Holiday Travel: TRAINS: Metro-North Christmastime Service

By David Gurliacci (Patch Staff)

An announcement from Metro-North:

You’ll be “laughing all the way” past traffic and tolls when you take Metro-North to get around this holiday season. (And you won’t need to wear any “bells” on your “bobtail” either!)

On Christmas Eve (Wednesday, December 24), we’ve got early getaway trains departing Grand Central beginning at 1 PM. (Because even Scrooge let his employees leave early on Christmas Eve…) See a current November 9 timetable for details. Because of reduced ridership, some evening trains may be cancelled or combined, so be sure to check the timetable or visit our schedules page.

On Christmas Day (Thursday, December 25), a Special Holiday Schedule will be in effect featuring hourly service. See our Christmas/New Year’s Eve Holiday Timetable (effective December 25-26, and December 31-January 2) for full details or visit ourschedules page.

On the Day After Christmas (Friday, December 26) we will operate a Saturday schedule with additional AM inbound and PM outbound trains. (So you can get to the store early to be the first in line to return that reindeer sweater, spend your refund on something you really want, and return home satisfied!)

On December 27 and 28 we will operate a weekend schedule with Shoppers’ Specials.

For Christmas-New Year’s Week (December 29 and 30) we will operate a weekday schedule, with slightly reduced AM Peak service and additional inbound service operated in the late morning for those of you heading into town to see the holiday sights. (And if you are heading to the office, we’ll have plenty of service for you, too!) See a November 9 timetable for details or visit our schedules page.

If you are traveling with the family, we suggest purchasing an off-peak ten-trip ticket. In addition to the discounted price, it is transferable, so everyone riding with you can use it.(It is like the gift that keeps on giving!)

For New Year’s Eve (Wednesday, December 31), we will operate a special weekday schedule with:

• Reduced AM peak and PM peak service, to match service and train crew resources with the reduced passenger demand;
• Additional inbound trains in the afternoon/early evening (for those of you preparing to “party hearty” in the city);
• Hourly service outbound after 8 PM (for those who prefer to “party early”);
• Our traditional post-midnight outbound service between midnight and 5 AM (for all of you professional party goers).

Please remember that drinking alcohol on Metro-North trains and at our stations is banned from noon New Year’s Eve until noon New Year’s Day. (Because there comes a time when the party really does have to end...)

As in past years, those traveling home “early morning” (after midnight) on New Year’s Eve must resolve to purchase your train tickets in advance. Tickets will be collected prior to boarding trains at Grand Central.

On New Year’s Day (Thursday, January 1, 2015), we will operate hourly service, with two additional mid-day trains to New Haven to accommodate higher demand between noon and 2 PM.

On Friday, January 2, we will operate a Saturday schedule with additional AM inbound and PM outbound trains.

See our Christmas/New Year’s Eve Holiday Timetable (effective December 25-26, and December 31-January 2) for full details or visit our schedules page. Look for our special Christmas/New Year’s Timetable in Grand Central, at outlying ticket offices and online. Or download our free Train Time APP for train times.

All of us at Metro-North wish you a safe and happy holiday season.