Subways and Commuter Rails Providing Additional Service for New Year’s Eve Festivities
Off-Peak Fares in Effect on Commuter Railroads
View Real Time Schedules on MTA.info
Masks Still Required on Trains and Buses and Inside Stations, Regardless of Vaccination Status
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is the best way to beat traffic this holiday season as millions hit the roads to shop, eat and travel to their holiday destinations.
Most MTA agencies are operating on weekend or holiday schedules for Christmas and New Year’s, while running additional trains for riders heading out for the holidays or heading into the city for New Year’s Eve festivities.
“Whether you’re heading home for the holidays or experiencing everything the City has to offer, leave the driving to us and count on MTA transit to get you where you’re going,” said MTA Acting Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “It’s faster, it’s better for the planet and, it means you won’t be spending the holidays sitting in traffic.”
Masks are required on trains and buses and inside stations, regardless of vaccination status.
Details for each agency are below:
New York City Subway
Christmas Eve
On Friday, Dec. 24, subways will run on a Saturday schedule.
Christmas Day
On Saturday, Dec. 25, subways will run on a Saturday schedule.
New Year’s Eve
On Friday, Dec. 31, subway service will run on a Saturday schedule with some exceptions:
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Extra service will run on New Year’s Eve before and after the “ball drop” at Times Square on the (42 St Shuttle) lines
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Manhattan-bound trains will skip 167 St, 161 St-Yankee Stadium and 155 St from 10 p.m. Friday through 5 a.m. Monday
New Year’s Day
On Saturday, Jan. 1, subway service will run on a Saturday schedule with one exception:
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Manhattan-bound trains will skip 167 St, 161 St-Yankee Stadium and 155 St
Sunday, Jan. 2
Subway service will run on a Sunday schedule with some exceptions:
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Manhattan-bound trains will skip 167 St, 161 St-Yankee Stadium and 155 St
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No train service between Jay St-MetroTech and Bergen St
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Northbound trains run between Jamaica-179 St to Euclid Av and run local in Brooklyn
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Southbound trains run between Bedford/Nostrand ( ) and Coney Island-Stillwell Av
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trains run between 168 St and World Trade Center
New York City Buses
Christmas Eve
On Friday, Dec. 24, buses will run on a Saturday schedule.
Christmas Day
On Saturday, Dec. 25, buses will run on a Sunday schedule.
Monday, Dec. 27 – Thursday, Dec. 30
Buses will run on a reduced weekday schedule with some exceptions. The following bus routes that normally have local and limited service will operate with only local service: M1, M4, Q4, Q5, Q17, Q27, Q36, Q43, Q46, Q83 and Q85.
New Year’s Eve
On Friday, Dec. 31, bus service will run on a reduced weekday schedule with some exceptions:
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The following bus routes that normally have local and Limited service will operate with only local service: M1, M4, Q4, Q5, Q6, Q17, Q25, Q27, Q36, Q43, Q46, Q65, Q83, Q85
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The following Limited-only bus routes will not operate: S81, S84, S86, S91, S92, S94, S96, S98; use local routes S51, S74, S76, S61, S62, S44, S46, S48 instead
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The following express bus routes will not operate: SIM4X, SIM8X
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The following express bus route variations will not operate: BXM8 City Island service and Super Express trips on the QM2, QM5, QM8 and QM20
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All service on routes BM1, BM2, BM3 and BM4 will operate via Downtown and Midtown. There will be no Brooklyn-bound service at stops located at Church St/Barclay St, Park Row/Spruce St, and Frankfort St/Pearl St
New Year’s Day
On Saturday, Jan. 1, bus service will run on a Sunday schedule.
Long Island Rail Road
Christmas Eve
On Thursday, Dec. 23 and Friday, Dec. 24, the LIRR will operate on a regular weekday schedule with an additional 13 eastbound trains in the afternoon.
Christmas Day
On Saturday, Dec. 25, the LIRR will operate on a regular weekend schedule.
New Year’s Holiday Early Getaway Program
On Thursday, Dec. 30 and Friday, Dec. 31, the LIRR will operate on a regular weekday schedule with an additional 13 eastbound trains in the afternoon.
New Year’s Eve
On Friday Dec. 31, the LIRR will operate on a weekday schedule with 21 additional evening westbound trains, 18 to Penn Station and three to Atlantic Terminal.
New Year’s Day
On Saturday, Jan. 1, the LIRR will operate on a regular weekend schedule, with extra trains for riders heading home after New Year’s Eve events. Nineteen early morning extra eastbound trains will operate to Long Island, 15 from Penn Station and four from Atlantic Terminal.
Metro-North Railroad
Christmas Eve
On Thursday, Dec. 23, Metro North’s East of Hudson service will run on a normal weekday schedule with an additional 10 early-getaway trains on the Hudson, Harlem and New Haven lines between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m.
On Friday, Dec. 24, Metro-North's East of Hudson service will run on an expanded Saturday schedule, with extra trains running to accommodate workers and holiday travelers.
On Thursday, Dec. 23, Metro-North's West of Hudson service will operate on a normal weekday schedule with an additional early-getaway train on the Port Jervis Line. The 6:14 p.m. train from Hoboken (6:04 p.m. connection from New York Penn Station) will not operate.
On Friday, Dec. 24, Metro-North's West of Hudson service will operate on an expanded weekend schedule with extra trains running on the Port Jervis Line to accommodate holiday travelers. Pascack Valley Line customers should note that on this day only, the connection from New York Penn Station to the 5:32 p.m. express-train from Hoboken and the 5:43 p.m. express-train from Secaucus Junction departs New York Penn Station at 5:20 p.m. instead of 5:25 p.m.
Christmas Day
On Saturday, Dec. 25, Metro-North's East of Hudson service will operate on a special schedule with hourly service on the Hudson, Harlem and New Haven lines, and regular Saturday service on branch lines.
On Saturday, Dec. 25, Metro-North's West of Hudson service will operate on a regular weekend schedule.
Monday, Dec. 27 – Thursday, Dec. 30
During the week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, Metro-North’s East of Hudson service will operate on a regular weekday schedule. On Wednesday, Dec. 29, Metro-North will operate shuttle trains between Grand Central Terminal and Yankees/E 153rd St for the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium.
During the week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, Metro-North’s West of Hudson service will operate on a regular weekday schedule.
New Year’s Eve
On Friday, Dec. 31, Metro-North’s East of Hudson service will operate a regular weekday service on all three main lines and all branch lines, with extra inbound trains to Grand Central Terminal arriving between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., and all-night outbound service.
On Friday, Dec 31, Metro-North’s West of Hudson service will operate a weekend schedule with the following additions and adjustments:
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There are two extra after-midnight departures on the Pascack Valley Line, a 1:24 a.m. departure from Hoboken making all stops to Spring Valley, arriving at 2:46 a.m., and the second train with a 3:45 a.m. departure from Hoboken making all local stops to Spring Valley, arriving at 5:03 a.m. The 12:45 a.m. Friday-night departure from Hoboken to Spring Valley will not operate on New Year’s Eve.
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There are two extra after-midnight departures on the Port Jervis Line, a 1:27 a.m. departure from Hoboken, operating express from Secaucus Junction to Suffern and then all stops to Port Jervis, arriving at 3:40 a.m., and the second train with a 2:55 a.m. departure from Hoboken, making all stops to Port Jervis, arriving at 5:32 a.m. The 12:40 a.m. Friday-night departure from Hoboken to Port Jervis will not operate on New Year’s Eve.
New Year’s Day
On Saturday, Jan. 1, Metro-North’s East of Hudson service will operate on a special schedule with hourly service on the Hudson, Harlem and New Haven Lines with six extra trains on the New Haven Line, and regular weekend service on the branch lines.
On Saturday, Jan. 1, Metro-North’s West of Hudson service will operate on a normal weekend schedule.
Staten Island Railway
Christmas Eve
On Friday, Dec. 24, Staten Island Railway will operate on a Saturday schedule.
Christmas Day
On Saturday, Dec. 25, Staten Island Railway will operate on a Sunday schedule.
New Year’s Eve
On Friday, Dec. 31, Staten Island Railway will operate on a Saturday schedule.
New Year’s Day
On Saturday, Jan. 1, Staten Island Railway will operate on a Sunday schedule.
Ways to Get Information
Information about all planned service changes is available through the MTA’s many real-time service information sources.
MYmta app – Customers who use the comprehensive MYmta smartphone app will see real-time travel information for all MTA services all in one place.
MTA.info –The “Service Status” box at new.MTA.info is always the definitive source for the latest status for each line.
Live Subway Map – The Live Subway Map shows the real-time position of trains, planned service changes at any given time, highlights accessible stations, and much more.
LIRR Train Time app – Customers can download the app on their smartphones to see real-time travel information such as arrivals and capacity tracking. Customer service representatives are available for live chat to answer questions from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Metro-North Train Time app – Metro-North unveiled major upgrades to its Train Time app late last year to keep customers updated by the second. The upgraded app includes real-time capacity tracking to enhance social distancing, real-time train location updates every three seconds, and is available in six languages.
Email and text message service updates – Customers are urged to sign up to receive alerts, tailored by specific branch and time of day, by visiting www.MyMTAAlerts.com.
Twitter – Twitter users can follow @MTA, @NYCTSubway, @NYCTBus, @LIRR and @MetroNorth to receive dynamic service updates and customer service support.
WhatsApp – Customers can chat with NYC Transit via WhatsApp. NYC Transit first added the function last year. WhatsApp expands the number of customer service channels available to riders and is especially helpful for non-native English speakers. Riders can receive customer service support in their native language through the help of Google Translate.
Apple Business Chat – NYC Transit recently launched its Apple Business Chat pilot that allows iPhone users to communicate directly with NYC Transit and get real-time updates.
These communication channels can be accessed while at home or on the go. For customers who are located at stations, the MTA will post the latest service updates on digital signs at station platforms and will make audio announcements over public address systems, and on-board announcements made by train crews.
For those who prefer to contact the MTA by telephone, information is available by dialing 511, the New York State Travel Information Line. Connecticut customers should call 877-690-5114. Those who are deaf or hard of hearing can use their preferred service provider for the free 711 relay to reach the MTA at 511.