Long Island Rail Road riders who want to hear the hole-puncher of a train conductor have new options for physical tickets.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has installed new ticket vending machines at 23 stations across the Oyster Bay, Ronkonkoma and Babylon branches as of Thursday. All of the agency's 126 LIRR stations "are expected to have the new machines by this summer," Laura Cala-Rauch, an MTA spokeswoman, said in an email on Saturday.

LIRR President Rob Free said the new ticket vending machines made the experience of buying a paper ticket "smoother and more convenient."

"We've been rolling out the new machines through the system over the last few months, and we're excited to connect Long Islanders with all the great destinations in Metro-North territory and the new fea

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