Holiday Train Riders in Monroe: Plan Your Thanksgiving Traveling

With the Thanksgiving holiday approaching, train riders will be using Metro-North railroad differently than on regular commuting days, so there will be more trains at some times and fewer at other as the railroad tries to adjust to the different demand.

The railroad recommends buying tickets in advance for Thanksgiving weekend travel.

Here’s an announcement about the changes on Metro-North’s website:

No matter where you have to go for your Thanksgiving dinner, Metro-North has the holiday service to get you there! (We’re no “turkeys!”)

And you’ll give thanks for taking the train and avoiding traffic, tolls, and all the other headaches that come with driving on one of the busiest travel holidays of the year.

On Wednesday, November 26, take flight on one of our early getaway trains, which begin departing Grand Central at 1 p.m. See a new November 9 timetable for details [this link may be helpful]. Because of reduced ridership, some evening trains may be cancelled or combined, so be sure to check the timetable.

A Special Thanksgiving Holiday Timetable will be published covering Thursday, November 27, through Sunday, November 30. Be sure to pick up a copy in Grand Central, at outlying stations, or go to mta.info/mnr for details. [This link may be helpful.]

On Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 27), we have additional inbound trains for those of you heading to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Holiday Parade. And after you’ve caught a glimpse of the new “GoldieBlox” float (it is a ”girl powered spinning machine”), we will have plenty of additional outbound service to get you home (or to whoever’s house you are heading to for dinner).

On the Day After Thanksgiving (Friday, November 28), we will operate a Saturday schedule with additional trains a.m. inbound and p.m. outbound, so you can take advantage of all those Black Friday sales you probably should have lined up for the night before. (Or so you can get to work to pay off the blizzard of bills coming in December.)

Finally, on Saturday, November 29 and Sunday, November 30 we will provide regular weekend schedules with additional Shoppers’ Specials trains.

Off-peak fares are in effect for the entire four-day holiday, and you can take advantage of free parking at many of our stations. (Check for signs at stations, or call 511 for details. Outside of New York, call 877-690-5114.)

Here’s a recipe for happy Thanksgiving travel: Buy your tickets in advance (like your turkey). Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day of the year, and if you’re leaving New York after the parade, you must have your ticket before boarding your train at Grand Central or Harlem-125th Street Station.