MTA LIRR’s Cannonball - Express to Hamptons & Montauk - Debuts Friday, May 27, Departing Penn Station at 4:06 p.m.
Long Island, NY - May 23, 2016 - The Long Island Rail Road’s popular Cannonball express, offering premium Hamptons Reserve service and the fastest ride from Manhattan to Montauk, debuts Memorial Day Weekend with the Cannonball East departing Penn Station on Friday, May 27 at 4:06 p.m.
Ticket sales for the Cannonball East’s three Hampton Reserve cars on the May 27 departure is already sold out. When the double-decker train pulls out of Penn Station, more than 1,000 additional customers will have filled the nine non-reserved cars on a first-come, first-served basis. And don’t fret if you miss the Cannonball because trains bound for Montauk continue to depart from Penn Station, Hunterspoint Ave. and Jamaica through the rest of the day. .
“Nothing is faster than the Cannonball on Friday afternoons,” said LIRR President Patrick A. Nowakowski. “We are beefing up our Montauk service to meet the summer demand and working to make sure that everyone rides comfortably by strict enforcement of our boarding rules. The LIRR is the best way to beat the traffic and avoid the parking hassles and make the most of your weekend getaway in the Hamptons and Montauk this summer.”
Hamptons Reserve Service
Hampton Reserve seating is available by advance reservation, offering the comfort of a reserved seat as well as at-your-seat bar and snack service. To purchase Reserve seating, all the information you need is on the MTA LIRR website. Customers unable to get a reservation due to the date(s) being sold out will be placed on a waiting list and filled starting at noon on the Thursday before the Cannonball’s departure.
Cannonball East
The Cannonball East departs Penn Station on Fridays at 4:06 p.m. from Penn Station - May 27th through September 2nd and travels non-stop to Westhampton in 95 minutes, also stopping at Southampton, Bridgehampton, East Hampton and Montauk. For the July 4th holiday weekend, the Cannonball East departs on Friday July 1. Hamptons Reserve seating is $49.25 one-way. The remaining cars are filled on a first come, first-served basis priced at the regular one-way peak fare of $28.25.
Cannonball West
Departs Montauk on Sundays (Mondays on May 30, July 4, & September 5) at 6:37 p.m., stopping at East Hampton at 7:01 p.m., Bridgehampton 7:10 p.m., Southampton 7:20 p.m., Hampton Bays 7:31 p.m., Westhampton 7:39 p.m. and then Jamaica at 9:10 p.m. and Penn Station at 9:31 p.m. Hamptons Reserve seating is $41.25, and again, the Cannonball’s remaining seats are priced at regular Weekend Off-Peak fare of $20.25
Buy Your Tickets in Advance
Customers are advised to buy tickets in advance since on-board fares are higher.
Rules for Boarding and Riding the Cannonball Safely
Safety is always the top priority on the Long Island Rail Road. Cannonball seats are in great demand, but to prevent overcrowding and ensure a comfortable ride, the LIRR will announce and enforce the following rules with the assistance of the MTA Police.
- Car doors will be closed when it is determined a car has reached ridership capacity.
- Car isles and doorways will be kept clear of obstructions at all times.
- Seats must be free of luggage.
- All carry-ons must be stored under seats or on overhead racks.
Additional Montauk Branch Summer Service Enhancements
Eastbound
- 12:43 p.m. from Jamaica to Speonk every weekday.
- 4:06 p.m. from Penn Station to Montauk on Thursdays.
- 1:47 p.m. on Fridays from Hunterspoint Ave. to Montauk; 5:09 p.m. on Fridays from Penn Station to Montauk and the 7:38 p.m. on Fridays from Jamaica to Montauk.
Westbound
- 4 p.m. summer Sunday and holiday departure from Montauk will operate through to Hunterspoint Ave. and Long Island City.
For More Information
For the latest information on the LIRR Cannonball and Hamptons Reserve Service as well as the entire schedule of LIRR trains to Montauk, go to the MTA LIRR website. Customers can also call 511, the State Travel Information Line and say: Long Island Rail Road, say “More Options” at the LIRR opening greeting, then say “Hamptons Reserve.” The deaf or hard of hearing can use their preferred relay service provider for the free 711 relay to reach the LIRR at 511.