New Ticket Machine Center Opens in Grand Central
Our new Ticket Machine Center, located on the Main Concourse just under the archway leading to the Lexington Avenue subway, is officially open. This new facility will help alleviate the lines at our ticket windows and in the 42nd Street Passage, where ticket machines were formerly located, giving you a quicker and more comfortable purchasing experience.
The new center houses 10 machines (one for Metrocards only), and is well-lit, climate-controlled, and monitored by security cameras. It looks good, too, featuring a “Montauk” black floor, and the original façade’s large rectangular windows and bronze transom (the half moon grating above the windows). We think it fits nicely with our other “ticket” center, situated across from Track 34. (About 60% of our tickets are purchased via ticket machines. So this is truly a case of giving the people more of what they want…)
New West of Hudson Timetables Effective November 8
New West of Hudson timetables go into effect on Sunday, November 8, 2009, and will be available the week of November 2 at Hoboken, Penn Station-NY, and Secaucus Junction. Be sure to pick up a copy and check for possible changes to your commute, or visit our
schedules page. On the Port Jervis Line: Following recent capital improvements, look for faster westbound (to Port Jervis) travel times between Harriman and Port Jervis on most trains.
On the Pascack Valley Line: Look for a new inbound train for the “night owl” crowd. The new train departs Spring Valley at 11:26 PM, making all local stops, arriving Hoboken at 12:43 AM and Penn Station-NY (via Secaucus Junction) at 12:56 AM.
On weekends, the 8:13 PM train departing Spring Valley will now depart at 8:10 PM.
On the Port Jervis and Pascack Valley Lines: As part of Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor Concrete Tie Project, some adjustments have been made to connections at Secaucus Junction and Penn Station-NY. In a few instances the change in time is up to 11 minutes. Check a schedule for specific train and connection times.
Weekend Busing Between Southeast & Wassaic Nov. 7 & 8
Buses will replace Harlem Line train service between Southeast and Wassaic on Saturday, November 7 and Sunday, November 8 to accommodate bridge work in the vicinity of Carmel Brook.
Buses will follow train schedules. We appreciate your patience during this work to improve our right-of-way.
New Canaan Branch Weekend Busing Nov. 7 & 8
Buses will replace New Canaan Branch train service on Saturday, November 7 and Sunday, November 8, 2009. Buses will follow train schedules.
This service change is being done to accommodate switch and signal work along the branch.
New Timetables Effective October 18
New East of Hudson timetables, effective Sunday, October 18, are available in Grand Central Terminal, at outlying stations, and on our
schedules page.
Service changes include:
On the New Haven Line:
• Between November 21, 2009 and January 2, 2010, we will be operating several extra weekend Shoppers’ Specials trains 19 trains have been added on Saturdays; 21 trains have been added on Sundays. Check your timetable for details.
• In the AM Peak, the 8:14 AM train from New Haven will now depart at 8:16 AM; the 9:18 AM train from Harrison will now depart at 9:19 AM.
On the Harlem Line:
• Look for a Shoppers’ Special train on Sundays; check your timetable for details.
On the Hudson Line:
• To accommodate our on-going Stations Rehabilitation Program, reverse-peak substitute busing will continue at Scarborough and Philipse Manor.
Port Jervis Weekday Off-Peak Busing Oct. 12 - Nov. 20
Buses will substitute for weekday off-peak Port Jervis Line trains operating in both directions between Harriman and Port Jervis stations from 9 AM – 3:30 PM.
Buses will follow train schedules at all stations except Salisbury Mills. Eastbound (to Harriman) buses will depart this station 10 minutes earlier than the scheduled train time to meet train connections at Harriman.
This bus substitution allows for Metro-North’s continued capital improvements to the Port Jervis Line, including tie replacement work, bridge inspections, and a signal system upgrade.
Tarrytown Station Construction
In support of improvements to the Tarrytown Station building, platforms, and overpasses, the following changes have been implemented:
We thank you for your patience during this work to improve your station.
PCAC Annual Performance Review
The Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA, representing MTA customers since 1981, has issued its
2008 Annual Performance Review of the MTA and its Operating Agencies. Click here to view the report. The section on Metro-North begins on page 8.
New Bike Policy
You'll love Metro-North's new bike friendly policy. It makes it easier for those who use bicycles as part of their travel plans and activities to ride our trains, and it does not affect the quality of our service for you "regular commuters" who don't. So everyone wins!
The new policy now allows bicycles: On most trains scheduled to depart from Grand Central Terminal between 5:30 AM and 9 AM, 3:01 PM and 3:59 PM, 8:01 and 8:15 PM, and on connecting trains. On most trains arriving in Grand Central GCT between 4 PM - 8 PM, and on connecting trains.
Please remember: bicycles are still not permitted on inbound AM Peak and outbound PM Peak trains as well as during the holiday periods from which they are currently prohibited. (Exceptions to this policy are identified in your timetable.)
In addition, allowing bicycles on our trains will be at the discretion of our conductors, should conditions on a particular train warrant their being prohibited. (Folding bikes, however, are allowed on board all Metro-North trains. Please fold your bike before boarding and don't block the aisle or doors. )
View a bike permit application for full details.Grand Central North Closed Weekends
Because of low usage and to save costs, Grand Central North is closed on weekends. Weekday Hours remain the same.
Beware of online ticket scams!
The only official way to purchase Metro-North Railroad tickets online is from
WebTicket. Some customers have reported "bogus" websites offering nonexistent ticket discounts.
Do not use these sites. If a railroad ticket offer seems too good to be true -- it probably is. You will never receive a ticket and you will have given someone access to your credit card information.
Again, only purchase tickets online from WebTicket. To avoid confusion, bookmark that page today.
For more information, call (800) METRO-INFO (1-800-638-7646)
in New York City, call (212) 532-4900
