LIRR Unveils New Ticket Plan for Hamptons Reserve Service on The Cannonball Express

The Long Island Rail Road Hamptons Reserve Service on The Cannonball will return this summer with a new ticketing system in which one ticket covers the cost of both rail travel and a reserved seat. The new system is designed to prevent riders from hoarding reservations then leaving the seats empty.

The LIRR offers the Hamptons Reserve Service, which includes beverage and snack service at your seat, on two of the 12 bi-level coach cars that comprise The Cannonball. The same Hamptons Reserve Service is available on the westbound Cannonball leaving Montauk on Sunday afternoons. On both trains, the remaining coach cars are available to all customers.

The new ticketing policy is designed to make more Hamptons Reserve seating available by curbing the practice of some customers who make bulk reservations upfront and never cancel unused reservations, only to return unused tickets at the end of the season for a refund.

In the past, customers have had to purchase separate tickets for rail fare and for a Hamptons Reserved seat. This year, one $47 ticket covers all costs for the eastbound trip on Friday, while Sunday’s return trip is priced at $39.75. Advance reservations are required.

As is the case with all LIRR tickets, Hamptons Reserve customers can return unused tickets for a refund for up to 60 days from the date of sale—as long as the reservation was canceled by noon on the Thursday prior to date of travel. The regular refund processing fee of $10 will apply.

Weekly reservations are available starting on the Monday prior to Friday or Sunday departures through the LIRR’s Hamptons Reserve Reservation Office, which can be reached by dialing 511, the New York StateTravel Information Hotline, or emailing hamptonreserve@lirr.org and including the reservation request form.

Beginning Thursday, May 1, seasonal reservations for a minimum of eight weekends up to the full 15-weekend summer season can be made in advance by dialing 511 and saying “LIRR” when prompted or emailing and including the reservation request form.

The Cannonball, which departs Penn Station on Fridays at 4:06 p.m. and makes it to Westhampton in 94 minutes, will resume on May 23.