Far Rockaway Branch

Far Rockaway Branch
Far Rockaway Branch train 2820 departing Cedarhurst Station.
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerLong Island Rail Road
LocaleQueens and Nassau County, New York, US
Termini
  • Valley Stream
  • Far Rockaway
Stations11
Service
TypeCommuter rail
SystemLong Island Rail Road
Services
Operator(s)Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Ridership4,904,415 (annual ridership, 2023)
History
Opened1869 (as part of South Side Railroad of Long Island)
Technical
Number of tracks2
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)
ElectrificationThird rail, 750 V DC
Route map
9.3 mi
15 km
Jamaica
12.2 mi
19.6 km
Locust Manor
13.1 mi
21.1 km
Laurelton
14.0 mi
22.5 km
Rosedale
16.1 mi
25.9 km
Valley Stream
16.2 mi
0.0 mi
0.8 mi
1.3 km
Gibson
1.7 mi
2.7 km
Hewlett
2.3 mi
3.7 km
Woodmere
3.2 mi
5.1 km
Cedarhurst
4.0 mi
6.4 km
Lawrence
4.4 mi
7.1 km
Inwood
5.0 mi
8 km
Far Rockaway
(at Mott Ave.)
Distances shown from Long Island City via the Lower Montauk Branch

The Far Rockaway Branch is an electrified rail line and service owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. The branch begins at Valley Interlocking, just east of Valley Stream station. From Valley Stream, the line heads south and southwest through southwestern Nassau County, ending at Far Rockaway in Queens, thus reentering New York City. LIRR maps and schedules indicate that the Far Rockaway Branch service continues west along the Atlantic Branch to Jamaica, from where it can reach either Grand Central Madison or Penn Station, both in Midtown Manhattan.