NYC seems to be taking some pages out of the art of European living lately–and sadly we’re not talking aperitivo hour or a post-lunch riposo. Instead, the city is doubling down on making sure everyone riding public transportation is actually paying for it. Earlier this month the MTA revealed plans to place fare inspectors on NYC buses as part of a “European-style” fare evasion crackdown, and now they’re turning their attention to the LIRR.
Let’s just say (and, for legal reasons, we would neverrrr condone this) that the days of waiting to see a train conductor before purchasing or activating a TrainTime ticket are officially numbered.
Along with a slew of changes heading to the LIRR and Metro-North in 2026–like upgraded ticket vending machines, an increase in ticket prices, and more flexible ticket offerings–passengers who purchase or activate mobile tickets onboard will soon be hit with a fee.
Anyone who waits to buy their ticket onboard, whether that be directly from a conductor or through the TrainTime app, will face an extra $2 charge. And even if you bought your ticket before boarding, but didn’t activate it until after stepping onto the train, you’ll still be subject to the same surcharge.
The MTA also plans to shift to automatic activation for one-way tickets, making it easier for riders to stay compliant, but potentially catching last-minute activators off guard.
The MTA says riders won’t be penalized immediately–you’ll get at least one warning first–though they didn’t specify how many warnings there will be. A press release reads:
Customers who repeatedly purchase or activate mobile tickets onboard will be subject to the surcharge after an escalating series of warnings.
Additionally, the press release doesn’t specify how much the charge will actually be, though there have been murmurings on an LIRR Reddit thread that claim the fee will be $8.
And though the new rule doesn’t officially take effect until January 1, 2026, some passengers say they’ve already been warned by conductors. TrainTime has even begun sending email notices, along with reports of users getting locked out of the app or having their accounts disabled altogether.
One rider said their account was disabled about a week after receiving the warning email.
With the changes already rolling out behind the scenes, riders should start adjusting their habits now–especially if you’re someone who typically activates your ticket at the very last second.
As the MTA continues tightening fare enforcement across the system, staying ahead of these updates will save you both stress and a surprise fee in 2026.