Holiday Lights Train making its debut on the LIRR this month

The Long Island Rail Road is getting into the seasonal spirit.

The Holiday Lights Train is coming to the railroad, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said, with the festively decorated train operating beginning Friday and continuing through New Year's Day.

The train will run along all the electric branches according to a "random rotation of regularly scheduled trains," the MTA said in a news release.

"It’s a fun thrill for kids, train enthusiasts and adults alike to be able to board a train covered in colorful lights and spread holiday cheer throughout our territory," LIRR president Rob Free said in a statement.

The railroad joins Metro-North's Holiday Lights Train, which debuted last year.

Andrew Sparberg, retired LIRR manager and train historian, said initiatives like this can play a small role in changing people's perceptions.

"Too often, mass transit is looked at in a negative context," Sparberg said. "This ... literally brightens the darkness because it’s the darkest time of year. It’s just a positive thing and makes everyone feel good."