<p>In his latest commuter tip, Newsday&#39;s transportation reporter Alfonso Castillo explains the reasoning behind needing an ID to ride the train.</p>


Long Island

Transportation

FLALFONSO250609_video

An ID is required to ride the Long Island Rail Road

onecms:403370a1-4391-4f28-aee4-0556564bfa82

Newsday

No ticket? No way of paying? No ID? No LIRR ride.

Screenshot 2025-06-09 at 2.09.47 PM.png

Most Popular

Latest videos

Transportation video slot

LIRR commuters must now activate their mobile tickets before they board the train, or they could be hit with a surcharge. NewsdayTV's Alfonso Castillo reports.

'Activate your ticket when you're supposed to, before boarding the train'

Newsday reporters spent this year examining the risks on Long Island's roads, where traffic crashes over a decade killed more than 2,100 people and seriously injured more than 16,000. This documentary is a result of that newsroom-wide effort.

'Success is zero deaths on the roadway'

Commuters are expressing frustration over a new MTA policy that imposes an $8 surcharge for activating mobile tickets after boarding. Newsday's Alfonso Castillo reports.

Last-minute ticket surcharge irks LIRR riders

Traffic fatalities in Nassau County rose from 67 to 78 from 2024-25, according to data from Newsday's fatality tracker. Newsday investigative reporter Peter Gill explains.

'We drive more than the average New Yorker'

Transportation Article Bottom Module

"Speed limiters" would prevent certain drivers from moving more than a few miles per hour over the posted limit.

Speeding is as Long Island as bagels and shopping malls. Can technology stop chronic offenders?

The new policy shrinks validity periods for many tickets to just one day and doles out penalties for passengers who wait until a conductor comes around before activating electronic tickets.

Is the LIRR tracking you? Why do conductors only sometimes scan tickets? We've got answers.

A deadline for talks is postponed until mid-May.

White House appoints LIRR mediation panel

The New Year brought two very different stories about the progress, or lack thereof, in addressing deadly crashes in the region.

Crash deaths are up in Nassau, down in NYC. Are there lessons for LI?

The project will aim to "create better traffic flow, reduce crowding," and provide better connections to the adjacent subway and AirTrain.

Hochul to announce $50M Jamaica station redesign

President Donald Trump must now appoint a panel of mediators that will issue non-binding recommendations for a settlement, likely by mid-March.

LIRR unions ask for White House intervention pushing strike deadline to May

Transportation Video Playlist

New Jersey health officials are warning travelers that a person with the virus passed through Newark Airport Dec. 19.

Measles health alert

Beginning next month, MetroCards will be a thing of the past and the cost of LIRR tickets will rise. Newsday transportation reporter Alfonso Castillo has more.

MTA fare and toll hikes coming in 2026

A Newsday analysis found Suffolk ticketing for safety violations lags New York State, while Nassau remains below pre-pandemic levels. NewsdayTV's Doug Geed reports.

'It's extremely important writing those tickets'

Festively decorated LIRR trains have made their debut will run through the end of the year, according to the MTA,

Festive trains to run through New Year's

Officials say drivers should feel safe while ongoing repairs are made to the bridge. NewsdayTV's Jamie Stuart reports.

'We can no longer defer maintenance'

An MTA inspector general investigation lays out how Long Island Rail Road workers allegedly gamed the system in a variety of creative ways. Newsday transportation reporter Alfonso Castillo has more.

'I was appalled'

Amtrak officials say LIRR service to Penn Station may suffer cuts because of a plan to bring Metro-North service to three new stations. Newsday Transportation Reporter Alfonso Castillo explains.

Possible LIRR cuts with added Metro-North trains

NewsdayTV's Macy Egeland sits down with Alec Slatky from AAA Northeast and talks about how your travel may look this Thanksgiving.

'A big increase in travelers'

Airline leaders say they're optimistic that operations will rebound with the holiday travel season looming. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.

'Less delays and cancellations over the weekend'

LIRR historian David Morrison said the Nov. 22, 1950, train crash in Queens was the catalyst for the implementation of measures that "vastly improved the safety of the railroad operation."

'A horrible chapter in Long Island railroad history'

The FAA announced the reductions in response to staffing shortages among air traffic controllers. Newsday reporter Josefa Velasquez has the story.

'Check your flight status before you leave the house'

Hit-and-runs result in less serious charges without evidence a driver was intoxicated or drove recklessly. Families say 90-day sentences aren't enough. NewsdayTV's Macy Egeland reports.

'He didn't get the justice he deserved'

Homepage Trending

Newsday Cheer Fest 2026 photos

Newsday Investigations

Long Island Teacher Spotlights

HOF fan ballot results

Newsday TV shorts

Vertical videos

<p>John Harbaugh was introduced as the Giants' new head coach at the team facility on Tuesday.</p>

Giants introduce John Harbaugh as head coach

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., had strong ties to Long Island as he made several visits in the 1960s. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.

MLK remembered on LI in day of parades, songs

NewsdayTV's Doug Geed, takes us to the only place on Long Island where they grow orchids.

Out East: Orchids at Bianchi-Davis Greenhouse

A storm brought a wintry mix of rain and snow to the region. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports.

Winter storm brings snow to LI 

The soft-serve ice cream dipped in melted butter and sprinkled with salt has gone viral.

Ice cream dipped in melted butter? Stew Leonard's has it

Five years after a Newsday investigation into police hiring, neither county has diversified ranks to reflect the communities they serve. Newsday's Virginia Huie and Jim Baumbach reports.

Despite 30% increase in Hispanic officers, LI police forces still overwhelmingly white

NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano gets a sneak peek of "The Diplomat" Tour, which offers a behind-the-scenes look at all the places at Planting Fields Arboretum where the Netflix thriller's season 3 finale was shot.

'The Diplomat' films on LI

NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger takes a look at some of the reasons behind the decline in family-owned hardware stores on Long Island.

Declining number of family owned hardware stores

Newsday's food team tasted and ranked sheet cakes from eight supermarkets on Long Island.

The great grocery store sheet cake taste test 

NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa learns what it takes to troubleshoot a pinball machine in this week's edition of LI Works.

LI Works: A wizard at fixing pinball machines

<a href="https://www.newsday.com/video/newsdaytv-top-stories">Get more on these and other NewsdayTV stories</a>

Newsday TV

NewsdayTV Top Item

State of buying, selling homes on LI ... 'The Diplomat' on LI ... Get the latest news and more great videos at NewsdayTV

State of buying, selling homes on LI ... 'The Diplomat' on LI

Stay in the know with the Dangerous Roads newsletter

Dangerous Roads newsletter sign up widget

Last year, the DMV rejected more than 2,100 personalized license plates that did not meet state guidelines.

HEYYYYY: These are some of the NYS DMV's rejected vanity plates

Transportation - megaslot

MTA and LIRR news, plus the latest on Long Island's traffic, roads & MacArthur Airport

Stay logged in.