NYC Christmas, New Year's 2019 Transit Service Changes

NEW YORK, NY — New Yorkers are preparing to leave the city en masse for this year's holiday season as Christmas and New Year's are fast approaching. The Metropolitan Transit Authority will once again be responsible for transporting people to their eventual holiday destinations, which means those traveling for the holiday should prepare by drawing up an ironclad travel plan.

The MTA will implement several changes to subway and bus service as well as commuter rail schedules for the holidays. Patch is putting all the changes in one place, so you plan accordingly.

Christmas Eve, Tuesday, Dec. 24:

• The Long Island Rail Road will run extra "getaway" trains leaving Penn Station starting at 12:45 p.m.;
• The Metro-North Railroad will run extra trains leaving Grand Central Terminal throughout the day;
• No changes for city subways and buses.

Christmas Day, Wednesday, Dec. 25:

• City subways and buses will run on a weekend schedule, so expect cuts in service;
• Long Island Rail Road trains will also run on a weekend schedule. Off-peak fares will be in place the entire day;
• Metro-North Service will run extra holiday service hour from Grand Central Terminal. Normal weekend service will also run throughout the day.

New Year’s Eve, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019

• New Yorkers attempting to flee the city for New Year's — an incredibly smart move — will be treated to extra commuter rail service leaving the city. Starting at 12:45 p.m. additional "getaway" trains will run on the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad;
• Those heading into the city for the New Year's festivities can take advantage of additional NYC-bound trains between 5 and 10 p.m.;
• Alcohol will be banned on the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad starting at 12 p.m. on New Year's Eve until 12 p.m. New Year's Day.

New Year’s Day, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020:

• The Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad will run extra trains leaving New York City during early morning hours on Wednesday for New Year's Eve revelers heading back to the suburbs after the ball drops;
• City subways and buses will run on a weekend schedule
• Alcohol will be banned on the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad starting at 12 p.m. on New Year's Eve until 12 p.m. New Year's Day.