Buying Metro-North Tickets: Future Travel Plans And Options

If you're wondering whether you can buy Metro-North tickets for future travel, the answer is yes. There are several ways to buy tickets for the Metro-North Railroad, including on your phone, from ticket machines, ticket offices, through your employer, and on board trains. The TrainTime app is one convenient option, allowing you to plan your trip, buy and activate your ticket, view departure times, and track your train in real time. Alternatively, you can purchase tickets at the station using vending machines or at the ticket office during peak hours. While it is possible to buy tickets on board the train, it is more expensive than buying beforehand. So, if you're planning to travel on the Metro-North Railroad, it's advisable to purchase your tickets in advance to avoid the extra cost.

Buying tickets at the station

If you want to buy your ticket at the station, you can do so at a ticket office or ticket machine. Ticket offices sell all LIRR and MNR ticket types and also offer certain MetroCards. You can pay with cash, credit or debit cards, and some transit benefit cards. Ticket machines accept cash (up to $50 bills and coins, returning up to $17.75 in coin change) and credit and debit cards.

There are several different types of ticket machines, each of which offers different types of tickets:

• Gray machines: Buy all ticket types, $30 MetroCards ($29 value), and UniTickets.
• Red machines: Buy most types of one-way and round-trip tickets and $30 MetroCards ($29 value). These machines do not sell monthly, weekly, 10-Trip, or package tickets.
• Blue machines: Buy all ticket types, $30 MetroCards ($29 value), and UniTickets. These machines accept only credit and debit cards. They do not accept cash.
• Green machines (LIRR only): Buy all ticket types and AirTrain MetroCards.

Note that group tickets and monthly school tickets cannot be purchased at ticket machines.

If you encounter a problem when using a ticket machine, you can let the MTA know by completing a ticket machine claim form for the LIRR or Metro-North. You can return the form at a staffed ticket window or by mailing it to the address printed on the form. Metro-North customers can also submit their claims through an online form.

Buying tickets on the Metro-North TrainTime app

The TrainTime app provides a one-stop shop for Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad riders. The app is available for download on iOS and Android devices.

With the TrainTime app, you can buy and activate your ticket, plan trips, view departure times and transfer details, track your train in real time, view seat availability and the layout of your train, and chat with a customer service representative.

Here's a step-by-step guide to buying tickets on the TrainTime app:

• Download the TrainTime app on your Apple or Android device.
• Log in with your Apple or Google account, or sign up by text message. If you had an account on the former MTA eTix app before August 2022, use the same login credentials to retrieve your existing tickets.
• Plan your trip by entering your origin and destination stations.
• Purchase your ticket by tapping the "Buy" button or via the "Tickets" tab. You can buy tickets for multiple people on the same device, but remember to activate one ticket per person before boarding.
• Tickets bought on the app are valid for the same duration as those bought from ticket machines. For example, an unused one-way ticket will be valid for 60 days.
• You can pay using Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or pre-tax transit benefit cards. You can also split the payment between two cards.
• If you lose your phone or switch to a new one, you can transfer your tickets to the new device. This transfer can be done up to three times in 180 days.
• Remember to keep your phone charged during your trip, as a non-functional app ticket will require you to purchase a new ticket at the onboard fare.
• The conductor may ask to scan your ticket, so ensure your phone is accessible.
• You can cancel unactivated tickets within two minutes of purchase for a full refund. After two minutes, you will receive a partial refund for the unused portion, subject to a $10 fee.
• To refund a non-activated, non-expired ticket, tap the "Actions" button and select "Refund Ticket".
• For refunds on multiple tickets purchased separately or for expired tickets, contact the Refund Department.

Buying tickets on the train

While it is possible to buy your ticket on the train, it is not advisable. Buying your ticket on the train will cost $5.75-$6.50 more than the regular price, and you can only buy one-way tickets onboard. This surcharge is waived if you are boarding at a station without ticket machines, or if you are a senior citizen, passenger with a disability, Medicare recipient, or active-duty military.

If you are travelling on a peak train, or beyond the zones shown on your ticket, you will have to pay an additional fare onboard. This fare is not subject to the on-board surcharge, but will be rounded up to the nearest dollar.

If you are a frequent traveller, it may be worth looking into the Mail&Ride monthly ticket subscription, which automatically delivers your monthly ticket to the TrainTime app on your phone.

If you are travelling with a group, you may be able to save money by buying 10-trip tickets.

Ticket types and their validity

Metro-North Railroad offers a variety of ticket types to cater to different passenger needs. Here is a detailed overview of the ticket types and their validity:

• One-way and round-trip tickets: These tickets are valid for 60 days from the date of purchase, including the date of sale. If you use an off-peak ticket on a peak train, you will have to pay an additional fare onboard, which will be rounded up to the nearest dollar.
• Weekly tickets: Weekly tickets are valid for unlimited rides for a calendar week, from Saturday through Friday. They are non-transferable and go on sale at ticket offices and ticket machines starting Wednesday for the following week.
• Monthly tickets: Monthly tickets are valid for unlimited rides during the calendar month indicated on the ticket. They are also non-transferable and can be purchased starting the 25th of the prior month.
• 10-Trip tickets: 10-Trip tickets are valid for 10 one-way rides to or from City Zone 1 (LIRR) or Manhattan (Metro-North) within six months from the date of purchase. They may be used by multiple passengers travelling together. There are different types of 10-Trip tickets available, including peak, off-peak, intermediate, and discounted tickets for seniors, Medicare recipients, or people with disabilities.
• CityTicket: CityTicket is valid for travel within New York City on the LIRR or Metro-North. It costs $5 during off-peak hours and $7 during peak hours. CityTickets must be used on the day of purchase, but there is a grace period that allows travel until 4 a.m. the next morning for tickets purchased the previous day.
• Far Rockaway Ticket: This ticket can be purchased at Far Rockaway Station for travel between Far Rockaway and LIRR stations in Manhattan and Brooklyn. It has the same cost as a CityTicket and is subject to similar restrictions.
• Group Tickets: Special discounted one-day, round-trip group tickets are available for organised groups of 30 or more. Smaller groups of 10 or more may benefit from using 10-trip tickets. Group tickets must be reserved at least two weeks in advance.
• Mail&Ride: This is a monthly ticket subscription service that automatically delivers your monthly ticket to the TrainTime app on your phone.

It is important to note that tickets purchased on the TrainTime app are valid for the same duration as paper tickets. For example, an unused one-way ticket will expire after 60 days.

Ticket prices

The TrainTime app provides a one-stop shop for Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad riders, allowing them to buy and activate tickets, plan trips, view departure times, track trains in real time, and chat with customer service representatives. Tickets bought on the app cost the same as those bought at a ticket machine and are valid for the same duration. For example, an unused one-way ticket will expire after 60 days. The app accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express cards, including pre-tax transit benefit cards, and also supports Apple Pay and Google Pay.

Tickets can also be purchased at ticket offices and ticket machines. Ticket offices sell all LIRR and MNR ticket types and also offer certain MetroCards. They accept cash, credit or debit cards, and some transit benefit cards. Ticket machines are available in different colours, each offering different types of tickets. The gray machines sell all ticket types, $30 MetroCards, and UniTickets; the red machines sell most types of one-way and round-trip tickets and $30 MetroCards; the blue machines sell all ticket types, $30 MetroCards, and UniTickets but only accept credit and debit cards; and the green machines (LIRR only) sell all ticket types and AirTrain MetroCards.

Single trips are valid for 60 days from purchase, and ten trips are valid for six months from purchase. Weekly tickets are valid for unlimited rides for a calendar week (Saturday through Friday) and go on sale on Wednesdays for the following week. Monthly tickets are valid for unlimited rides during the calendar month indicated and are the most cost-effective option for commuting three or more days a week. They are non-transferable and can be purchased starting on the 25th of the prior month.

There are also special discounted fares for seniors, people with disabilities, Medicare recipients, and active-duty U.S. military personnel. These individuals can save up to 50% off the full one-way peak fare and can use reduced-fare tickets at all times except for inbound weekday morning peak trains. The reduced-fare tickets are valid for 60 days, including the date of sale.

For those travelling within New York City on the LIRR or Metro-North, a CityTicket can be purchased for $5 during off-peak hours or $7 during peak hours. This ticket is valid for one-way travel that begins and ends within New York City.

Frequently asked questions