Long Island Rail Road
Central Nassau branch for Hempstead and Garden City riders heading into Manhattan and Jamaica.
No active Hempstead Branch alerts are listed in the latest MTA service feed. Always verify final departure times in TrainTime before you leave.
Advisories about planned or possible future disruptions (incl. strike contingencies). Service is not affected by these right now.
Find out more about travel if the strike happens here: https://www.mta.info/lirrstrike Active: Evening, May 15
MTA buses will accept LIRR tickets for travel from Jamaica to Hollis and Queens Village. View a map of your route options. Follow this link for information about transferring at the Jamaica Bus Terminal. What's happening? Accessibility improvements Active: Jun 22 - 26 and Jun 29 - Jul 2, weekdays, 9:30 AM to 3 PM
Find out more about travel if the strike happens here: https://www.mta.info/lirrstrike Active: Evening, May 15
Key stops on the Hempstead Branch, running Penn Station to Hempstead (38 min, terminating at Hempstead):
The Hempstead Branch serves Hempstead, Garden City, Mineola, West Hempstead and nearby Long Island communities. When train service is delayed or suspended, commuters often compare the LIRR against the parallel roads. These are the Hempstead Branch driving alternatives with live conditions on Long Island Traffic:
Yes, for now — but a strike has been flagged as possible. MTA states: "LIRR train service may be suspended by 12am Saturday because of a possible strike. If you're traveling Friday night, complete your trip before midnight. [10, 12, 13, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9] Find out more about travel if the strike happens here: https://www.mta.info/lirrstrike Active: Evening, May 15". Complete essential travel before any deadline and have a driving backup ready.
No major Hempstead Branch delays are listed in the latest MTA service feed (updated Jun 22, 4:04 AM). Service conditions change quickly — confirm your specific train in the MTA TrainTime app before leaving.
The Hempstead Branch is operating without major reported alerts as of Jun 22, 4:04 AM. This page reads directly from the MTA GTFS-realtime service feed.
A typical Hempstead Branch trip (Penn Station to Hempstead) runs about 38 min. Peak fare is $12.25 one-way; off-peak is $8.75. Actual times vary by departure, transfer at Jamaica, and whether your train is a direct Penn Station or Grand Central run.
Key Hempstead Branch stops include Jamaica, Queens Village, Floral Park, Garden City, Nassau Boulevard, Country Life Press, Hempstead. The branch terminates at Hempstead.
When the Hempstead Branch is delayed or suspended, Hempstead Branch commuters most often drive Hempstead Turnpike, Meadowbrook Parkway, Southern State Parkway — though each carries its own rush-hour congestion. Check live road conditions before switching from rail to car.
Recent social posts mentioning the Hempstead Branch. Posts link to their authors; not verified by Long Island Traffic.