Great River to Penn Station by LIRR
Quick answer: Take an LIRR train from Great River to Babylon, then take an LIRR train from Babylon to Penn Station. The trip takes about 81 minutes door to door on a weekday (78 to 88 depending on the connection). An LIRR train comes about once an hour during the day.
Great River to Penn Station
- LIRR
- LIRR LIRR trainFrom Great River toward Babylon3 stops, about 14 min
- Change at Babylon
- LIRR LIRR trainFrom Babylon toward Penn Station5 stops, about 62 min
- Get off at Penn Station
- Penn Station
Weekdays, fall 2026 MTA schedule · First and last trips
Step by step
- Take an LIRR train from Great River to Babylon. It's 3 stops, about 14 minutes.
- Take an LIRR train from Babylon to Penn Station. It's 5 stops, about 62 minutes.
Times and frequency
From the MTA's fall 2026 schedule. Typical trip is the door to door time in the middle of the day.
| Day | First trip | Last trip | Typical trip | LIRR train in the daytime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | 3:10 am | 12:08 am | 84 min | About every 30 minutes |
| Saturday | 5:17 am | 12:09 am | 77 min | About every 53 minutes |
| Sunday | 5:17 am | 12:09 am | 77 min | About every 53 minutes |
Late at night
On weeknights the last trip that gets you there in about the usual time leaves around 12:08 am, and the first one in the morning around 3:10 am. On Saturday night the last one leaves around 12:09 am, and on Sunday night around 12:09 am.
Tips for this trip
- Check the train's destination. Not every LIRR train at Babylon goes to Penn Station. Trains to Grand Central or Jamaica don't. On a weekday 47 trains do; look for Penn Station on the board.
- Know your stop. Get ready after Forest Hills. The next stop is Penn Station. Start a live trip in Cobblehop and it alerts you before your stop.
- Newark Penn Station is a different station, in Newark, New Jersey. (source, checked 2026-11-04)
- Moynihan Train Hall, across the street, serves LIRR and Amtrak riders too. (source, checked 2026-11-04)
What it costs
- LIRR: the fare depends on the fare zones and on peak or off-peak time. Peak = weekday trains arriving NYC terminals 6-10 a.m. or leaving them 4-8 p.m. Off-peak all other times, weekends and holidays. Buy in the MTA TrainTime app or at a station ticket machine before you board. Buying on the train costs $7.75-8.50 more (not charged where the station has no ticket machine).
Fares as of November 2026. Check the official fares page before you ride.
Great River to Penn Station: common questions
How do I get from Great River to Penn Station by public transit?
Take an LIRR train from Great River to Babylon, then take an LIRR train from Babylon to Penn Station.
How long does it take?
About 81 minutes door to door on a weekday, 78 to 88 depending on the connection. On weekends it's about 77 minutes.
Do I have to change along the way?
Yes, once: at Babylon.
What time is the last train?
On weeknights the last trip that gets you there in about the usual time leaves around 12:08 am, and the first one in the morning around 3:10 am. On Saturday night the last one leaves around 12:09 am, and on Sunday night around 12:09 am.
How much does it cost?
LIRR: the fare depends on the fare zones and on peak or off-peak time. Peak = weekday trains arriving NYC terminals 6-10 a.m. or leaving them 4-8 p.m. Off-peak all other times, weekends and holidays. Buy in the MTA TrainTime app or at a station ticket machine before you board. Buying on the train costs $7.75-8.50 more (not charged where the station has no ticket machine).
Related routes
Sources
Cobblehop is independent. It is not affiliated with the MTA or any transit agency. Schedules on this page come from the MTA's public GTFS data; check these pages for the latest service:
- MTA: developer data (the GTFS schedules used on this page)
- MTA: LIRR and Metro-North fares
- Penn Station: visitor information
- Penn Station: visitor information
Transit data: Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Cobblehop is not affiliated with or endorsed by the MTA.
Published November 7, 2026. Times were computed from the MTA fall 2026 schedules for 2026-11-18 (weekday), 2026-11-21 and 2026-11-22. Planned work and holidays change service, so check Cobblehop for live times before you go.
Leaving now? Cobblehop gives you one clear plan with live times and alerts you before your stop.