Metro-North

Metro-North Railroad on Oct. 17 will join the ranks of U.S. passenger railroads offering “quiet cars” on select trains, as it debuts its “Quiet CALMmute” service on “approximately 31 trains that operate between Grand Central [Terminal] and Poughkeepsie, Beacon, and Wassaic,” N.Y.—Metro-North’s East of Hudson services. Quiet cars will be s indicated by a "Q" in Metro-North timetables.

During the morning peak-hour rush, the last car of a given consist will be designated as the quiet car, while during the evening peak-hour rush, the first car in a consist will be so assigned. For now, reverse-peak trains—an expanding component of Metro-North’s growing ridership base—will not be included in the program.

Riders traveling in the designated CALMmute cars are requested to refrain from using cell phones, to disable sound features on computers and other electronic devices, converse quietly, and/or use headphones at a volume that prevents sound leakage that can annoy fellow passengers.

Metro-North conductors will hand out on an “as needed basis” specially designed “Shhhhhh” cards that explain the rules of etiquette in English and Spanish. Metro-North notes all regular train announcements, such as station stops, will continue to be made in the designated quiet cars.