The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced Metro-North Railroad and the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) have both broken post-pandemic ridership records this December. The week of Dec. 15 achieved the highest post-pandemic ridership recovery week for Metro-North, with 827,015 total customers representing a record 88% of an average pre-pandemic week in December 2019. The weekend of Dec. 20-21 was Metro-North’s strongest weekend ridership performance of the post-pandemic era, with 245,638 customers. Average midweek ridership of 244,809 on Tuesday-Thursday, December 16-18, also stood at 88% of December 2019, a new post-pandemic ridership-recovery record.
The LIRR also broke weekend ridership records in December. 183,250 people rode the train on Saturday, Dec. 13, making it the highest post-pandemic Saturday. The LIRR saw 152,661 customers on Sunday, Dec. 21, marking the highest post-pandemic Sunday ridership.
The ridership surge comes as both commuter railroads enjoy record on-time performance statistics, which have consistently been at or near 97% in 2025. Customer satisfaction levels are also at all-time highs, with LIRR at 81% and Metro-North at 85%, according to the Authority’s latest “Customers Count” survey.
The record ridership comes as both railroads will have new ticketing policies in effect starting Sunday, Jan 4 that are designed to enhance the customer experience and help riders save money. This includes a universal reduced fare option for seniors, people with disabilities and those on Medicare that will be valid 24/7, including peak times. The Family Fare program will be expanded to include children under the age of 18, who can ride for $1 with a fare-paying adult. One-way paper and mobile tickets will be valid until 4:00 a.m. the next day, giving riders more flexibility, especially if their evening plans run late. A new unlimited day pass replaces the round trip ticket and will be valid until 4:00 a.m. the next day. Lastly, a new “pay as you go” mobile discount replaces the 10-trip discount. Riders get an 11th peak or off-peak trip free after paying for 10 peak or off-peak trips within the same 14-day period. Unlike the old ten trip discount, riders do not have to pre-pay to receive the discount.
-via Press Release