r/MetroNorthRailroad

Hi guys. So this summer I took on a full time job at 18 years old in LIC. While I didn’t do as good as I could have saving money, I’m going to be commuting to Hunter shortly using Metro-North. I split time doing Tarrytown and North White Plains. While NWP is considerably cheaper, I’m spending about 40-50 minutes in my car after work, even when I’m on my way back at 3:30 or 4. Tarrytown was more expensive, but I’d only spend about 20-30 minutes rather than almost an hour after a long day and early mornings.

I’m wondering if any fellow commuters know how to maybe make this commute a little more cost effective. I currently have a NWP monthly pass so I’m going to let that run its course before making any changes. But 14 dollars for parking compared to the 7.25 at NWP adds up fast.

I’d also be interested if any commuters know how to improve the time it takes to and from and which station is better. I don’t take HudsonLink anymore since they merged up with Coach USA because service has gotten really spotty.

I’d appreciate your help and would be happy to give more details if necessary! Thank you!!

Is this a Covid-era change? It's super annoying.

Does anybody else notice during peak times their metro north train just sits at a stop for 2 or 3 minutes before heading into GCT? I could understand if the train arrived early to a stop and it doesn’t want people to miss the stop before heading off, but we’re already running 1-2 minutes late and the train either sit at the last stop for a few minutes, or will mosey on into GCT through the tunnels at a glacial 5-15 mile an hour pace and my train that was either on time or was going to arrive 1-2 minutes late is now 5-6 minutes late.

It’s not all the time, of the last 9 rides in my last 3 weeks, 5 were late getting into GCT between 8 and 9am. Is it a capacity issue and the terminal can’t assign tracks quickly enough to arriving trains? Is my train getting delayed intentionally to make room for another train that was even more late?

It’s very frustrating losing 2-8 minutes half the time on a 38 minute ride (my 38 minute ride becomes 46 minutes). If I take the train 20 minutes earlier, it’s a 50 minute ride and only gets me into the station 8 minutes earlier which means I might still be marginally late for my 9am meetings. I’d have to commit to a train that’s 40 minutes earlier to guarantee being “on time” as opposed to being 4-5 minutes late 😡

As semi frequent Metro North user, recently many MN conductors have been barking orders about showing tickets and removing bags off seats. Is this the new normal? I get having rules but there’s a nice way about going things and a not nice way, and for the price we pay (especially after the recent price increase) it costs $0 to politely inform others and not be treated as inmates. Meanwhile I’ve taken a few NER Amtrak trips where the conductors are nice as can be.

In addition to the portal north construction causing cancellations, there will also be greatly reduced service due to demolition of utility towers at the WALK Bridge in Norwalk in preparation for the upcoming replacement. Amtrak has yet to announce the changes to their service, but it is greatly impacting service between Norwalk and New Haven at that time for metro north including two weekends which electric trains won’t be running due to catenary replacement. Those weekends will be Sept. 12-13 and Sept 19-20. Other weekends that will have impacts (to a lesser extent) will be Oct. 10-11, Oct. 17-18 and most likely Oct. 31-Nov. 1. Amtrak has not updated their schedule yet.