The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced new Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs) equipped with multiple features that enhance the customer experience are now in service at both LIRR and Metro-North stations. 

The new machines introduce several key features. They now sell tickets for both railroads, allowing customers to purchase travel between Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North stations seamlessly. Riders can also scan the barcode of a previously purchased ticket to quickly pull up a similar fare. Change is issued in $5 and $10 bills rather than only coins, making transactions more convenient. In addition, the machines support nine languages, including English, a significant increase from the previous three.

“The first thing every rider does before boarding an LIRR train is buy a ticket, and the LIRR offers several ways to do that, including our groundbreaking TrainTime app, and for riders who prefer a paper ticket, the new Ticket Vending Machines make that experience smoother and more convenient,” said LIRR President Rob Free. 

A Much-Needed Upgrade

For nearly 25 years, the MTA’s legacy TVMs have been the backbone of fare payment, maintaining 97% availability and generating about 30% of all ticket sales. 

However, by 2024, the OMNY project for Metro-North and LIRR was significantly delayed, and the agency’s TVMs and TOMs urgently needed replacement. Teams at both railroads pivoted to launch a new contract with Scheidt and Bachmann, the vendor for the current legacy system, and kicked off a new project in June 2024. 

Complete installation began in mid-October, with scheduled completion in mid-2026, bringing new Ticket Vending Machines featuring updated ticket designs to all LIRR and Metro-North stations. This project also includes new Ticket Office Machines, which are scheduled for deployment in 2026. 

The agency added that there will be additional upgrades to payment options and the purchase flow user experience in 2026.