LIRR and Metro-North

The API provides static station and route information alongside live commuter rail trip updates, train locations, and service alerts.

Prerequisites

Install mta-js with npm install mta-js.
Set MTA_API_KEY in your environment.
Requires mta-js 2.4.0 or later.

Explore stations and routes

Each railroad has its own stops and routes endpoints:

import { MTA } from 'mta-js'

const mta = new MTA({ apiKey: process.env.MTA_API_KEY })
const lirrStops = await mta.lirr.stops()
const lirrRoutes = await mta.lirr.routes()
const metroNorthStops = await mta.metroNorth.stops()
const metroNorthRoutes = await mta.metroNorth.routes()

for (const stop of lirrStops) {
  console.log(`LIRR: ${stop.name} (${stop.id})`)
}

for (const route of lirrRoutes) {
  console.log(`LIRR: ${route.name} (${route.id})`)
}

for (const stop of metroNorthStops) {
  console.log(`Metro-North: ${stop.name} (${stop.id})`)
}

for (const route of metroNorthRoutes) {
  console.log(`Metro-North: ${route.name} (${route.id})`)
}

Use /api/v1/lirr/routes/{route}/stops or /api/v1/metro-north/routes/{route}/stops to list stations served by a route. The route segment accepts an ID or exact route name, such as Babylon Branch:

const lirrRouteStops = await mta.lirr.routeStops({ route: '1' })
const metroNorthRouteStops = await mta.metroNorth.routeStops({ route: 'Hudson' })

for (const stop of lirrRouteStops.stops) {
  console.log(`LIRR: ${stop.name}`)
}

for (const stop of metroNorthRouteStops.stops) {
  console.log(`Metro-North: ${stop.name}`)
}

Get upcoming departures

The stop parameter accepts a station ID, stop code, or exact station name, matched without case sensitivity. For example, use Penn Station for LIRR or Grand Central for Metro-North. You can also filter by route and set a limit.

const lirrDepartures = await mta.lirr.departures({
  stop: 'Penn Station',
  route: '1',
  limit: 5,
})

const metroNorthDepartures = await mta.metroNorth.departures({
  stop: 'Grand Central',
  limit: 5,
})

for (const departure of lirrDepartures) {
  console.log(`${departure.trainNumber ?? departure.route.name} — ${departure.destination ?? departure.direction} — ${departure.minutes} min`)
}

for (const departure of metroNorthDepartures) {
  console.log(`${departure.trainNumber ?? departure.route.name} — ${departure.destination ?? departure.direction} — ${departure.minutes} min`)
}

Each departure includes its trainNumber, destination, scheduled time, minutes until the event, and delaySeconds when available. The response also includes the route, station, direction, and peak/off-peak classification.

Check train locations and alerts

Vehicle locations can be filtered by route. Service alerts are available separately for both systems:

const lirrVehicles = await mta.lirr.vehicles({ route: '1' })
const lirrAlerts = await mta.lirr.alerts()
const metroNorthVehicles = await mta.metroNorth.vehicles()
const metroNorthAlerts = await mta.metroNorth.alerts()

for (const vehicle of lirrVehicles) {
  console.log(`LIRR ${vehicle.trainNumber ?? vehicle.route.name} — ${vehicle.lat}, ${vehicle.lon}`)
}

for (const alert of lirrAlerts) {
  console.log(`LIRR: ${alert.header ?? alert.id}`)
}

for (const vehicle of metroNorthVehicles) {
  console.log(`Metro-North ${vehicle.trainNumber ?? vehicle.route.name} — ${vehicle.lat}, ${vehicle.lon}`)
}

for (const alert of metroNorthAlerts) {
  console.log(`Metro-North: ${alert.header ?? alert.id}`)
}

Use the MCP tools or shared stop catalog

The read-only MCP tools are get_lirr_departures, get_metro_north_departures, and list_commuter_rail_stops.LIRR and Metro-North stops and routes are also available in the shared endpoints. Add modes=lirr,metro-north to /stops/near and /routes; omitted modes continue to default to subway and bus.

const nearbyRailStops = await mta.stops.near({
  lat: 40.7506,
  lon: -73.9935,
  modes: ['lirr', 'metro-north'],
})

for (const stop of nearbyRailStops) {
  console.log(`${stop.mode}: ${stop.displayName} (${stop.distanceMeters} m)`)
}

const railRoutes = await mta.routes.list({ modes: ['lirr', 'metro-north'] })
for (const route of railRoutes) {
  console.log(`${route.mode}: ${route.longName ?? route.id}`)
}

Get Started

Core Concepts

Guides

Self-Hosting

LIRR and Metro-North

Prerequisites

​Prerequisites

Prerequisites