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For once, here’s some New York transit news that will bring a little relief.
Starting on January 4 next year, the MTA is rolling out a brand-new unlimited Day Pass on the LIRR and Metro-North—and with it, quietly retiring the old round-trip ticket. The shift is meant to simplify how riders move around the region, while offering more flexibility and, in many cases, modest but real savings.
Instead of locking riders into a there-and-back ticket, the new Day Pass will be valid from the moment of purchase until 4 am the following day. That means unlimited rides throughout the day, no stress about catching a specific return train and no penalties if plans change. If dinner runs late, you’re covered. Miss your train? Still covered.
The pricing is designed to soften the blow of January’s fare increases. On weekdays, the Day Pass will cost 10 percent less than buying two peak one-way tickets. On weekends, it will cost the same as two off-peak one-way tickets—essentially giving riders unlimited travel for what they already pay. CityTicket and Far Rockaway riders will also have access to unlimited versions, priced at $14.50 during peak hours and $10.50 during off-peak hours.
The Day Pass is part of a broader ticketing overhaul aimed at streamlining commuter rail travel. All one-way tickets, whether paper or mobile, will now be valid until 4 am the day after purchase and round-trip tickets will officially disappear. There’s also a new mobile-only perk: after 10 peak or off-peak trips within 14 days, riders will receive an 11th trip free during that same window.
The rollout lands alongside fare hikes across both railroads. Monthly and weekly tickets will rise 4.5 percent, while other ticket types can increase by as much as 8 percent. CityTickets will inch up too, from $7 to $7.25 peak and $5 to $5.25 off-peak, though they’ll now be permanent fare products. Buying or activating tickets onboard will also cost an extra $2, whether through a conductor or the TrainTime app.
To help smooth things over, the MTA is rolling out new ticket vending machines systemwide, featuring clearer interfaces, multilingual support and the ability to purchase tickets across both railroads.
It’s not a fare freeze—but for once, the MTA is trading confusion for flexibility. And for daily commuters and weekend wanderers alike, that’s a welcome change.