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Frequently asked questions
The questions we get most often, about where the data comes from and what it can and cannot tell you.
Is this an official MTA or NJ Transit website?
No. Commuter Lines is independent and has no connection to the MTA, NJ Transit or the Port Authority. Schedule and fare data comes from those agencies' own published feeds, but the site is not theirs and they do not endorse it.
Are the times live?
No. These are scheduled times, refreshed weekly from the operators' feeds. They do not reflect today's delays, cancellations or track changes. For live running, use the operator's own app.
How often is the data updated?
Schedule feeds are pulled weekly and the whole site is rebuilt from them. Fare charts are updated whenever an operator publishes a revision. Every page shows the date it was last updated and the effective date of the fares it quotes.
Why does my fare not match what I paid?
Fares shown are the standard published fares for each ticket type. They do not include every discount or promotion, and buying on board usually costs more. If the standard fare itself is wrong, that is a bug and we want to hear about it.
What does peak mean?
It differs by operator. On the LIRR, peak means weekday trains arriving at a New York terminal between 6 and 10 AM or leaving one between 4 and 8 PM. Metro-North also applies peak to weekday trains leaving Grand Central between 6 and 9 AM. NJ Transit and PATH charge the same fare on every train. There is more detail on the fares page.
Why can I not find a trip between two particular stations?
The site currently covers trips with direct service, meaning one train with no change. If your journey needs a connection, it may not have a page yet. Connecting trips are planned.
Do you cover the subway, buses or Amtrak?
Not yet. Commuter rail only: LIRR, Metro-North, NJ Transit rail and PATH.
Can I use this data on my own site?
The underlying schedule feeds are public, so take them from the source rather than from us. The data sources page lists every feed. Linking to our pages is always welcome.
Do you use cookies or track me?
The site sets no cookies of its own and runs no advertising trackers. See the privacy policy for the full detail.
How do I report something wrong?
Email contact@commuterlines.com with the page address and the figure you believe is wrong. Corrections are the messages we act on fastest.