Railroad of Long Island]] (CRRLI) of [[Alexander Turney Stewart]], was a short branch from the Main Line at [[Floral Park, NY|Floral Park]] northwest through [[Creedmoor, NY|Creedmoor]]. It once went as far northwest as [[Flushing, Queens|Flushing]].
*The [[Evergreen Branch]] connected the [[Bushwick Branch]] east of [[Bushwick Terminal]] with the [[Bay Ridge Branch]] north of [[East New York, Brooklyn|East New York]].
*The [[Flushing Bay Freight Spur]] extended north from the [[Whitestone Branch]], then across the [[Woodside Branch]] and then the connecting line between both branches before terminating along the south coast of [[Flushing Bay]].<ref name="auto">[[:File:FNS front.jpg|1873 Flushing and North Side Railroad map]]</ref>
*The [[Flushing Branch]], also known as the '''Flushing Village Railroad''' was a short spur southeast from the Port Washington Branch in [[Flushing, Queens|Flushing]]. It began at Great Neck Junction along with the CRRLI, then broke away at College Point Boulevard, and terminated between [[Murray Hill (LIRR station)|Murray Hill]] and [[Broadway (LIRR station)|Broadway stations]].<ref name="auto"/>
*The [[Glendale Cut-off]] ran south from the Main Line at [[Rego Park, Queens|Rego Park]] to the Montauk Branch at [[Glendale, Queens|Glendale]]. There it became the [[Rockaway Beach Branch]], running south across [[Jamaica Bay]] to [[Hammels, Queens|Hammels]] and west to [[Rockaway Park, Queens|Rockaway Park]]. The Rockaway Beach Branch south of [[Ozone Park, Queens|Ozone Park]] is now the [[IND Rockaway Line]] of the [[New York City Subway]].
*The [[Lower Montauk Branch]] ran from [[Long Island City (LIRR station)|Long Island City]] to [[Jamaica (LIRR station)|Jamaica]], passing neighborhoods including [[Maspeth, Queens|Maspeth]], [[Middle Village, Queens|Middle Village]], and [[Richmond Hill, Queens|Richmond Hill]].
*The [[Manhattan Beach Branch]] ran south from the Bay Ridge Branch at [[Flatbush, NY|Flatbush]] to [[Manhattan Beach, NY|Manhattan Beach]].
*The [[Manorville Branch]] or Manor Branch ran from the Main Line at [[Manorville, New York|Manorville]] southeast to the Montauk Branch at [[Eastport, New York|Eastport]]. It was originally part of the Sag Harbor Branch (''See below'').
*The [[Mineola-West Hempstead Branch]] ran north of the terminus of the [[West Hempstead Branch]] across [[NY 24]] to [[Country Life Press (LIRR station)|Country Life Press Station]] where it briefly joined the [[Hempstead Branch]] then ran north of the [[Garden City Secondary]] towards a wye at [[Mineola (LIRR station)|Mineola Station]] with one branch that terminated at the station and another that crossed the main line and ended near the southern terminus of the [[Oyster Bay Branch]].
*The [[Northport Branch]] ran northeast of the current [[Port Jefferson Branch]] between [[Greenlawn, New York|Greenlawn]] and [[Northport, New York|Northport Village]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lirrhistory.com/northprt.html|title=LIRR Northport Spur|work=lirrhistory.com}}</ref>
*The [[North Shore Freight Branch]] ran from the Main Line at [[Sunnyside Yard]] west to the [[East River]] where [[Gantry Plaza State Park]] is now.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://safetydata.fra.dot.gov/OfficeofSafety/publicsite/crossing/XingLocResults.aspx?state=36&countycity=081&railroad=&radionm=County&street=&xingtype=3&xingstatus=1&xingpos=1|title=8.02 - Query by Location|work=dot.gov}}</ref><ref>[http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/transportation/deck11.pdf Page 252] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304104947/http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/transportation/deck11.pdf |date=March 4, 2016 }}</ref> Originally built by the [[Flushing and North Side Railroad]], some of the surviving right-of-way can be found at the Arch Street Shops within the Sunnyside Yard.
*The [[Roosevelt Field Spur]] branched off northward from the current [[Garden City Secondary]] just north of Commercial Avenue. From there, it crossed Stewart Avenue just west of present-day South Street before turning slightly northeast, crossing over the Meadowbrook Parkway. The overpass, as well as sections along the sidewalk on South Street, can still be seen today. From there, it continued north before curving east and coming to an end near Zeckendorf Boulevard. The line was used for freight only. 
*The [[Sag Harbor Branch]] ran north from the Montauk Branch at [[Bridgehampton, New York|Bridgehampton]] to [[Sag Harbor, New York|Sag Harbor]].
*The [[Wading River Branch]] ran east from Port Jefferson to [[Wading River, New York|Wading River]], serving the towns of [[Mount Sinai, New York|Mount Sinai]], [[Miller Place, New York|Miller Place]], [[Rocky Point, New York|Rocky Point]], and [[Shoreham, New York|Shoreham]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arrts-arrchives.com/contact.html|title=WADING RIVER BRANCH|work=arrts-arrchives.com}}</ref>
*The [[White Line (Long Island Rail Road)|White Line]], which was built by the LIRR subsidiary '''Newtown and Flushing Railroad''' ran south of the Port Washington Branch between [[Winfield Junction (LIRR station)|Winfield Junction]] and [[Flushing Main Street (LIRR station)|Flushing]] between 1873 and 1876.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://arrts-arrchives.com/fnrr.html|title=white line|work=arrts-arrchives.com}}</ref>
*The [[Whitestone Branch]], which was originally built by the [[Flushing and North Side Railroad]] (F&NS), split from the Port Washington Branch near [[Flushing, NY|Flushing]] and ran north and east to [[Whitestone, NY|Whitestone]].
*The [[Woodside Branch]] ran north of the current Port Washington Branch between [[Woodside, Queens|Woodside]] and east of the present [[Corona Yard]] west of the [[Flushing River]]. It also had a connecting spur to the Whitestone Branch.

===Additional services===

In addition to its daily commuter patronage, the LIRR also offers the following services:
*From April to October, the railroad adds stops at [[Mets–Willets Point (LIRR station)|Mets–Willets Point]] station to trains on the Port Washington Branch to serve passengers traveling to see [[New York Mets]] home games at [[Citi Field]] and the [[US Open (tennis)|US Open]] at the [[USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center]]. When the number of passengers requires it, additional trains may be added.<ref>[http://web.mta.info/lirr/Timetable/Branch/Mets-Willets.pdf Mets – Willets Point 2015 Mets Home Gang April 13 – May 15, 2015] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413172309/http://web.mta.info/lirr/Timetable/Branch/Mets-Willets.pdf |date=April 13, 2015 }}</ref> 
*The railroad operates extra trains during the summer season that cater to the Long Island beach trade. Special package ticket deals are offered to places like [[Long Beach, New York|Long Beach]], [[Jones Beach State Park|Jones Beach]], [[the Hamptons]], [[Montauk, New York|Montauk]], and [[Greenport, Suffolk County, New York|Greenport]]. Some of these packages require bus and ferry connections.
*The railroad operates extra trains to and from [[Atlantic Terminal]] for [[New York Islanders]] home games at [[Barclays Center]].<ref>[http://www.mta.info/press-release/lirr/lirr-double-service-new-york-islanders-games-compared-start-last-season LIRR to Double Service to New York Islanders Games Compared With Start of Last Season]</ref>
*From May through October, the railroad runs four daily trains to [[Belmont Park]] (two in each direction) during the racetrack's summer meets. Additionally, on the day of the [[Belmont Stakes]] horse race the railroad runs extra trains to accommodate the large amount of spectators attending the event.<ref>[http://web.mta.info/lirr/Timetable/Branch/BelmontPark.pdf Belmont Park Timetable April 29, 2015 to May 17, 2015] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150424232945/http://web.mta.info/lirr/Timetable/Branch/BelmontPark.pdf |date=April 24, 2015 }}</ref>
*One special non-passenger service offered by the railroad is the yearly operation of the [[Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus]] train between Long Island City and [[Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum]] in Garden City. Highly publicized by the LIRR, this event draws large crowds of spectators.<ref name="youtube.com">[https://www.youtube.com/v/sn7MuhO8JCQ MTA LIRR: Assembling the 2015 Ringling Brothers Circus Train to Depart LI]</ref> With Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey's closure, this is expected to be discontinued in May 2017.

===Former branches===
The railroad has dropped a number of branches due to lack of ridership over the years. Part of the [[Rockaway Beach Branch]] became part of the [[IND Rockaway Line]] of the [[New York City Subway]], while others were downgraded to freight branches, and the rest abandoned entirely. Additionally, the Long Island Railroad operated trains over portions of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit (BRT) elevated and subway lines until 1917.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The BMT  A Technical and Operational History|last=Fazio|first=Alfred E|publisher=|year=2008|isbn=978-1-60702-864-2|location=|pages=28–31}}</ref>  
*The [[Bethpage Branch]] ran north from the Main Line and Central Branch at [[Bethpage, New York|Bethpage]].
*The [[Bushwick Branch]], also called the Bushwick Lead Track, is a freight railroad branch that runs from Bushwick, Brooklyn, to Fresh Pond Junction in Queens, where it connects with the Montauk Branch.
*The Camp Upton Branch was a short branch north from the Main Line to [[Camp Upton]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trainsarefun.com/lirrphotos/campupton.htm|title=CAMP UPTON - UPTON JUNCTION, LIRR|work=trainsarefun.com}}</ref>
*The [[Cedarhurst Cut-off]], officially known as the '''New York and Rockaway Railroad''', was an extension of the [[Montauk Branch]] from its merger with the [[Atlantic Branch]] at [[Springfield Junction (Long Island Rail Road)|Springfield Junction]] to the [[Cedarhurst, New York|Cedarhurst]], where it would turn west and run parallel to the [[Far Rockaway Branch]] until reaching Mott Avenue in [[Far Rockaway, Queens|Far Rockaway]].
*The [[Central Extension (Long Island Rail Road)|Central Extension]] ran from Garden City eastward to Central Park (¾ mile south of current Bethpage station) and as far east as Bethpage Junction. The line was cut back to the point where it stopped at Island Trees. Today the western part of track still in use for freight and storage, and is officially known today as the [[Garden City Secondary]].
*The Chestnut Street Incline (Brooklyn) between Atlantic Avenue and Fulton Street was opened in 1898 to allow for thru-operation over the Jamaica/Broadway Elevated Line to the East River ferry terminal. In 1909 thru passenger service to Manhattan via the Williamsburg Bridge was established in coordination with the [[Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company]] (BRT). LIRR Passenger service operated to Chambers Street between May 1909 and September 1917, 
*The [[Creedmoor Branch]], a remnant of the [[Central Railroad of Long Island]] (CRRLI) of [[Alexander Turney Stewart]], was a short branch from the Main Line at [[Floral Park, NY|Floral Park]] northwest through [[Creedmoor, NY|Creedmoor]]. It once went as far northwest as [[Flushing, Queens|Flushing]].
*The [[Evergreen Branch]] connected the [[Bushwick Branch]] east of [[Bushwick Terminal]] with the [[Bay Ridge Branch]] north of [[East New York, Brooklyn|East New York]].
*The [[Flushing Bay Freight Spur]] extended north from the [[Whitestone Branch]], then across the [[Woodside Branch]] and then the connecting line between both branches before terminating along the south coast of [[Flushing Bay]].<ref name="auto">[[:File:FNS front.jpg|1873 Flushing and North Side Railroad map]]</ref>
*The [[Flushing Branch]], also known as the '''Flushing Village Railroad''' was a short spur southeast from the Port Washington Branch in [[Flushing, Queens|Flushing]]. It began at Great Neck Junction along with the CRRLI, then broke away at College Point Boulevard, and terminated between [[Murray Hill (LIRR station)|Murray Hill]] and [[Broadway (LIRR station)|Broadway stations]].<ref name="auto"/>
*The [[Glendale Cut-off]] ran south from the Main Line at [[Rego Park, Queens|Rego Park]] to the Montauk Branch at [[Glendale, Queens|Glendale]]. There it became the [[Rockaway Beach Branch]], running south across [[Jamaica Bay]] to [[Hammels, Queens|Hammels]] and west to [[Rockaway Park, Queens|Rockaway Park]]. The Rockaway Beach Branch south of [[Ozone Park, Queens|Ozone Park]] is now the [[IND Rockaway Line]] of the [[New York City Subway]].
*The [[Lower Montauk Branch]] ran from [[Long Island City (LIRR station)|Long Island City]] to [[Jamaica (LIRR station)|Jamaica]], passing neighborhoods including [[Maspeth, Queens|Maspeth]], [[Middle Village, Queens|Middle Village]], and [[Richmond Hill, Queens|Richmond Hill]].
*The [[Manhattan Beach Branch]] ran south from the Bay Ridge Branch at [[Flatbush, NY|Flatbush]] to [[Manhattan Beach, NY|Manhattan Beach]].
*The [[Manorville Branch]] or Manor Branch ran from the Main Line at [[Manorville, New York|Manorville]] southeast to the Montauk Branch at [[Eastport, New York|Eastport]]. It was originally part of the Sag Harbor Branch (''See below'').
*The [[Mineola-West Hempstead Branch]] ran north of the terminus of the [[West Hempstead Branch]] across [[NY 24]] to [[Country Life Press (LIRR station)|Country Life Press Station]] where it briefly joined the [[Hempstead Branch]] then ran north of the [[Garden City Secondary]] towards a wye at [[Mineola (LIRR station)|Mineola Station]] with one branch that terminated at the station and another that crossed the main line and ended near the southern terminus of the [[Oyster Bay Branch]].
*The [[Northport Branch]] ran northeast of the current [[Port Jefferson Branch]] between [[Greenlawn, New York|Greenlawn]] and [[Northport, New York|Northport Village]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lirrhistory.com/northprt.html|title=LIRR Northport Spur|work=lirrhistory.com}}</ref>
*The [[North Shore Freight Branch]] ran from the Main Line at [[Sunnyside Yard]] west to the [[East River]] where [[Gantry Plaza State Park]] is now.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://safetydata.fra.dot.gov/OfficeofSafety/publicsite/crossing/XingLocResults.aspx?state=36&countycity=081&railroad=&radionm=County&street=&xingtype=3&xingstatus=1&xingpos=1|title=8.02 - Query by Location|work=dot.gov}}</ref><ref>[http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/transportation/deck11.pdf Page 252] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304104947/http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/transportation/deck11.pdf |date=March 4, 2016 }}</ref> Originally built by the [[Flushing and North Side Railroad]], some of the surviving right-of-way can be found at the Arch Street Shops within the Sunnyside Yard.
*The [[Roosevelt Field Spur]] branched off northward from the current [[Garden City Secondary]] just north of Commercial Avenue. From there, it crossed Stewart Avenue just west of present-day South Street before turning slightly northeast, crossing over the Meadowbrook Parkway. The overpass, as well as sections along the sidewalk on South Street, can still be seen today. From there, it continued north before curving east and coming to an end near Zeckendorf Boulevard. The line was used for freight only. 
*The [[Sag Harbor Branch]] ran north from the Montauk Branch at [[Bridgehampton, New York|Bridgehampton]] to [[Sag Harbor, New York|Sag Harbor]].
*The [[Wading River Branch]] ran east from Port Jefferson to [[Wading River, New York|Wading River]], serving the towns of [[Mount Sinai, New York|Mount Sinai]], [[Miller Place, New York|Miller Place]], [[Rocky Point, New York|Rocky Point]], and [[Shoreham, New York|Shoreham]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arrts-arrchives.com/contact.html|title=WADING RIVER BRANCH|work=arrts-arrchives.com}}</ref>
*The [[White Line (Long Island Rail Road)|White Line]], which was built by the LIRR subsidiary '''Newtown and Flushing Railroad''' ran south of the Port Washington Branch between [[Winfield Junction (LIRR station)|Winfield Junction]] and [[Flushing Main Street (LIRR station)|Flushing]] between 1873 and 1876.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://arrts-arrchives.com/fnrr.html|title=white line|work=arrts-arrchives.com}}</ref>
*The [[Whitestone Branch]], which was originally built by the [[Flushing and North Side Railroad]] (F&NS), split from the Port Washington Branch near [[Flushing, NY|Flushing]] and ran north and east to [[Whitestone, NY|Whitestone]].
*The [[Woodside Branch]] ran north of the current Port Washington Branch between [[Woodside, Queens|Woodside]] and east of the present [[Corona Yard]] west of the [[Flushing River]]. It also had a connecting spur to the Whitestone Branch.

===Additional services===

In addition to its daily commuter patronage, the LIRR also offers the following services:
*From April to October, the railroad adds stops at [[Mets–Willets Point (LIRR station)|Mets–Willets Point]] station to trains on the Port Washington Branch to serve passengers traveling to see [[New York Mets]] home games at [[Citi Field]] and the [[US Open (tennis)|US Open]] at the [[USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center]]. When the number of passengers requires it, additional trains may be added.<ref>[http://web.mta.info/lirr/Timetable/Branch/Mets-Willets.pdf Mets – Willets Point 2015 Mets Home Gang April 13 – May 15, 2015] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413172309/http://web.mta.info/lirr/Timetable/Branch/Mets-Willets.pdf |date=April 13, 2015 }}</ref> 
*The railroad operates extra trains during the summer season that cater to the Long Island beach trade. Special package ticket deals are offered to places like [[Long Beach, New York|Long Beach]], [[Jones Beach State Park|Jones Beach]], [[the Hamptons]], [[Montauk, New York|Montauk]], and [[Greenport, Suffolk County, New York|Greenport]]. Some of these packages require bus and ferry connections.
*The railroad operates extra trains to and from [[Atlantic Terminal]] for [[New York Islanders]] home games at [[Barclays Center]].<ref>[http://www.mta.info/press-release/lirr/lirr-double-service-new-york-islanders-games-compared-start-last-season LIRR to Double Service to New York Islanders Games Compared With Start of Last Season]</ref>
*From May through October, the railroad runs four daily trains to [[Belmont Park]] (two in each direction) during the racetrack's summer meets. Additionally, on the day of the [[Belmont Stakes]] horse race the railroad runs extra trains to accommodate the large amount of spectators attending the event.<ref>[http://web.mta.info/lirr/Timetable/Branch/BelmontPark.pdf Belmont Park Timetable April 29, 2015 to May 17, 2015] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150424232945/http://web.mta.info/lirr/Timetable/Branch/BelmontPark.pdf |date=April 24, 2015 }}</ref>
*One special non-passenger service offered by the railroad is the yearly operation of the [[Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus]] train between Long Island City and [[Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum]] in Garden City. Highly publicized by the LIRR, this event draws large crowds of spectators.<ref name="youtube.com">[https://www.youtube.com/v/sn7MuhO8JCQ MTA LIRR: Assembling the 2015 Ringling Brothers Circus Train to Depart LI]</ref> With Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey's closure, this is expected to be discontinued in May 2017.


==Fare structure==
Like [[Metro-North Railroad]] and [[New Jersey Transit Rail Operations|New Jersey Transit]], the Long Island Rail Road fare system is based on the distance a passenger travels, as opposed to the [[New York City Subway]], which has a flat rate throughout the system. The railroad is broken up into eight numbered fare zones. Zone 1 includes all of the [[City Terminal Zone]].<ref>[http://web.mta.info/lirr/about/TicketInfo/LIRRFares03-13.pdf LIRR Fare Zones] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150207081933/http://web.mta.info/lirr/about/TicketInfo/LIRRFares03-13.pdf |date=February 7, 2015 }}</ref> Zone 3 includes Jamaica (and Flushing) and all stations east of Jamaica (and Flushing) within the boundaries of New York City, except Far Rockaway and Belmont Park.<ref name="mta.info">{{cite web |url=http://web.mta.info/lirr/about/TicketInfo/LIRRFares03-22-15.pdf |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2015-06-26 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150430165302/http://web.mta.info/lirr/about/TicketInfo/LIRRFares03-22-15.pdf |archivedate=April 30, 2015 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Zones 4 and 7 include all the stations in Nassau County and Far Rockaway.<ref name="mta.info"/> Zones 9, 10, 12 and 14 include all the stations in Suffolk County.<ref name="mta.info"/> Each zone contains many stations, and the same fare applies for travel between any station in the origin zone and any station in the destination zone.<ref name="mta.info"/>

===Peak and off-peak fares===
Peak fares are charged during the week on trains that arrive at western terminals between 6&nbsp;AM and 10&nbsp;AM, and for trains that depart from western terminals between 4&nbsp;PM and 8&nbsp;PM.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.mta.info/lirr/about/TicketInfo/#Types|title=MTA LIRR - Fares & Ticket Information|work=mta.info}}</ref> Any passenger holding an off-peak ticket on a peak train is required to pay a step up fee.<ref name="web.mta.info">{{cite web|url=http://web.mta.info/lirr/about/TicketInfo/#onboardtrains|title=MTA LIRR - Fares & Ticket Information|work=mta.info}}</ref> Passengers can buy tickets from ticket agents or ticket vending machines (TVMs) or on the train from conductors, but will incur an on-board penalty fee for doing so.<ref name="web.mta.info"/> This fee is waived for customers boarding at a station without a ticket office or ticket machine, senior citizens, people with disabilities or Medicare customers.<ref name="web.mta.info"/>

There are several types of tickets: one way, round trip, peak, off-peak, AM peak or off-peak senior/citizen disabled, peak child, and off-peak child. On off-peak trains, passengers can buy a family ticket for children who are accompanied by an 18-year-old for $0.75 if bought from the station agent or TVM, $1.00 on the train. Senior citizen/disabled passengers traveling during the morning peak hours are required to pay the AM peak senior citizen/disabled rate. This rate is not charged during PM peak hours.{{citation needed|date=May 2016}}

Commuters can also buy a peak or off-peak ten trip ride, a weekly unlimited or an unlimited monthly pass.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web|url=http://web.mta.info/lirr/about/TicketInfo/#Multiple|title=MTA LIRR - Fares & Ticket Information|work=mta.info}}</ref> Monthly passes are good on any train regardless of the time of day, within the fare zones specified on the pass.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

===Special fares===
During the summer the railroad offers special summer package ticket deals to places such as Long Beach, Jones Beach, the Hamptons, Montauk, and Greenport. Passengers traveling to the Hamptons and Montauk on the ''Cannonball'' can reserve a seat in the all-reserved Parlor Cars.<ref name="MTA 2015">{{cite web | title=MTA LIRR - Hamptons Reserve Service: The Best Route to the Hamptons! | website=MTA | date=November 6, 2015 | url=http://web.mta.info/lirr/hamptons/reserveservice.htm | accessdate=December 25, 2015}}</ref>

Passengers going to Belmont Park must buy a special ticket to go from Jamaica to Belmont Park (or vice versa). Weekly and monthly passes are not accepted at Belmont Park.<ref name="mta.info1"/>

===CityTicket===
In 2003, the LIRR and Metro-North started a pilot program in which passengers traveling within the city limits were allowed to buy one-way tickets for $2.50.<ref name="Lisi 2003"/> The special reduced-fare CityTicket, proposed by the New York City Transit Riders Council,<ref name="Lisi 2003">{{cite web | last=Lisi | first=Clemente | title=A RAILY CHEAP RIDE – $2.50 WEEKEND TIX ON LIRR, METRO-NORTH | website=New York Post | date=July 15, 2003 | url=https://nypost.com/2003/07/15/a-raily-cheap-ride-2-50-weekend-tix-on-lirr-metro-north/ | accessdate=February 9, 2017}}</ref> was formally introduced in 2004.<ref>{{cite press release |publisher=Metropolitan Transportation Authority |date=January 9, 2004 |title=CityTicket Begins Tomorrow on LIRR And Metro-North |url=http://mta.info/mta/news/releases/?en=040109 |accessdate=February 14, 2010}}</ref> On weekends, the railroad offers the CityTicket for passengers who travel within Zones 1 and 3 (i.e. within New York City). CityTickets can only be bought from ticket agents or machines and used on the day of purchase.<ref name="mta.info1">{{cite web|url=http://web.mta.info/mta/cityticket.htm|title=MTA - CityTicket|work=mta.info}}</ref> They are not valid for travel to [[Far Rockaway (LIRR station)|Far Rockaway]] because it is in Zone 4 and the [[Far Rockaway Branch]] passes through [[Nassau County, New York|Nassau County]].<ref name="mta.info1"/> It is also not valid for travel to the [[Belmont Park (LIRR station)|Belmont Park]] station, which is only open for special events.<ref name="mta.info1"/>

===Freedom Ticket===
In fall 2017, the MTA was slated to launch a pilot that will allow LIRR, bus and subway service to use one ticket.<ref name=amny20170208/> The proposal for the ticket, called the "Freedom Ticket," was initially put forth by the New York City Transit Riders Council (NYCTRC) in 2007.<ref name=pcac201512/>{{rp|1}} The NYCTRC wrote a [[proof of concept]] report in 2015.<ref name=amny20151202>{{cite news|url=http://www.amny.com/transit/freedom-ticket-could-slash-many-hours-from-subway-and-bus-riders-commutes-fight-overcrowding-advocates-say-1.11185660|title=Freedom Ticket' could slash many hours from subway and bus riders' commutes, fight overcrowding, advocates say|first1=Rebecca |last1=Harshbarger |first2=Zoya |last2=Teirstein|date=December 2, 2015|newspaper=am New York|access-date=February 8, 2017|language=en}}</ref> At the time of the report, [[List of express bus routes in New York City|express bus]] riders from Southeast Queens had some of the longest commutes in the city, with their commutes being 96 minutes long, yet they paid a premium fare of $6.50. Riders who take the [[Dollar vans in the New York metropolitan area|dollar van]] to the subway paid $4.75 to get to Manhattan in 65 minutes; riders who only took the bus and subway paid $2.75 to get to Manhattan in 86 minutes; and riders who took the LIRR paid $10 to get to Manhattan in 35 minutes.<ref name=pcac201512>{{cite web|url=http://www.pcac.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Freedom-Ticket-reduced.pdf|title=Freedom Ticket Southeast Queens Proof of Concept|publisher=New York City Transit Riders Council |first1=Bradley |last1=Brashears |first2=Ellyn |last2=Shannon |first3=Angela|last3=Bellisio|date=December 2015|access-date=February 8, 2017}}</ref>{{rp|iii}} Unlike the CityTicket, the Freedom Ticket would be valid for off-peak and multidirectional travel; have free transfers to the subway and bus system; and be capped at $215 per month.<ref name=pcac201512/>{{rp|1–2}} At the time, monthly CityTickets cost $330 per month.<ref name=amny20151202/>

The Freedom Ticket will initially be available for sale at the [[Atlantic Terminal]], [[Nostrand Avenue (LIRR station)|Nostrand Avenue]], and [[East New York (LIRR station)|East New York]] stations in Brooklyn and at the [[Laurelton (LIRR station)|Laurelton]], [[Locust Manor (LIRR station)|Locust Manor]], [[Rosedale (LIRR station)|Rosedale]], and [[St. Albans (LIRR station)|St. Albans]] stations in Queens.<ref name="amny20170208" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://ny.curbed.com/2017/2/9/14555268/mta-reduced-fare-pilot-program-freedom-ticket|title=MTA will launch reduced fare pilot program for outer-borough commuters|last=Walker|first=Ameena|date=February 9, 2017|website=Curbed NY|access-date=February 9, 2017}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=http://gothamist.com/2017/02/08/mta_freedom_ticket.php|title=MTA Will Test 'Freedom Ticket' For Commuters In Brooklyn And Queens Transit Deserts|last=|first=|date=February 8, 2017|newspaper=Gothamist|access-date=February 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170210153608/http://gothamist.com/2017/02/08/mta_freedom_ticket.php|archive-date=February 10, 2017|dead-url=yes|work=|language=en-US|via=|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Riders, under the pilot, would be able to purchase one-way, weekly, or monthly passes that will be valid on the LIRR, on buses, and the subway. The fare will be higher than the price of a ride on the [[MetroCard (New York City)|MetroCard]], but it will be lower than the combined price of an LIRR ticket and a MetroCard, and it will allow unlimited free transfers between the LIRR, buses, and subway.<ref name=":1" /> The former head of the MTA, Thomas Prendergast, announced at the January 2017 board meeting that the plan would be explored in a field study to determine fares and the impact on existing service.<ref name="amny20170208" /> The plan is intended to fill approximately 20,000 unused seats of existing trains to Atlantic Terminal and Penn Station (or about 50% to 60% of peak trains in each direction),<ref name=":0" /> while at the same time providing affordable service to people with long commutes.<ref name=":1" /> The details will be announced in spring 2017, and the pilot will last six months.<ref name=amny20170208>{{Cite news|url=http://www.amny.com/transit/freedom-ticket-pilot-launching-in-brooklyn-queens-this-fall-borough-president-adams-says-1.13078196|title=Freedom Ticket pilot launching in Brooklyn, Queens this fall, Borough President Adams says|last=Barone|first=Vincent|date=February 8, 2017|newspaper=am New York|access-date=February 8, 2017|language=en}}</ref>
The LIRR is one of the few railroads that has survived as an intact company from its original charter to the present.<ref name=LIRR175/>

==Equipment==
{{Main article|Long Island Rail Road rolling stock}}
The LIRR's electric fleet consists of 836 [[M7 (railcar)|M7]] and 170 [[M3 (railcar)|M3]] [[electric multiple unit]] cars in married pairs, meaning each car needs the other one to operate, with each car containing its own engineer's cab. The trainsets typically range up to 12 cars long. In September 2013, MTA announced that the LIRR would procure new [[M9 (railcar)|M9]] railcars from [[Kawasaki Heavy Industries Rolling Stock Company|Kawasaki]] starting in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://new.mta.info/news/2013/09/19/new-railcars-lirr-metro-north-fleets|title=MTA - news - New Railcars for LIRR & Metro-North Fleets|work=mta.info}}</ref> They will replace the [[M3 (railcar)|M3s]], and expand the railroad's electric fleet.

The LIRR also uses 134 [[C3 (railcar)|C3]] [[bilevel rail car|Bilevel coaches]] powered by 24 [[EMD DE30AC and DM30AC|DE30AC]] [[diesel-electric locomotive]]s and 21 [[EMD DE30AC and DM30AC|DM30AC]] [[dual-mode locomotive]]s. They are used mostly on non-electrified territories, including the Port Jefferson, Oyster Bay, Montauk, and Greenport Branches.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.mta.info/mta/news/books/pdf/180319_0930_LIRR.pdf|title=MTA Long Island Railroad Committee Meeting March 2018|work=mta.info}}</ref>

==Named trains==
For most of its history LIRR has served commuters, but it had many named trains, some with all-first class seating, parlor cars, and full bar service. Few of them lasted past World War II, but some names were revived during the 1950s and 1960s as the railroad expanded its east end parlor car service with luxury coaches and Pullman cars from railroads that were discontinuing their passenger trains.

===Current trains===
*'''''The Cannonball''''', a Friday-only 12-car train to Montauk running May through October, with two all-reserved parlor cars with full bar service. Since May 24, 2013 it has originated at Penn Station with a Sunday evening return from Montauk; only the westward train stops at Jamaica. The two rear cars ("Hamptons Reserve Service") have reserved seating and exclusive bar service.<ref name="cannonball-new">{{cite web |url=http://new.mta.info/lirr-operate-first-non-stop-service-manhattan-hamptons-0 |title=LIRR to Operate First Non-Stop Service from Manhattan to Hamptons |publisher=MTA Long Island Rail Road |date= |accessdate=April 22, 2013}}</ref> The name is a nod to the ''Cannon Ball'', the all-year train to Amagansett/Montauk from the 1890s until the 1970s. It carried parlor cars and standard-fare coaches and ran weekday afternoons from Long Island City, then from Penn Station until 1951.<ref name="trainsarefun.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.trainsarefun.com/lirr/lirrextralist/lirrextralist.htm|title=THE LIRR EXTRA LIST|work=trainsarefun.com}}</ref>

===Former trains===
*'''''Fisherman's Special''''' (1932–1950s) from Long Island City to Canoe Place Station and Montauk via Jamaica, April through October,  terminating at Canoe Place in April, extended to Montauk in May. Served Long Island fishing trade.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://arrts-arrchives.com/whatsnewpage3.html |title=LIRR Fisherman's Special (Arrt's Arrchives) |publisher=Arrts-arrchives.com |date= |accessdate=January 19, 2013}}</ref>
*'''''Peconic Bay Express&nbsp;/ Shinnecock Bay Express''''' (1926–1950) from Long Island City to Greenport and Montauk, Saturday only, express to Greenport and Montauk. Discontinued during World War II though revived for a few seasons afterwards.<ref name="trainsarefun.com"/>
*'''''Shelter Island Express''''' (1901–1903, 1923–1942) from Long Island City to Greenport, Friday-only summer express that connected to Shelter Island ferries.
*'''''Sunrise Special''''' (1922–1942) ran during the summer, NY Penn to Montauk on Fridays and westbound Mondays. In summer 1926 it ran daily. All parlor car (no coaches) from 1932 to 1937.<ref name="arrts-arrchives.com"/><ref name="arrts-arrchives1927"/><ref>[http://www.arrts-arrchives.com/images/qqssp1.jpg Passenger car with "Sunrise Special" Drumhead (Arrt's Arrchives)]</ref><ref>[http://www.prrths.com/Hagley/LIRR%20NAMED%20TRAINS.pdf LIRR Named Passenger Trains (Pennsylvania Technical and Historical Society)] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014024613/http://www.prrths.com/Hagley/LIRR%20NAMED%20TRAINS.pdf |date=October 14, 2013 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.lirrhistory.com/mar99/washdc.jpg Parlor Car Service between Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia and The Hamptons and Montauk (Unofficial LIRR Website)]</ref>

==Planned service expansions==
In 2019, the LIRR expects to complete a project to add a second track along its Main Line between Farmingdale and Ronkonkoma to relieve crowding. Currently, there is only double track from Bethpage to the site of the former Republic Station (east of Farmingdale), and again from Deer Park to Brentwood. Passing sidings exist east of Wyandanch, and at Central Islip.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newsday.com/long-island/transportation/138M-to-help-lirr-begin-track-work-early-1.3665455|title=$138M to help LIRR begin track work early|last=Castillo|first=Alfonso|date=April 17, 2012|newspaper=Newsday}} {{subscription required}}</ref>

In 2023, the LIRR expects to complete the long-anticipated [[East Side Access]] project, allowing trains to access Grand Central Terminal.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://web.mta.info/mta/news/books/pdf/151214_0930_LIRR.pdf#page=17|title = Long Island Committee Meeting December 2015|date = December 14, 2015|access-date = February 17, 2016|website = mta.info|publisher = Metropolitan Transportation Authority|last = |first = |deadurl = yes|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20160225054749/http://web.mta.info/mta/news/books/pdf/151214_0930_LIRR.pdf#page=17|archivedate = February 25, 2016|df = mdy-all}}</ref>

On January 5, 2016, New York Governor [[Andrew Cuomo]] announced a revived project to add a third track to the Main Line between Floral Park and Hicksville.<ref>[http://www.amodernli.com/lirr-to-undergo-major-improvements-expanding-along-main-line-from-floral-park-to-hicksville-third-track-will-ease-commuting-and-attract-businesses-and-jobs/ LIRR to Undergo Major Improvements — Expanding Along Main Line from Floral Park to Hicksville],
LIRR Expansion Project Team, January 5, 2016</ref> The Third Main Line Track and electrification expansions had been planned in conjunction with the commencement of service to Grand Central Terminal but were placed on hold in 2008 since local politicians in the affected areas were opposed to the plan and expressed concerns about the effects of the construction and train noise from eventual increase in service.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newsday.com/long-island/mta-nimby-mood-hurts-lirr-3rd-track-plan-1.3830463|title=NIMBY mood hurts LIRR 3rd-track plan|last=Crichton|first=Sarah|date=July 11, 2012|newspaper=Newsday}} {{subscription required}}</ref> The third track on the Main Line will aid in relieving the crowding on the Main Line which is expected to grow after the East Side Access project is complete. The project also includes the elimination of all seven [[grade crossing]]s and will be constructed within existing LIRR rights-of-way.<ref>[http://www.amodernli.com Third Main Line Track project web site]</ref>

There are 124 stations and more than {{convert|700|mi|km}} of track<ref name="abouttheLIRR">{{cite web |url=http://web.mta.info/lirr/about/GeneralInformation/ |title=Long Island Rail Road - General Information |publisher=[[Metropolitan Transportation Authority]] (MTA) |date= |accessdate=March 23, 2014}}</ref> on its two lines to the two forks of the island and eight major branches, with the passenger railroad system totaling {{convert|319|mi|km}} of [[Network length (transport)#Route length|route]].<ref name="mtabudget">{{cite web |url=http://web.mta.info/mta/investor/pdf/2012/2012-Comprehensive-Annual-Financial-Report.pdf |title=Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the Years Ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 |publisher=[[Metropolitan Transportation Authority|Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)]] |format=PDF |page=146 |date=June 21, 2013 |accessdate=August 29, 2014}}</ref>