New York Governor Hochu announced on September 23rd the introduction of “super-express” train service on the Hudson Line of the Metro-North Railroad in order to improve the reliability and passenger experience of railway services. The new service will reduce the travel time between Poughkeepsie and Manhattan’s Grand Central Station to under 90 minutes, which is 20 minutes faster than the current service and without any increase in ticket prices.
The new service will be launched on October 5th and 6th, with three early morning trains departing from Poughkeepsie and three evening trains departing from Grand Central Station, all operating at high speeds. In total, about five trains will offer faster transportation options than the regular local or express trains, with no additional cost to passengers.
For more details about the new service schedule, please visit the link: https://tinyurl.com/mu7c92un
According to MTA data, approximately 240,000 weekday passengers currently use the Metro-North Railroad to enter Manhattan, and it is expected that the new train schedules will significantly reduce commuting time. Governor Hochu emphasized that passengers can save nearly 15 minutes of travel time per day, gaining over an hour of extra time each week, which will enhance their quality of life and stimulate economic development.
In addition, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has introduced 27 new Siemens high-power electric locomotives that can operate entirely on electricity, reducing pollution emissions by about 85% and lowering the failure rate.
The Metro-North Railroad has utilized train simulation software, GPS, and signal data to update the timetable connecting Poughkeepsie and Manhattan on the Hudson Line, and has upgraded the signal infrastructure, allowing the Hudson Line train service to safely increase its speed.
In response to the autumn travel peak season, MTA will also add “Leaf Peeper” weekend services for passengers traveling to the scenic Hudson River Valley. At the same time, for the upcoming Ryder Cup golf tournament, additional trains will be scheduled on the Long Island Rail Road to accommodate the daily transportation needs of up to 18,000 fans.