Direct Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) service from NYC to the easternmost tip of Long Island is no longer just a summer fling!
On Tuesday, August 25, MTA officials and Governor Kathy Hochul officially announced major service and infrastructure upgrades along the Montauk Branch. The biggest highlight for city dwellers? A year-round, direct “one-seat” train ride from Penn Station to Montauk.
Historically reserved strictly for peak summer months, this non-stop route means travelers can skip the off-season transfer in Jamaica or Speonk and reach “The End” faster—and hassle-free—no matter the season.
Key Details: Schedule & Fares
The new year-round service is a game changer for New Yorkers looking to explore the historic seaside town beyond just the summer months.
- The Route: Direct, single-seat service from NYC Penn Station to Montauk (no transfer required)
- The Departure: Weekdays on the 5:13 pm train
- Travel Time: Approximately 3 hours and 10 minutes end-to-end
- Launch Date: September 2026
- Ticket Prices: $24.50 Off-Peak | $33.00 Peak (Purchasable via the TrainTime app or Penn Station kiosks)
- Commuter Perk: Monthly and Weekly LIRR pass holders can use their passes for this route
Why the Year-Round Push?
Demand for East End travel outside the summer window has skyrocketed.
According to MTA data, over 1.2 million passengers have traveled the Montauk Branch this year alone—a 6.4% jump compared to last year. Specific stops have seen even steeper surges:
- Hampton Bays: up 23% year-over-year
- Southampton: up 46% year-over-year
Governor Hochul stated:
The LIRR is already the best and most convenient way to travel to and from the East End…By making smart investments in our rail system, we can soon make jam-packed summer trains a thing of the past by increasing reliability and running more service on the Montauk Branch.
To support this growth, the MTA is rolling out a two-phase infrastructure upgrade totaling $78 million:
- Phase 1 (Amagansett Track Siding): Extends track siding by 14 train cars, reducing single-track bottlenecks and cutting down delays between Southampton and Montauk
- Phase 2 (Hampton Bays Station): Builds a permanent second platform and upgrades signals to allow 8-car train boarding in both directions
Experience Montauk Beyond Summer
With off-season travel made seamless, New Yorkers can easily explore Montauk’s cinematic landscapes year-round:
- Cinematic Sights: Walk the desolate, wintery beaches featured in the cult classic Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, or visit the iconic Montauk LIRR station where Joel and Clementine’s story unfolds
- Military Mysteries: Explore Camp Hero State Park, the eerie former military base with radar dishes and WWII bunkers that famously served as the real-world inspiration for Netflix’s Stranger Things
- Cozy Stays: Grab an off-season room at Gurney’s Montauk Resort (the area’s only year-round oceanfront resort with an indoor seawater pool) or the historic Montauk Manor