Extra LIRR trains continue Thanksgiving weekend

Extra trains and off-peak fares continue on the Long Island Rail Road through this weekend, the railroad said.

The LIRR will operate on a regular weekend schedule with off-peak fares both Saturday and Sunday -- with the exception of shuttle bus service for the Long Beach branch between Long Beach and Lynbrook.

Riders can use the Family Fare discount, in which as many as four children ages 5 to 11 go one way for just 75 cents each when accompanied by a fare-paying parent or guardian. Weekly and monthly ticket holders just pay for the kids. Children under 5 ride free. Thanksgiving weekend marks the start of extra weekend trains that will run for six weekends through Dec. 30.

Beginning the Saturday after Thanksgiving and continuing through New Year's Day, customers will find added weekend service for the holiday season. The holiday timetables are dated Nov. 12, and feature six holiday service weekends: Nov. 24-25, Dec. 1-2, Dec. 8-9, Dec. 15-16, Dec. 22-23 and Dec. 29-30.

Starting Saturday, the LIRR is adding extra weekend trains to New York City. The added weekend holiday service continues on five additional weekends: Dec. 1-2, Dec. 8-9, Dec. 15-16, Dec. 22-23 and Dec. 29-30.

The extra trains are on the following branches:

Port Washington branch: Eight extra westbound trains are being added Saturday and Sunday between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. and eastbound between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.

SEE PHOTOSLIRR trains and commuters through the years

Long Beach branch: Shuttle bus service will operate between Long Beach and Lynbrook from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Babylon trains will make extra Lynbrook stops.

Port Jefferson branch: One overnight train between Penn Station and Huntington will be added.

Babylon branch: One overnight train between Penn Station and Babylon will be added.

Ronkonkoma Branch: Three westbound trains between Farmingdale and Penn Station will be added to Saturday and Sunday schedules between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., and three eastbound trains between Penn Station and Farmingdale will be added to the weekend schedules between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

The LIRR suggests that riders purchase tickets, including MetroCards for connecting subway and bus service, in advance to save time and avoid lines at ticket windows.

Additional service alterations for the holidays have been made on Metro-North Railroad and the Staten Island Railway. To ease Thanksgiving travel, routine maintenance and temporary construction work at all MTA bridges and tunnel crossings will be suspended beginning at noon Wednesday until Monday morning.

Customers can call 511, the New York State Travel Information Line (say: Long Island Rail Road) for more information, or visit mta.info/lirr/. Hearing-impaired customers can use their preferred relay service provider for the free 711 relay to reach LIRR at 511.