Port Washington, NY - August 20, 2013 - MTA Long Island Rail Road is serving up aces with its frequent service to the 132nd U.S. Open Tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadow-Corona Park beginning with the start of qualifying rounds today, Tuesday, August 20 right through to the tournament finals on September 9.

The LIRR is the fastest and most convenient way to get to all the tennis action with Port Washington Branch trains stopping at Mets-Willets Point Station, which is just short walk from the USTA”s Billie Jean King Stadium. The train ride is just 19 minutes from Penn Station and for those traveling from Long Island the tennis stadium is just six minutes from Woodside, 17 minutes from Great Neck and 27 minutes from Port Washington. Customers can consult the LIRR's website for the special US Open Timetables for the periods August 20 to September 2 and September 3 to September 9.

Arriving Via Woodside Station

If you are traveling to Mets-Willet Point Station from branches other than Port Washington you can take the LIRR to Woodside Station, then transfer to a Port Washington Branch train for the short ride to Flushing Meadow. Since Mets-Willets Point Station is located in Fare Zone One, tickets to that zone from outlying stations are valid to Mets-Willets Point. However, you must hold onto the ticket stubs and inform ticket collectors of your intention to travel to Mets-Willets Point.

Buy Your Tickets in Advance

Since on-board fares are higher, customers are advised to buy tickets in advance at ticket offices, ticket machines, or on-line through the LIRR's WebTicket service (allow five business days for delivery). Customers planning to attend more than one match, or planning to travel with other tennis fans, may want to purchase a Peak or Off-Peak Ten-Trip ticket.

Weekend CityTicket

Customers attending weekend matches and events at the US Open, and traveling to Mets-Willets Point Station from Penn Station or from station in Queens on the Port Washington Branch, can take advantage of the LIRR's CityTicket. Available only on Saturdays and Sunday for adults and children over 12 years of age, CityTicket is a same-day, one-way fare of just $4.00 - a trip that otherwise carries a one-way charge of $5.75 from Zone 1 and $7.00 from Zone 3.

CityTicket is good for travel between Penn Station, Woodside and Mets-Willets Point and between the Queens stations on the Port Washington Branch (Flushing Main Street, Murray Hill, Broadway, Auburndale, Bayside, Douglaston and Little Neck) and Mets-Willets Point. It cannot be used to travel via trips from Brooklyn or Jamaica Station or any other branches. CityTicket is sold as a One Way or Round Trip ticket. It cannot be bought on board trains, but only from ticket windows or ticket machines located in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. It is good for direct travel only. Customers cannot change direction at transfer points and use it for free travel between the LIRR and subways or buses. Those traveling from points east, changing at Woodside, will have to pay the regular fare on weekends

For More Information

In addition to the website, customers can pick up a copy of the LIRR's U.S. Open Tennis Special Timetable #1 for the August 20 to September 2 competition at terminals and stations. A second timetable, U.S. Open Tennis Special Timetable #2, will be issued for the September 3 to September 9 competition to reflect the Railroad’s next system wide schedule changes, or contact the LIRR's Customer Service Center by calling 511, the New York State Travel Information Line, and say: Long Island Rail Road. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, use your preferred relay service provider for the free 711 relay to reach LIRR at 511.

The following is LIRR service to the Mets-Willets Point Station for the U.S. Open:

Weekdays: August 20-August 30

Eastbound to Mets-Willets Point Station.

Trains will depart from Penn Station at: 9:19 AM, 9:49 AM, 10:19 AM, 10:49 AM, 11:19, 11:49 AM, 12:19 PM, 12:49 PM, 1:19 PM, 1:49 PM, 2:19 PM, 2:49 PM, 3:18 PM, (3:40 PM - Aug 30 Only), 3:49 PM, 4:25 PM, 4:46 PM, 5:14 PM, 5:29 PM, 5:50 PM, 5:56 PM, 6:14 PM, 6:42 PM, 7:14 PM, 7:49 PM, 8:19 PM, 8:48 PM, 9:18 PM, 9:48 PM, 10:18 PM, 10:48 PM, 11:18 PM, 11:48 PM, 12:19 AM, 1:18 AM (12:17 AM and 1:16 AM Sat. only).

Westbound to Mets-Willets Point Station

Departing from Great Neck at: 8:58 AM, 9:32 AM, 5:44 PM, 6:04 PM, 6:23 PM, and 6:44     PM. Trains will depart from Port Washingtont: 9:40 AM, 10:10 AM, 10:40 AM, 11:10 AM, 11:40 AM, 12:10 PM, 12:40 PM, 1:10 PM, 1:40 PM, 2:10 PM, 2:40 PM, 3:10 PM, 3:40 PM, 4:06 PM, 4:36 PM, 5:00 PM, 5:23 PM, 6:24 PM, 7:09 PM, 7:39 PM, 8:09 PM, 8:39 PM, 9:09 PM, 9:39 PM, 10:09 PM, 10:39 PM, 11:39 PM, 12:40 AM, and (2:10 AM, August 26-30 only).

(11:27 PM, stopping at Woodside at 11:36 PM and arriving Penn Station at 11:47 PM, August 26-30 only).

Weekdays (Sept. 3-Sept. 6, except Labor Day - Sept. 2)

New LIRR timetables take effect September 3. As a result, the following train schedule covers weekday service to the U. S. Open for September 3rd through the 7th.

Eastbound to Mets-Willets Point Station

Departing Penn Station at: 9:19 AM, 9:49 AM, 10:19 AM, 10:49 AM, 11:19 AM, 11:49 AM,   12:19 PM, 12:49 PM, 1:19 PM, 1:49 PM, 2:19 PM, 2:49 PM, 3:18 PM, 3:49 PM, 4:25 PM, 4:46 PM, 5:14 PM, 5:29 PM, 5:50 PM, 5:56 PM, 6:14 PM, 6:42 PM, 7:14 PM, 7:49 PM, 8:19 PM, 8:48 PM, 9:18 PM, 9:48 PM, 10:18 PM, 10:48 PM, 11:18 PM, 11:48 PM, 12:19 AM, 1:18 AM (12:17 AM    and 1:16 AM Sat. only).

Westbound to Mets-Willets Point Station

Departing Great Neck at: 8:58 AM, 9:32 AM, 5:44 PM, 6:04 PM, 6:23 PM, and 6:44 PM.

Departing Port Washington at: 9:40 AM, 10:10 AM, 10:40 AM, 11:10 AM, 11:40 AM, 12:10 PM, 12:40 PM, 1:10 PM, 1:40 PM, 2:10 PM, 2:40 PM, 3:10 PM, 3:40 PM, 4:06 PM, 4:36 PM, 5:00 PM, 5:23 PM, 6:24 PM, 7:09 PM, 7:39 PM, 8:09 PM, 8:39 PM, 9:09 PM, 9:39 PM, 10:09 PM, 10:39 PM, 11:39 PM, 12:40 AM and 2:10 AM.

Departing Mets-Willets Point Station at: 11:27 PM, stopping at Woodside at 11:36 PM and arriving Penn Station at 11:47 PM.

Weekend of August 24-25, Weekend of August 31 - Sept. 1 & Labor Day Sept. 2)

Eastbound to Mets-Willets Point Station

Departing Penn Station at:  9:18 AM, 9:40 AM, 10:18 AM, 10:40 AM, 11:18 AM, 11:40 AM, 12:18 PM, 12:40 PM, 1:18 PM, 1:40 PM, 2:18 PM, 2:40 PM, 3:18 PM, 3:40 PM, 4:18 PM, 4:40 PM, 5:18 PM, 5:40 PM, 6:18 PM, 6:41 PM, 7:18 PM, 7:40 PM, 8:18 PM, 8:40 PM, 9:18 PM, 9:40 PM, 10:18 PM, 10:40 PM, 11:20 PM, 11:39 PM, 12:17 AM, 1:16 AM (12:19 AM & 1:18 AM, Sept 3 Only)

Westbound to Mets-Willets Point Station:

Departing Port Washington at: 8:40 AM, 9:08 AM, 9:40 AM, 10:08 AM,10:40 AM, 11:08 AM, 11:40 AM, 12:08 PM, 12:40 PM, 1:08 PM, 1:40 PM, 2:08 PM, 2:40 PM, 3:08 PM, 3:40 PM, 4:08    PM, 4:40 PM, 5:08 PM, 5:40 PM, 6:08 PM, 6:40 PM, 7:08 PM, 7:40 PM, 8:08 PM, 8:40 PM, 9:08 PM, 9:40 PM, 10:08 PM, 10:40 PM, 11:08 PM, 11:40 PM, 12:40 AM and 2:10 AM.

September 7-8 Weekend

Eastbound to Mets-Willets Point Station

Departing Penn Station at: 9:18 AM 9:40 AM, 10:18 AM, 10:40 AM, 11:18 AM, 11:40 AM, 12:18 PM, 12:40 PM, 1:18 PM, 1:40 PM,  2:18 PM,  2:40 PM, 3:18 PM, 3:40 PM,  4:18 PM, 4:40PM, 5:18 PM, 5:40 PM, 6:18 PM, 6:41 PM, 7:18 PM, 7:40 PM, 8:18 PM, 8:40 PM,  9:18 PM, 9:40 PM, 10:18 PM, 11:20PM, 12:17AM, 1:16AM (Sept 9 only 12:19 AM and 1:18 AM)

Westbound to Mets-Willets Point Station

Departing Port Washington at: 8:40 AM, 9:08 AM, 9:40 AM, 10:08 AM,10:40 AM, 11:08 AM, 11:40 AM, 12:08 PM, 12:40 PM, 1:08 PM, 1:40 PM, 2:08 PM, 2:40 PM, 3:08 PM, 3:40 PM, 4:08 PM, 4:40 PM, 5:08 PM, 5:40 PM, 6:08 PM, 6:40 PM, 7:08 PM, 7:40 PM, 8:08 PM, 8:40 PM, 9:08 PM, 9:40 PM, 10:40 PM, 11:40 PM, 12:40 AM and 2:10 AM.

Monday, September 9

Eastbound to Mets-Willets Point Station

Departing Penn Station at: 1:49 PM, 2:19 PM, 2:49 PM, 3:18 PM, 3:49 PM, 4:25 PM, 4:46 PM, 5:14 PM, 5:29 PM, 5:50 PM, 5:56 PM, 6:14 PM, 6:42 PM, 7:14 PM, 7:49 PM, 8:19 PM, 8:48 PM, 9:18 PM, 9:48 PM, 10:18 PM, 10: 48 PM, 11:18 PM, 11:48 PM, 12:19 AM and 1:18 AM

Westbound to Mets-Willets Point Station

Departing Port Washington at: 1:40 PM, 2:10 PM, 2:40 PM, 3:10 PM, 3:40 PM, 4:06 PM, 4:36 PM, 5:00 PM, 5:23 PM, 6:24 PM, 7:09 PM, 7:39 PM, 8:09 PM, 8:39 PM, 9:09 PM, 9:39 PM, 10:09 PM, 10:39 PM, 11:39 PM and 12:40 AM

Departing Great Neck at: 5:44 PM, 6:04 PM, 6:23 PM and 6:44 PM