You’re standing on the platform at St. George. The salt air from the harbor is hitting your face, and you can see the Manhattan skyline glimmering across the water like it’s another planet entirely. If you’ve just hopped off the ferry, your next move is almost certainly chasing the blue-and-yellow glow of the Staten Island Railway (SIR). But honestly, figuring out Staten Island train times feels less like reading a standard NYC subway map and more like predicting the tides.
It’s a train. But it’s not the subway. Not really.
The SIR is this strange, charming, occasionally frustrating hybrid that runs on its own heartbeat. It’s operated by the MTA, sure, but it doesn't connect to the rest of the 2, 3, 4, or 5 lines unless you count the boat ride in between. If you’re trying to time your commute, you aren't just looking at a clock; you’re calculating ferry docking times, the "S" train shuttle to Arthur Kill, and whether or not it’s a weekend where the MTA decided to do track work near Great Kills.
The St. George Connection: The Ferry-to-Train Dance
Most people looking for Staten Island train times are really trying to figure out how to get home after work without sitting in the terminal for 28 minutes.
The schedule is built specifically to "meet" the ferry. During the morning and evening rushes—roughly 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM and 3:30 PM to 8:00 PM—trains are timed to depart shortly after the boats dock. If the ferry is late, the train usually waits. Usually. There’s a specific kind of heartbreak known only to Staten Islanders when you see the doors of a Tottenville-bound train close just as you sprint off the gangway.
Midday is a different story.
Between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM, the frequency drops significantly. You’re looking at trains every 30 minutes. If you miss one by thirty seconds, you have enough time to go grab a slice of pizza or walk over to the Richmond County Bank Ballpark to stare at the grass. It’s a slow pace. It’s island life.
Express vs. Local: Saving Those Precious Minutes
Not every train stops at every station. This is where people get tripped up.
During peak hours, the SIR runs express service. These trains generally bypass the smaller stops between St. George and Great Kills. If you live in Eltingville or Annadale, the express is your best friend. It can shave about 10 to 15 minutes off the total trip from the ferry to the end of the line.
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But watch the signs.
I’ve seen dozens of confused tourists end up in New Dorp when they wanted to see the historic Alice Austen House because they hopped on an express train that roared right past the Clifton stop. Generally, express trains run southbound in the afternoon and northbound in the morning. If you’re traveling "against" the commute—like heading to the ferry at 5:00 PM—expect a local ride that hits every single one of the 21 stations.
The Weekend Reality Check
Saturdays and Sundays change the math.
Forget the 15-minute intervals. On weekends, the Staten Island train times settle into a consistent 30-minute rhythm. The biggest headache? Maintenance. Because the SIR is essentially a single long finger of track stretching from the north shore to the south, any construction often results in "bus bridges."
The MTA is notorious for shutting down sections between Jefferson Avenue and Tottenville for track replacement. When this happens, they’ll run a shuttle bus. It’s slower. It’s bumpy. It turns a 45-minute trip into a 70-minute odyssey. Always check the MTA’s "Weekender" app or the digital screens at the terminal before you commit to the ride.
The Arthur Kill Anomaly
You might notice something weird on the schedule: the Arthur Kill station.
Opened in 2017, it replaced two older, crumbling stations (Atlantic and Nassau). It’s one of the few spots on the line with a massive parking lot, making it a "park and ride" hub. If you’re looking at Staten Island train times for this end of the island, keep in mind that Arthur Kill is the second-to-last stop.
If you’re heading to the very end—Tottenville—it’s only another three minutes. Tottenville feels like a small town in New England. You can actually see the Perth Amboy, New Jersey, shoreline across the water. It’s peaceful, but if you miss that last train back toward St. George late at night, you’re looking at an expensive Uber or a very long wait in the dark.
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How to Actually Check the Times Without Losing Your Mind
Don’t rely on those printed paper schedules they keep in the glass cases. They’re rarely updated for holiday shifts or emergency repairs.
- The MYmta App: This is the "official" word. It uses real-time GPS data. If the train is held up at Dongan Hills because of a mechanical issue, this app will show the delay.
- TrainTime App: Originally for Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North, the MTA has been integrating SIR data here too. It’s often cleaner and faster than the main app.
- Google Maps: Surprisingly accurate for the SIR, though it sometimes struggles to account for the "wait time" when the ferry is docking. It might tell you that you have 2 minutes to catch the train, but it’s not factoring in the 500 people you have to fight through to get off the boat.
- The "Countdown" Clocks: Every station now has digital displays. They are your North Star. If it says 4 minutes, it usually means 4 minutes.
The Cost: A Small Silver Lining
One of the weirdest facts about the Staten Island Railway is that for most of the line, it’s technically free.
Wait, let me clarify.
You only pay when you enter or exit at St. George or Tompkinsville. There are turnstiles there. For every other station—from Stapleton all the way down to Tottenville—there are no turnstiles. You just walk onto the platform and get on the train. However, because almost everyone is eventually heading to the ferry (St. George), you’ll end up tapping your OMNY or MetroCard anyway.
If you’re just traveling between, say, Oakwood Heights and Great Kills to visit a friend, you won't hit a turnstile. It’s one of the last quirks of the New York transit system.
Real-World Travel Times: A Quick Reference
While the exact Staten Island train times fluctuate, here is the general duration you should expect for a trip starting from the St. George Terminal:
- To Clifton: 5 to 7 minutes. (Great for the Bay Street arts scene).
- To New Dorp: 15 to 20 minutes. (The shopping hub of the island).
- To Great Kills: 25 to 28 minutes.
- To Eltingville: 32 minutes.
- To Tottenville: 42 to 45 minutes.
Add about 5 to 10 minutes to these if you’re traveling on a weekend or during late-night hours when the train tends to linger a bit longer at major stops.
Safety and Late Night Vibes
The SIR runs 24/7.
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That’s a huge deal. Unlike many suburban rail lines in other cities that shut down at midnight, you can catch a train to the South Shore at 3:00 AM. Is it safe? Generally, yes. The cars are well-lit and usually have a conductor on board.
During the graveyard shift (1:00 AM to 5:00 AM), trains run once an hour. If you’re coming from Manhattan, you have to time this perfectly with the hourly late-night ferry. If you miss the 2:00 AM boat, you’re waiting until 3:00 AM for the next one, which means you won’t hit your home station until nearly 4:00 AM.
Plan accordingly. Bring a book. Or a nap.
Actionable Tips for a Better Commute
To master the Staten Island train times, you need a strategy. First, always sit in the front two cars if you’re heading to St. George. The stairs to the ferry terminal are located at the very front of the platform. Being the first one off the train can be the difference between making the ferry that’s about to pull out and waiting 30 minutes for the next one.
Second, use OMNY. Don’t faff around with MetroCard machines at the St. George terminal. They are often broken or have long lines. Tapping your phone or credit card at the turnstile is instant.
Third, if there is a major service disruption—which happens during heavy snow or extreme heat—check the S74 or S78 bus routes. They run roughly parallel to the train line. They are slower because of traffic, but they’ll get you where you need to go when the tracks are down.
Finally, keep an eye on the "Holiday Schedule." The SIR often runs on a "Saturday Schedule" during minor holidays (like Presidents' Day or Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples' Day). This means 30-minute intervals even though it’s a weekday. Don't get caught standing on a cold platform because you assumed it was a regular Tuesday.
Check the MTA service alerts page before you leave your house. It's the only way to be 100% sure.
Once you get the hang of the rhythm, the SIR is actually a pretty peaceful way to see the island. You get views of the water, old Victorian houses, and the dense woods of the Greenbelt. It’s a side of New York most people never see. Just make sure you know when that next train is coming, or you'll have plenty of time to contemplate the scenery while you wait.
Next Steps for Your Trip
- Download the MTA TrainTime app and favorite the "Staten Island Railway" line for instant access to live countdowns.
- If you're traveling for leisure, aim for the "off-peak" window between 10 AM and 2 PM to avoid the school-rush crowds.
- Bookmark the MTA Service Status page to check for weekend "bus bridges" before you head to the ferry.