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Metro-North announced they have plenty of service, and a special timetable covering Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day.
On Friday, Dec 23 Metro-North offers Christmas Getaway Service, with extra trains departing Grand Central beginning at around 1:00 pm, though they say because of reduced ridership, some evening trains may be cancelled or combined. (See a regular timetable or the Train Time App for details.)
On Christmas Eve Day, Saturday, December 24 we will operate a regular Saturday schedule.
On Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25, we will operate a regular Sunday schedule.
And since Christmas falls on a Sunday this year, many businesses will observe the holiday on Monday, December 26.
On Dec 26, Metro-North will operate a Saturday schedule with additional Shoppers’ Specials trains.
For the week between Christmas and New Year’s (Tuesday-Friday, December 27-30) Metro-North will operate a weekday schedule with reduced morning peak service and additional inbound service operating in the late morning.
Metro-North suggests that people traveling with family and friends purchase an off-peak ten-trip ticket. In addition to the discounted price, it is transferable, so everyone riding together can use it.
Metro-North recommends using MTA eTix ®, the mobile ticketing app that enables people to purchase ten trip, one way, round trip, weekly and monthly passes on smartphones or mobile devices.
Once again, look for that early getaway service on Friday, December 30. (See December 23 service above.)
On New Year’s Eve (Saturday, December 31) Metro-North will operate a special schedule. For people planning to party in Times Square (or anywhere else), the Metro-North New Year’s Eve schedule will include extra inbound late afternoon and early evening service. And when the party truly is finally over, “overnight” New Year’s morning service will get people home from New Year’s celebrations.
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 is over.)
Metro-North suggests making a New Year’s resolution to buy train tickets in advance: “Those of you taking our early morning New Year service will have your tickets collected prior to boarding trains at Grand Central. Again, start the New Year off right and resolve to use MTA eTix®,” Metro-North said in a release.
On New Year’s Day, Sunday, January 1, 2017 Metro-North will operate a Sunday schedule.
And as an added bonus, this year New Year’s Day is observed on Monday, January 2. Since businesses and government offices are closed, Metro-North will operate a Saturday schedule without the Shoppers Specials.
Look for Metro-North special Christmas and New Year’s Timetable on their schedules page, in Grand Central, and at outlying ticket offices.
Or download our free Train Time App on your iPhone or Android.
Email news tips to Greenwich Free Press editor Leslie.Yager@GreenwichFreePress.com
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