Metro-North Railroad today announced new train schedules taking effect Monday, June 21, that will add 24 new peak trains on its three lines east of the Hudson River, bringing service to 67% of pre-pandemic levels, from the 63% that has been in place for a year. The changes are directed to the peak periods, when ridership is heavier. A more significant service change, which will increase service to 83% of pre-pandemic levels during the week and 70% of pre-COVID levels on the weekends, will take place on Aug. 29, just in time for Labor Day.

The June 21 service increase comes as New York City, the Hudson Valley and Connecticut continue their reopening and Metro-North continues to welcome more riders back to the railroad. On June 1, Metro-North set a pandemic ridership record with approximately 94,923 trips taken, and has had ridership above 90,000 for five of the first nine weekdays in June. With more people riding the trains, Metro-North is extending the hours of operation of Grand Central’s entrances to 46th, 47th and 48th Streets. Effective today, they will be open from 6:30 a.m. through 9:30 p.m. on weekdays. Since last Sept. 28, they had been open only from 6:30 to 10 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m.

-via Press Release