Fare and ticket information

As of April 21, 2019, an adult one-way ticket from Penn Station (Zone 1) to stations in The Hamptons (Zone 14) costs $30.50 (at the ticket machine or MYmta app) or $37.00 (if purchased on-board the train).^[3] Hamptons Reserve Service, which offers reserved seating and additional on-board services in the two rear cars, costs an additional $20.00.^[2]

On-board services

Cannon Ball

The Cannonball, originally known as the Cannon Ball Express, was inaugurated in 1899, four years after construction of the railroad to Montauk was completed.^{[6][7]: 110} between Long Island City and either Montauk or Greenport. This service pattern had the train's consist split at the now-closed Manorville station:^[8] one section would continue via the Main Line to Greenport, while the other would travel via the Manorville Branch to join the Montauk Branch at Eastport, thereafter continuing to Montauk. Under its original service pattern, the train operated eastbound on Friday and Saturday afternoons and westbound on Saturday and Monday mornings, running nonstop between Jamaica and Speonk.^[9][10]

In summer 1922, the LIRR renamed the train as the Sunrise Special. Between Memorial Day and Columbus Day, service was operated eastbound from Penn Station to Montauk on Friday afternoons and westbound on Monday mornings, with bidirectional Monday–Saturday service during July and August. At this time, the train consisted entirely of pullman cars.^[7]: 114 By 1930, the name Cannon Ball was again used for the train departing late Friday afternoons and serving both Montauk and Gerenport, while the name Sunrise Special was given to a newly-inaugurated early afternoon Montauk Branch train.^[8] Service to and from Penn Station required a change of locomotive at Jamaica.

The section to Greenport was discontinued in 1942 and the train was re-routed via the Montauk Branch when the Manorville Branch closed in 1949.

Beginning in summer 1961, the western terminal of the Cannonball was changed from Jamaica to Hunterspoint Avenue, eliminating the need for some passengers traveling to or from Manhattan to change at Jamaica. The following year, dining cars were introduced on the train.^[11]

The Cannon Ball carried both standard-fare coaches and parlor cars. Historically, the train has been known for its parlor car service, and ridership on the train has been accordingly perceived as a status symbol.^[6]

MTA era

After the MTA takeover of the LIRR, the name of the train changed to Cannonball.^[12] Parlor cars were retired in 2000 and replaced with Hamptons Reserve Service when the LIRR replaced their P72 and P75 coaches with C3s.

Beginning in 2013, the western terminus of the train was changed from Hunterspoint Avenue to Penn Station, with the train utilizing dual-mode DM30AC locomotives.^[2] This change also eliminated the stop at Jamaica; the Cannonball would run nonstop between Penn Station and Westhampton with a scheduled travel time of 94 minutes. MTA officials expressed that Penn Station was better equipped to handle large crowds, in contrast to Hunterspoint Avenue and Jamaica. At the same time, the MTA introduced the Cannonball West, a Sunday evening train between Montauk and Penn Station that would run nonstop between Westhampton and Jamaica.^[13]