Return Of The Yankee Clippers, Spring Metro-North Schedule Changes

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Spring is in the air and that means schedule tweaks on Metro-North routes in the Hudson Valley, along with the triumphant return of Yankee Clipper trains and off-peak "getaway" service.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Metro-North Railroad announced an upcoming schedule update which will go into effect on April 7. The updated schedule has minor adjustments to accommodate major infrastructure projects such as the "Park Avenue Viaduct Replacement Project" and the "Walk Bridge Replacement Project" in Connecticut.

Metro-North Railroad President Catherine Rinaldi said the schedule was updated to lessen the disruptions caused by these projects and other planned upgrades.

"I am so pleased that we have been able to advance critical infrastructure work this winter while still delivering outstanding service to our customers, with Metro-North setting an all-time record for on-time performance in February," Rinaldi said. "These adjustments allow for major projects to move forward that once complete will only increase the reliability of service even more."

The completion of another major project also means the return of some peak-service trains.

With the on-time completion of the "Diamond Replacement Project," a complicated switch replacement project occurring in tight quarters under heavy traffic and challenging conditions in the heart of Grand Central Terminal, the 10 peak-period trains which were suspended on January 16 are being restored to the schedule.

Metro-North's latest schedule update also includes the return of game day service to Yankee Stadium. The New York Yankees open their season at home against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday, April 5 at 1:05 p.m.

For Opening Day, Metro-North will operate shuttle trains between Grand Central Terminal (GCT), Harlem-125 St. and Yankees-E 153 St. stations and will also make a stop at the stadium on several additional Hudson Line trains. Riders from the Harlem and New Haven lines may connect at Harlem-125th St. station for the short ride to the stadium.

For evening games on weekdays and all games on weekends, Yankee Clippers are special game day trains which provide a direct one-seat ride from the railroad’s East of Hudson lines to Yankees-E 153 St. station.

In addition to the Yankee Clipper trains, for every game, Metro-North will operate shuttle trains between Grand Central, Harlem-125 St. and Yankees-E 153 St. stations for fans coming from Manhattan and Long Island. Fans can connect to Metro-North from the subway or Long Island Rail Road at Grand Central or take any Harlem or New Haven Line train and transfer at Harlem-125 St station trains; several regularly scheduled Hudson Line trains will make an extra stop at the stadium.

But, the return of warm weather doesn't just mean a day a the ballpark.

Metro-North is bringing back "getaway service" for the summer holidays starting Memorial Day Weekend with afternoon service for riders getting a head start on the weekend. The railroad will also operate getaway service for Independence Day and Labor Day.

Also included is a change to Friday schedules to enhance off-peak service on the Hudson and Harlem lines, adding the following trains to its Friday schedule:

• Hudson Line – 8:50 a.m. train from Poughkeepsie to Grand Central; 2:18 p.m. from Grand Central to Poughkeepsie
• Harlem Line – 9:54 a.m. train from Southeast to Grand Central; 2:24 p.m. from Grand Central to Southeast

The MTA is encouraging riders to check the TrainTime app for possible changes that may affect their departure times. Riders departing Grand Central should check the departure board or TrainTime before going to the platform, as some trains will leave off different tracks under the new timetable.