LIRR, Metro-North ridership increase as New York City enters Phase 1 reopening

Ridership on the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and Metro-North Railroad (Metro-North) is beginning to increase according to officials from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).

LIRR ridership was 28,089 on June 8, the first day of New York City’s Phase 1 reopening, totaling 13 percent of the agency's pre-pandemic ridership figures, up from three percent mid-pandemic. On Metro-North, ridership increased to 20,140 riders on June 8, equaling 10 percent of Metro-North’s pre-pandemic ridership, up from four percent mid-pandemic. Ridership continues to trend upward as the Hudson Valley region began Phase 2 on June 9 and Long Island began Phase 2 on June 10.

“With [the] milestone of the Phase 1 reopening of NYC and [the] beginning of Phase 2 on Long Island, it is with great pride and admiration I have of our workforce," said LIRR President Phil Eng.  “It is their heroic efforts that has allowed LIRR to move essential workers such as doctors, nurses, first responders, grocery store clerks and our own MTA workforce to bend the curve and save lives. Not only are we performing unprecedented levels of disinfecting throughout the system, but our ability to increase service and run the essential service plan at 90 percent of our full schedule allows all that need to use the LIRR an added level of comfort with additional capacity and options to safely travel.  The light at the end of the tunnel is both brighter and closer as LIRR is here for you. They are truly heroes moving heroes.”

The LIRR introduced new timetables June 8 that increased service to 90 percent of normal weekday service, with off-peak fares remaining in effect at all times. To accommodate an increase in riders as part of the Phase 1 reopening on Long Island, LIRR announced essential service plan enhancements on May 26. A total of 105 cars were added, adding 15 percent capacity and lengthening trains, bringing the daily in-service car total to more than 800 cars.

Beginning June 15, Metro-North will return to approximately 61 percent of the normal weekday service with a new schedule supporting supplement peak inbound and reverse peak service, while still maintaining hourly service during off-peak hours. The schedule will bring Metro-North to 50 trains arriving at Grand Central Terminal during the morning peak and 68 trains departing during the evening peak. This marks a 115-percent capacity increase from the current schedule, which sees 24 trains in the morning peak and 24 in the evening peak. Off-peak fares will continue to apply at all times. Additional trains and crews will be available in all yard locations to add trains into service should the demand warrant.

“As the number of riders traveling from Metro-North's service region to New York City continues to grow, the safety of our customers and employees is our number one priority,” said Metro-North President Catherine Rinaldi. “We continue our unprecedented, 24/7 cleaning regimen as well as providing masks and hand sanitizer in stations for our riders.”

On LIRR, roughly 110 LIRR employees were deployed to 54 stations throughout the system, where 2,500 masks were distributed to riders. In the 5:30 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. time period on June 8, arrivals at Penn Station were counted at 34 percent of normal volumes, likely signaling the return of construction workers under the NYC Phase 1 worker plan. The LIRR says it continues to urge business leaders to consider staggering work hours to help with adequate distancing onboard trains.

LIRR stations have been cleaned more than 10,000 times since May 1 and LIRR train cars have been cleaned more than 36,000 times during that time, according to the agency. Daily disinfecting and cleaning will continue with all LIRR train cars being sanitized at least once a day and stations at least twice daily.

Metro-North personnel distributed 250 masks and 200 hand sanitizer packets June 8, and touchless hand sanitizer dispensers are being installed at all Metro-North stations. Face covering signage has been posted at all stations to remind riders they need one to travel. Floor decals have been placed near ticket windows and information booths to encourage proper social distancing in lines. Similar decals can also be found on the platforms at the Fordham, Pelham, Scarsdale and Tarrytown stations so riders can observe proper social distance while waiting for their train.

Daily disinfecting and cleaning will continue with all Metro-North train cars being sanitized at least once a day and stations at least twice daily. To date, Metro-North says its stations have been cleaned more than 9,500 times, train cars have been cleaned more than 17,000 times.