Subways and Commuter Rails Providing Additional Service for New Year’s Eve Festivities
Commuter Railroads Providing Extra Service for Holiday Travelers; Alcohol Ban Effective Noon Saturday, Dec. 31, Through Noon Sunday, Jan. 1
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is the best way to avoid traffic, as tens of thousands are expected to visit New York City to ring in the New Year.
Most MTA agencies are operating on regular weekend or holiday schedules while running additional trains for customers headed into New York City for New Year’s Eve festivities.
As in years past, the MTA will ban the consumption of alcohol on Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad trains on New Year’s Eve.
The ban will be in effect beginning 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 31, through 12:00 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 1. Alcohol consumption will also be prohibited at all LIRR and Metro-North station platforms during these hours.
The MTA Police Department will have an increased presence at Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal to enforce the weekend alcohol restriction. Police will confiscate alcoholic beverages and issue summonses. Violators may also be subject to removal from trains or stations by police.
Service details for each agency for the remainder of the holiday season are below:
New York City Subway
Wednesday, Dec. 28 – Friday, Dec. 30
Weekdays, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., trains will run via the to Chambers St and will not operate via 6th Avenue or Queens Blvd Lines. At other times, service will be normal.
Between 4:45 a.m. Monday, Dec. 26, and 5:00 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 31, trains will run via the line between W 4 St and Jackson Hts-Roosevelt Av. Overnight, Manhattan-bound trains will run express from Forest Hills-71 Av to Jackson Hts-Roosevelt Av.
New Year’s Eve
On Saturday, Dec. 31, subways will run on a Saturday schedule with some exceptions.
Extra subway service will run on the and lines on New Year’s Eve.
Beginning at 11:45 a.m., northbound trains will skip 50 St, and trains will skip 49 St in both directions. Manhattan-bound trains will skip 155 St from 11:45 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 30, to 5:00 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 1.
New Year’s Day & New Year’s Day Observed
On Sunday, Jan. 1, and Monday, Jan. 2, subways will run on a Sunday schedule.
Manhattan-bound trains will skip 155 St from 11:45 pm on Friday, Dec. 30, to 4:00 am Monday, Jan. 1.
New York City Buses
Wednesday, Dec. 28 – Friday, Dec. 30
Most New York City Transit and MTA Bus Company buses will run on reduced weekday schedules as most schools will be closed. The following bus routes that normally have local and limited-stop services will only operate with local service: M1, M4, Q4, Q5, Q17, Q27, Q36, Q43, Q46, Q83, Q85.
New Year’s Eve
On Saturday, Dec. 31, buses will run on a Saturday schedule.
New Year’s Day
On Sunday, Jan. 1, buses will run on a Sunday schedule.
Monday, Jan. 2
Buses will run on a Saturday schedule, except Staten Island buses, which will run on a Sunday schedule.
Access-A-Ride – Paratransit
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day
Paratransit is operating full service. Please be aware of alternate drop off locations when making reservations to NYC Open Street corridors. Specifically, the New Year’s Eve closures around the Times Square area.
Long Island Rail Road
Friday, Dec. 30
On Friday, Dec. 30, the LIRR will run on a regular weekday schedule, with the addition of 13 eastbound trains in the afternoon.
New Year’s Eve
On Saturday, Dec. 31, LIRR will run on a weekend/holiday schedule with the addition of extra evening westbound trains. For westbound customers attending events in New York City, LIRR will operate 10 additional evening westbound trains to Penn Station.
New Year’s Day
On Sunday, Jan. 1, The LIRR will operate on a regular weekend/holiday schedule. Fifteen extra, early morning eastbound trains will operate to Long Island from Penn Station.
Monday, Jan. 2
On Monday, Jan. 2, LIRR will run regular Monday service.
Metro-North Railroad
New Year’s Eve
On Saturday, Dec. 31, Metro-North will operate on a Saturday schedule. Additional outbound service from Grand Central Terminal will operate after midnight until 5:00 a.m.
On West of Hudson lines, additional service will run after midnight on the Pascack Valley and Port Jervis lines.
New Year’s Day
On Sunday, Jan. 1, Metro-North will operate on a Sunday schedule.
Monday, Jan. 2
On Monday, Jan. 2, Metro-North will operate on a Saturday schedule with additional service on East and West of Hudson lines.
For real-time service updates and information, customers can use the following options:
MYmta app – Customers who use the comprehensive MYmta smartphone app will see real-time travel information for all MTA services all in one place.
TrainTime app - The MTA launched a totally revamped TrainTime app as the new one-stop app for commuter rail customers in the region on both Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad, showing all train schedules for 30 days in the future.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.
MTA Weekender – Customers can sign up for the “MTA Weekender,” a weekly digest of major weekend service changes throughout the transit system.
Twitter – Twitter users can follow @MTA, @NYCTSubway, @NYCTBus for service updates and customer service support.
WhatsApp – Customers can chat with NYC Transit via WhatsApp. Riders can receive customer service support in their native language through the help of Google Translate.
For those who prefer to contact the MTA by telephone, information is available by dialing 511. 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.