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1. What are the fares? How do I purchase tickets? Are discounts available?

For customers traveling within Zone 14, the fare is $3.25 one-way for any travel between Speonk and Montauk, and includes the train ride and local ‘last-mile’ shuttle services, which are now free. One-Way and Round-Trip tickets are valid for 60 days and can be purchased from Daily Ticket Machines as well as Full-Service Ticket Machines. Full Service Ticket Machines sell all ticket types, including weekly (valid Saturday through Friday) and monthly tickets. All ticket types can be purchased via the MTA’s mobile ticketing application, MTA eTix.

Speonk Customers: To take advantage of the $3.25 South Fork Commuter Connection fare, purchase a special ‘South Fork Commuter Connection’ ticket from a Full-Service Ticket Machine at the following stations: 

Speonk
Westhampton
Hampton Bays
Southampton

The ticket can be found under the Deals & Getaways menu on the main screen; select Long Island Getaways followed by South Fork Commuter Connection.  You will be asked to choose your departing station only. Since SFCC tickets are valid for travel between Bellport and Montauk, the Ticket Machine will default to Montauk as the destination station. LIRR weekly and monthly passes to/from Speonk to points east may not save you money.

Please see the separate FAQ for information on discounts for senior citizens and individuals with disabilities.

2. Can I use the South Fork Commuter Connection ticket on LIRR trips that are not designated as SFCC trips?

The ticket you purchase for travel between Speonk and Montauk is valid on any LIRR trip; however, connecting shuttle bus services are only available on the SFCC designated trips.

3. Can I use the South Fork Commuter Connection bus shuttle if I take a different train than one designated as an SFCC trip?

Yes. While the shuttle buses operate to meet connecting trains (please check posted SFCC schedules), you do not need to present a voucher or LIRR ticket to use the shuttle.

4. Can I bring a bicycle on the train?

All South Fork Commuter Connection trains are considered Off-Peak, and bicycles may be brought on board, in accordance with LIRR bike policies:

Bicycle Policy Information

LIRR Bicycle Permit

5. My normal work schedule or work location does not align with the train & bus services offered. What can I do?

Employers and employees all over the South Fork have varying work schedules and work out of a variety of locations. We encourage employers and employees to be open to variations in work schedules, in order to take advantage of the SFCC service, as well as other train schedules which may fit your needs. The Towns can help provide guidance on how to arrange ‘flex hour’ schedules for employees and discuss options on employer involved local job site transportation ideas.

6. What happens if there is bad weather?

Service disruptions could possibly occur under extreme weather situations such as severe snowstorms or other major events.  The LIRR and the Towns will be proactive in providing advance notice of any expected changes in service through local media as well as electronic/social media.

7. How do I get timely updated information about the South Fork Commuter Connection service?

The LIRR and the Towns will provide notice of any service changes via our websites and social media.  We encourage anyone who uses, or may use, these services to sign up for information updates via these outlets: Sign up for NOTIFY ME SFCC - News and notification on the Town of Southampton website; and/or the Southampton Town Facebook page.  It is also recommended that anyone using the LIRR sign up for train service alerts at: www.mymtaalerts.com

8. Are South Fork Commuter Connection travel discounts available for seniors and those with disabilities?

The MTA/LIRR Reduced-Fare program for senior citizens, Medicare recipients, and people with disabilities applies to all SFCC train trips.

Acceptable forms of documentation to qualify to use Reduced-Fare tickets under MTA/LIRR policy appear below:

Senior citizens (65 years of age or older): Government/state-issued driver’s license or non-driver ID; Government/state-issued passport; NYC Department of Aging ID Card; MTA Reduced-Fare MetroCard; MTA Reduced-Fare Easy Pay Card; and, if accompanied by another form of identification that contains a photo of the customer, a Medicare Card issued by the Social Security Administration or a birth certificate.

People with Disabilities: Suffolk County Accessible Transportation (SCAT) Card; MTA Reduced-Fare MetroCard; MTA Reduced-Fare Easy Pay Card; Access-a-Ride Card; Able-Ride Card; Para-transit Card. Applications for the MTA Reduced-Fare MetroCard are processed by NYC Transit (call 511 or visit mta.info/nyct).

Medicare Recipients (under age 65): MTA Reduced-Fare MetroCard; MTA Reduced-Fare Easy Pay Card; Medicare Card issued by the Social Security Administration (if accompanied by another form of identification that contains a photo of the customer).

Customers with disabilities who require the use of paratransit/SCAT services for connecting shuttle services should review the following FAQ, which addresses this process.

9. Does the SFCC provide Paratransit Service?

The South Fork Commuter Connection (SFCC) is a coordinated, intermodal transportation service in which transit users ride the Long Island Rail Road and then transfer to a Town-provided shuttle bus.

This service is designed to bring workers from one of three LIRR stations west of the Shinnecock Canal to one of the LIRR stations east of the canal on weekday mornings. Town-provided shuttles will take these train riders to local places of employment in the morning; and the process is reversed in the afternoon, bringing trains users back to the stations via shuttle buses to board one of two westbound return trips.

The Long Island Rail Road operates the train portion of the service. The Towns of East Hampton and Southampton will operate the connecting shuttle bus service which links to the train stations in their Town. These shuttles are for use by those who purchase a train ticket, ride the train and retain an LIRR ticket stub as a voucher for using the bus shuttle.

Those who utilize the train portion of this intermodal service, but cannot utilize the shuttle bus portion due to a disability or impairment-related condition, are eligible to receive paratransit services in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Suffolk County Transit, which operates public bus service throughout the County and is the designated transit agency for Suffolk County, can provide paratransit service through its existing Suffolk County Accessible Transportation (SCAT) program.

SFCC related paratransit service between the train stations and the local employment centers would be for train arrivals and departures linked to the local shuttle bus services available at the stations east of the Shinnecock Canal. The user’s trip would originate at the train station in conjunction with the morning eastbound train arrivals; and the user’s return destination would be the train station, in conjunction with an afternoon westbound departing train. (Paratransit services not related to the South Fork Commuter Connection intermodal service are also available through the Suffolk County Transit SCAT program.)

Eligibility for paratransit must be established prior to use, so enrollment in the SCAT program or comparable ADA paratransit service is required before service may be requested through the Suffolk County Accessible Transportation service system. Suffolk County Accessible Transportation (SCAT) ID cards are required for Suffolk County residents to utilize this paratransit service. Please see the link below for complete information on the SCAT application and reservations process.

https://www.sct-bus.org/scat.html

Any individual who does not qualify for SCAT services, but is planning to use the SFCC train and bus service and is in need of a wheelchair lift equipped vehicle to get from or to the train station, should contact Hampton Hopper @ 631-259-7076 no later than 2PM the day before they plan to travel.

The days and times of service are compatible with the limited SFCC shuttle service schedule:

Monday through Friday, approximately 6:30AM-10:00AM and 2:30PM-5:30PM. There is no service on major holidays and Fridays in the summer.

Payment for paratransit rides. A rider who purchased an LIRR Reduced-Fare ticket should pay the SCAT driver $4, which is the normal SCAT service fare and payment process.