Long Island Rail Road riders heading through Penn Station at the end of the week will still get regular service on Thursday and Friday, but they will not get all their usual ways in. The transit authority warned late Thursday that some entrances will be restricted, meaning more bodies squeezed through fewer doors just as the region gears up for a busy holiday stretch.
According to LIRR, customers should use the 34th Street and Seventh Avenue entrance to reach trains. Entry from 33rd Street will not be allowed. The railroad also urged riders to consider routing themselves through Grand Central or Atlantic Terminal instead and to check the LIRR TrainTime app or mta.info for real-time status and platform updates.
Penn Station will be open with regular LIRR service on Thursday, July 2 and Friday, July 3, but there will be access restrictions at the request of the NYPD.
— LIRR (@LIRR) July 2, 2026
Customers traveling through Penn Station should use the 34th Street and 7th Avenue entrance. There will be no entry from…
How to Plan for the Holiday Commute
In a separate press release, MTA officials said the LIRR will run eight extra trains from Penn Station on Tuesday, July 3 to help handle holiday travel. Riders are being told to lean on the TrainTime app, station departure boards, and email or text alerts for up-to-the-minute details. The agency is also nudging customers to customize their alerts so they are not flooded with irrelevant notifications and to check mta.info for special service notices.
Why Access Is Limited
The LIRR post did not spell out why entrances are being restricted. Amtrak and other carriers have previously flagged New York Penn Station for operational impacts tied to FIFA World Cup 2026 events on select dates between mid-June and July 19, and those event-related measures can trigger temporary controls at entrances or tweaks to platform access. Details on those impacts are available from Amtrak.
Tips for Riders
If you are passing through Midtown this weekend, plan to leave earlier than you normally would, follow posted signs, and give station staff a little space to direct you to the right doors. Riders who would rather skip Penn Station altogether can opt for Grand Central or Atlantic Terminal instead, and should double-check timetables on MTA or the TrainTime app for the latest schedules and platform information.
