NEW YORK (BLOOMBERG) — New York City’s northern suburbs will get Metro-North Railroad train service that is 20 minutes faster than local routes beginning in October.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday that the new “super-express” trains will begin running on Oct. 6, sooner than the anticipated launch in 2026. Metro-North will offer five trains between Poughkeepsie and Grand Central Terminal that will operate in under 90 minutes. Riders of the speedier trains will not be charged a higher fare.
“Delivering better, faster Metro-North service to Hudson Valley commuters will propel economic growth across our state and improve quality of life,” Hochul said in a press release.
About 240,000 weekday passengers take Metro-North to travel into Manhattan, according to data from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which operates Metro-North, the Long Island Rail Road and the city’s subway and bus lines.
Metro-North used train-simulation software, GPS and signal data to develop new timetables with faster routes on the Hudson Line, which connects Poughkeepsie to Manhattan, according to the release. The commuter rail’s signal infrastructure was also modernized, which allowed it to boost train speeds.
“Faster trips save riders valuable time. More frequent trains are good for families and businesses and make transit more effective,” Danny Pearlstein, spokesperson for Riders Alliance, a transit advocacy group, said in a statement.
The MTA is also ramping up service on the Long Island Rail Road during the Ryder Cup, an international golf tournament that begins Tuesday in Farmingdale and is expected to bring in up to 18,000 fans each day. There will be up to nine additional trains per day during the six-day event, according to the MTA.