NYMTA: ‘Best Ever’ February Performance for MNR, LIRR

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) on March 11 announced that a record number of Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and Metro-North Railroad (MNR) trains operated on time in February.

According to MTA, MNR had the best month in its history on East of Hudson service with a nearly perfect on-time performance of 99.3% on Hudson, Harlem and New Haven Lines. MNR, the agency says, was able to achieve the record on-time performance “while still maintaining its aggressive infrastructure program, with crews working to complete a major switch replacement project on Grand Central Terminal’s upper level.”

In addition to the infrastructure work, the railroad navigated two major snow events. Combined with January’s 98.5% on-time performance on East of Hudson service, the first two months of 2024 are a record for MNR trains operating on time, according to MTA.

LIRR’s 96.3% on-time performance was the best mark the railroad has posted for the month of February since 2012, according to MTA. The February 2024 record includes 6,400 more monthly trains, as the railroad added a historic 271 trains per day to its schedule to accompany the opening of Grand Central Madison last year.

The record month for MNR featured two days in which 100% of trains operated on time—Thursday, February 22, and Saturday, February 24. The railroad’s West of Hudson Pascack Valley Line also reported strong on-time performance for February with 97.2% of trains operating on time. These performance trends, MTA says, have continued into this month, with MNR trains operating 100% on time on Saturday, March 9, and Sunday, March 10.

“The best way to keep customers coming back is to deliver excellent service. For four straight years we have maintained an on-time performance of at least 97%—all while still completing major infrastructure work that will make our service safer and even more reliable,” said MNR President Catherine Rinaldi. “It is a true credit to the Metro-North workforce and sets a standard that when you ride the railroad, we will get you where you need to go safely and on time.”

“Last February we completely rebuilt the schedule, adding a historic level of trains for the opening of Grand Central Madison,” said Acting LIRR President Rob Free. “One year later, we post record our best February in 12 years. So much work goes unnoticed every day to make sure the hundreds of daily trains run on time. It is further proof that the best way to travel on Long Island is the LIRR.”