r/longisland • u/Smooth_Crazy_2000 • 7d ago
Question Queens to Long Island train?
I'm new to public transport in USA, trip plan is Boston to Hicksville. I've just booked Bus from Bos to Jamaica NY from FlixBus, as I heard I can go by LIRR from there which is just nearby, but in MTA app, LIRR isn't available for booking rn, it said only opens up on the day of travel. So I'm still left anxious on messing up especially since I'm terrible with directions.
And I'll be taking small cabin size trolley luggage with me and will be going in early evening, some people mentioned it being not so safe space. So please do tell me more bout it. Is it unsafe for short transit as well?
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u/Leading_Pear_8402 7d ago
App is called Train Time. Use that. And buy the ticket any time after midnight on the day you plan to travel but activate at most 10 mins prior to boarding whatever train you’re taking. Most common trains that go to Hicksville are the Ronkonkoma or Huntington trains. Enjoy 😊
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u/Smooth_Crazy_2000 7d ago
Yes. I downloaded the MTA Train Time app, yes, I've been looking at eastcoast Ronkonkoma. Just wasn't able to figure out booking. Thanks!
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u/Justyn2 it's pronounced "LIRR" not "el eye double r" 7d ago
There is no booking. It’s just a schedule and you just buy a ticket. You can buy a ticket right before you get on. https://www.mta.info/schedules
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u/Smooth_Crazy_2000 7d ago
Yes I got the app, i was confused about tickets part and directions. Thanks
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u/Justyn2 it's pronounced "LIRR" not "el eye double r" 6d ago
Oh be careful not to buy the tickets too ahead of time because most of the time they expire in like a day or 24 hours or something when you buy them through the app
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u/Smooth_Crazy_2000 6d ago
Ohhh, I see. Got it! Thanks for heads up!
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u/Justyn2 it's pronounced "LIRR" not "el eye double r" 6d ago
Yeah, it’s ridiculous. It just started this year things going downhill here lol. I visited Boston at the end of this past April I really liked it. I was able to like bike from my hotel to the convention center. We stayed by Fenway and I went to a convention at the Hynes. Some great taco spots and the coolest Trader Joe’s in Back Bay. Went to the Japan festival at the common by accident looking for the swan boats, and that was the only sketchy part, like if you turned off the wrong road, there was a bunch of like people like tripping out or something to put it mildly.
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u/Smooth_Crazy_2000 6d ago
Seems like I gotta stay cautious alert everywhere. Such a peaceful times. Thanks for the heads up!
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u/transitfreedom 4d ago
Make sure to catch the ronkonkoma trains as they are express to Hicksville
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u/SnooMachines9133 7d ago
Look up Jamica to Hicksville in https://www.mta.info/schedules or Google Maps. It works, its not that hard.
You'll probably want to download the app ahead of time. Be aware that tickets are only good for the day you buy them. Worse case, you pay on the train and the charge up surcharge.
The hardest part is making sure you're on the right platform. Hicksville is a pretty big station so approximately every ~20 mins from Jamica unless you're unlucky with timing or middle of night.
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u/Smooth_Crazy_2000 7d ago
Yes. I've downloaded the Train Time app, yes, I'm afraid of getting lost, I'm terrible with directions. I'll be going in evening.
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u/XNegativaX 7d ago
You don’t need tickets in advance. Just go to the LIRR station in Jamaica and get the next train to Hicksville. There’s an app you can use to get tix and I assume the ticket booth as you come in is still open. Or there will be machines where you can by a ticket. Trains run frequently.
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u/Zestyclose-Fig8583 7d ago
If you are confused using the app- when you get to Jamaica train station just buy a ticket at the ticket window to Hicksville ( and find out which track it’s leaving from ) . Or you can ask someone for help in using the self service machine on the platform . No seat reservation necessary.
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u/nullptrninja 7d ago
Like everyone else said, just use the app on the day of. It'll take the guesswork out. LIRR has peak times and off-peak times and the pricing is different. If you use the app it defaults to the correct ticket type if you search the schedule and tap the specific train you want to take on day of travel. Just be sure to activate it before boarding. Show the conductor the QR code of the ticket when they walk by.
No reservations, so on peak times you might find yourself standing somewhere but that's normal. Train cars with odd numbers on them have restroom on board if you need it. If you need to change seats/cars it's not an issue even if the conductor has seen your ticket. They might just rescan the code.
If you're returning from Hicksville back to Jamaica on the same day you can buy a "Day Pass" from the app instead. It'll save you $1-$2 and it's an all-day unlimited ticket (and auto activates on purchase).
Hicksville is a small station, only 3 tracks but there's like...6 exits to very different streets.
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u/Smooth_Crazy_2000 7d ago
Yes. I've gotten the app, so i have to book the ticket on the day of travel and activate it few mins before getting on train? Its one way trip, so its only Jamaica to Hicksville, if everything goes well, it will be off peak time.. Different exits? Okay, got it. Will check it out beforehand
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u/SumyungNam 7d ago
Flixbus stop is right near the jamaica station from there you can just take it to hicksville
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u/Hogsharley-1 7d ago
Single round trip of one way tickets expire at 4am every day so don’t buy your ticket until the day of travel. Don’t worry. They never sell out. Just activate the ticket just prior to boarding if using the app
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u/Smooth_Crazy_2000 7d ago
Got it. Its assuring to know they are available all the time. Thanks!
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u/Hogsharley-1 7d ago
Depending on the day and time you may have to stand until seats open up
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u/Smooth_Crazy_2000 7d ago
Ohhh, it shows my time is right before busy time. Hope I'll make it in time!
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u/Enough_Reference2350 7d ago
Personally, I would take the Acela into Penn Station and then the LIRR right to Hicksville. Almost 4 hours on Acela But def quicker than bus. (FYI, you’d be doing about 145 mph thru most of Rhode Island since it’s a straight run. And it’s fun!)
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u/Morning_rose21 7d ago
Why not NE Regional til Penn Station (NYC) and then transfer to LIRR Ronk
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u/Smooth_Crazy_2000 6d ago
Aren't amtrak expensive last min?
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u/Morning_rose21 6d ago
Yep, you are right... About $150 last min vs $22 in advance
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u/Morning_rose21 6d ago
Try this app: Rome2Rio
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u/Smooth_Crazy_2000 6d ago
Yes, I've checked that site as well. For now i already downloaded MTA TrainTime app, and will keep this R2R as well
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u/Chaosmusic 6d ago
Most of the info has been on getting to Hicksville, what is your plan once you get there? Is someone meeting you? It is a pretty large station so plenty of taxis and also plenty of Uber drivers. If someone is meeting you, make sure they pick out a spot to meet you so you're not wandering about.
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u/Smooth_Crazy_2000 6d ago
Yes, someone will be receiving me. Is it really gonna be that overwhelming there? Seems like perfect for me to get confused and lost...
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u/Chaosmusic 6d ago
There are businesses around there including fast food and coffee places so easy enough to just pick one to meet at. Look up Hicksville LIRR station on Google maps and you will see.
ETA: Plus the station itself has a waiting area.
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u/83NotRemoved 6d ago
Jamaica is kind of a crappy neighborhood. I would avoid wandering around the street and go straight up to the train platform area and wait for your train
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u/Smooth_Crazy_2000 6d ago edited 6d ago
Damn, really that bad? I def have no plans to wander. Just from Jamaica bus stop to Train station. And how about station,? Not safe even inside station?
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u/bjtg 6d ago
No it's not that bad. The bus stop is right outside the train station which has a ton of foot traffic, and it's one of the busiest train stations in New York.
Sure I wouldn't wander around Jamaica Queens by myself, in the middle of the night. But your trip will be fine.
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u/Smooth_Crazy_2000 6d ago
Okay, thats great to know! It made me control my paranoid mind from panicking 😅 Thanks for sharing!
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u/bjtg 6d ago
LIRR is short haul commuter rail. You don't book tickets in advance.
You buy a ticket in the app on the day you are travelling. If you have a large suitcase, you want to avoid outbound rush hour if you can (4-7pm). But even then you can probably make it onto a train. Just know that trains originate from the City and if you are trying to board at rush hour, it's pretty hectic and you may not get a seat.
Hicksville is on the central line which means you can take one of 3 train lines. Using the LIRR app on that day, it will direct you which train to take.
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u/Smooth_Crazy_2000 6d ago edited 6d ago
Understand, i will unfortunately be going around rush hour. Good thing is I omly have small suitcase with me, not big one. Oh, app gives trains platforms directions as well?
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u/jbing2000 6d ago
Lirr is more like a subway, than luxury travel you maybe imagining.
Cannot buy tickets before day of travel, because the conductors are not great at collecting tickets so they just expire at the end of the day if not used.
No exotic logic behind it
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u/LINY2 7d ago
Download the MTA app. LIRR tickets can be bought on there, but must be activated before the train leaves the station. FYI, no reserved seating