MTA Announces Extra Trains To and From New Year’s Eve Festivities

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) trains and buses will operate on special schedules during the New Year’s holiday weekend, with extra service to help customers enjoy the weekend and celebrate the New Year.

New Year’s Eve, Monday, December 31 – Extra Trains Departing New York City

To help customers get a head start on the weekend the Long Island Rail Road and Staten Island Railway are adding additional afternoon service. The Long Island Rail Road will operate 13 extra trains departing Penn Station between 12:46 p.m. and 3:48 p.m. For additional details please see the attached press release from the Long Island Rail Road.

MTA Staten Island Railway customers looking to get a head start on their New Year’s Eve plans will be able to catch earlier afternoon express train service on Monday, December 31 with SIR’s Early Departure Getaway schedule. Extra SIR trains will be added earlier in the afternoon beginning at 2:30 p.m. from the St. George Ferry Terminal. There will be one express train and one local train awaiting every boat until 7:50 p.m.

New Year’s Eve, Monday, December 31 – Extra Trains to New Year’s Festivities

To help customers travel to New Year’s Eve festivities in New York City, the Long Island Rail Road is operating 21 extra trains to Penn Station and Atlantic Terminal, Brooklyn, and Metro-North is operating three extra trains to Grand Central. For additional details please see the attached press releases from the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad.

The MTA is the best way for revelers to get to Times Square on New Year’s Eve, and to travel home afterwards. The MTA strongly recommends that customers purchase their MetroCards or train tickets in advance.

The New York City Subway and Staten Island Railway will operate on a regular weekday schedule. Some New York City buses will operate on a reduced weekday schedule. All local, express, limited-stop, and Select Bus Service will run with minor adjustments in departure times.

Customers heading to Times Square for the celebration should avoid using the 42 St-Times Square subway complex, since they may not be allowed to exit onto the street. In addition, the northbound platform at 50 St  and both north and southbound platforms at 49 St  will be closed from 12 noon until shortly after midnight. Riders are urged to exit from stations at 50 St, or 57 St and walk to Times Square. Details on how to get to/from Times Square are available here. Additional subway service will be provided on the  lines. Station entrances in the Times Square area are subject to closure based on instructions from the New York Police Department.

Buses are not recommended for traveling to Times Square because of the numerous street closures in the area. Buses traveling throughout Midtown, including Staten Island express buses, will be affected. The following bus routes will be the most severely impacted and subject to reroutes: M5, M7, M10, M20, M31, M42, M50, M57, and M104. Regular overnight bus service will resume as streets reopen after midnight.

As a reminder to our customers, the 53 Street  Tunnel signal upgrades and maintenance work will be completed by 5 a.m. on December 31. These infrastructure upgrades had been scheduled during this holiday week of lower ridership to limit any customer inconvenience. Regularly scheduled service – with New Year’s Eve service enhancements – will be in place well before the nighttime festivities begin on New Year’s Eve.

• Times Square is located at 38 St to 59 St between 6 Av and 8 Ave.
• Click here for more information on New Year’s Eve in Times Square.
• Click here to plan your trip, and refer to the “Service Status” box for the latest service updates.
• Click here for a list of Subway Stations near Times Square.