Manhattan, NY - December 23rd, 2014 - With the Christmas and New Year’s holidays coming upon us, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s trains and buses will operate on special schedules to optimize service to fit the special holiday travel patterns. Details follow for each MTA service, organized by day. For additional details on LIRR and Metro-North service changes, to see the attached press release for LIRR's Christmas schedule, click here. To see the attached press release for LIRR's New Year's schedule, click here. To see the attached press release for Metro-North's Christmas and New Year's schedules, click here.

Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 24th
The New York City Subway will operate on a regular weekday schedule.

MTA Long Island Rail Road is adding 13 trains to its eastbound afternoon schedule from Penn Station on Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 24, to accommodate the large number of customers leaving work early to begin their Christmas holiday. The additional service from Penn Station will be provided between 12:46 p.m. and 3:48 p.m. on the Ronkonkoma, Babylon, Port Jefferson and Far Rockaway branches.

Metro-North Railroad will operate on a special afternoon getaway schedule shown in current timetables and available via the Metro-North Train Time real time app and website.

The Staten Island Railway will operate additional express service beginning two hours earlier, from 2:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

New York City buses will operate on weekday schedules with minor timing changes, except for Staten Island, where limited stop routes S81, S84, S86, S90, S91, S92, S94, S96 and S98 will not operate. Weekday local service will operate along those routes. Limited stop routes S89 and S93 will operate on weekday schedules with minor timing changes. All Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens “X” express routes will operate on weekday schedules with minor timing changes.

Christmas Day, Thursday, December 25th
New York City subways and buses will operate on a Sunday schedule. The Staten Island Railway will operate on a Saturday schedule. The LIRR and Metro-North will operate on a holiday schedule. Metro-North will offer hourly service to most stations.

Friday, December 26th
The New York City Subway, the LIRR and the Staten Island Railway will operate on a regular weekday schedule.

Metro-North Railroad will run an enhanced Saturday schedule with extra trains in the regular AM and PM Peak periods and off-peak fares all day.

New York City buses will operate on weekday schedules with minor timing changes, except for Staten Island, where limited stop routes S81, S84, S86, S90, S91, S92, S94, S96 and S98 will not operate. Weekday local service will operate along those routes. Limited stop routes S89 and S93 will operate on weekday schedules with minor timing changes. All Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens “X” express routes will operate on weekday schedules with minor timing changes.

Saturday, December 27th
With the Pinstripe Bowl college football game being played at Yankee Stadium (Boston College vs. Penn State) at 4:30 p.m., Metro-North is operating a special shuttle service between Grand Central, Harlem-125th Street and Yankees-East 153rd Street stations.

Monday-Tuesday, December 29th-30th
New York City subways and Staten Island Railway will operate on a regular weekday schedule.

Metro-North will operate on a weekday schedule with slightly reduced AM Peak service and additional inbound service operated in late morning.

New York City buses will operate on weekday schedules with minor timing changes, except for Staten Island, where limited stop routes S81, S84, S86, S90, S91, S92, S94, S96 and S98 will not operate. Weekday local service will operate along those routes. Limited stop routes S89 and S93 will operate on weekday schedules with minor timing changes. All Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens “X” express routes will operate on weekday schedules with minor timing changes.

New Year’s Eve, Wednesday, December 31st
The MTA is the best way for revelers to get to Times Square on New Year’s Eve, and to travel home afterwards. We strongly recommend that customers purchase their MetroCards or train tickets in advance.

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 1 and both north and southbound platforms at 49 St N,Q,R will be closed from 7 p.m. until shortly after midnight. Riders are urged to exit at stations at 50 St, 57 St or 59 St- Columbus Circle instead and walk to Times Square. Additional service will be provided in the 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,A,C,D,E,F,L,N,Q,R,S lines.

Buses are not recommended for traveling to Times Square because of the numerous street closures in the area. The following bus routes may be subject to reroutes: M5, M7, M20, M42, M50, and M104. Regular overnight bus service will resume as streets reopen after midnight. Following the celebration, trains on lines in and around Times Square will run every 8 to 12 minutes until approximately 3 a.m. The 42nd Street shuttle S will operate all night.

The Long Island Rail Road will provide 12 additional eastbound trains in the afternoon from Penn Station and 20 extra westbound trains to Penn Station and Atlantic Terminal, Brooklyn for this year New Year’s Eve celebration, including the Elton John New Year’s Eve Concert at Barclays Center, located right across from Atlantic Terminal.

Metro-North will operate on a modified weekday schedule with reduced AM and PM Peak service, extra evening inbound service and extra outbound service after midnight.

New York City buses will operate on weekday schedules with minor timing changes, except for Staten Island, where limited stop routes S81, S84, S86, S90, S91, S92, S94, S96 and S98 will not operate. Weekday local service will operate along those routes. Limited stop routes S89 and S93 will operate on weekday schedules with minor timing changes. All Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens “X” express routes will operate on weekday schedules with minor timing changes.

The Staten Island Railway will operate additional express service beginning two hours earlier, from 2:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

New Year’s Day, Thursday, January 1st
New York City Subways and buses will operate on a Sunday schedule, with longer waits on some bus routes. Customers using bus routes in Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island should use MTA Bus Time to track real-time bus positions and gauge arrival times.

The LIRR and Metro-North will operate on a special holiday schedule, with extra trains departing Manhattan after midnight to accommodate additional travelers leaving New Years Eve celebrations. Metro-North will offer extra outer New Haven Line service, and regular weekend service on branch lines.

The Staten Island Railway will operate on a Saturday schedule.

Friday, January 2nd
Because of customary light ridership when January 2 falls on a Friday, Metro-North will run an enhanced Saturday schedule with extra trains in the regular AM and PM Peak periods and off-peak fares all day.

MTA Bridges and Tunnels
MTA Bridges and Tunnels urges drivers to use mass transit or assign a designated driver to help prevent alcohol-related road accidents, and never allow anyone who has been drinking or using drugs to get behind the wheel. Motorists should be alert and watch for cars that are driving erratically, including those going too fast or too slow. The agency will have officers, sergeants and lieutenants at each of its crossings looking for drivers suspected of driving under the influence. “The safety of all of those who use our crossings is our highest priority,” said Vice President of Operations Patrick Parisi.

Photo by Joseph Hart, via Free Images.