Restriction Effective Noon Friday, Dec. 31, Through Noon Saturday, Jan. 1
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced that, as in years past, it will ban the consumption of alcohol on Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad trains on New Year’s Eve.
The ban will be in effect beginning 12:00 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 31, through 12:00 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 1. Alcohol consumption will also be prohibited at all LIRR and Metro-North station platforms during these hours.
The MTA Police Department will have an increased presence at Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal to enforce the weekend alcohol restriction. Police will confiscate alcoholic beverages and issue summonses. Violators may also be subject to removal from trains or stations by police.
As a reminder, masks and face coverings must be worn on all trains and remain on for the duration of one’s trip.
Ways to Get Information
Information about all planned service changes is available through the MTA’s many real-time service information sources.
MYmta app – Customers who use the comprehensive MYmta smartphone app will see real-time travel information for all MTA services all in one place.
new.MTA.info–The “Service Status” box at new.MTA.infois always the definitive source for the latest status for each line.
LIRR Train Time app – Customers can download the app on their smartphones to see real-time travel information such as arrivals and capacity tracking. Customer service representatives are available for live chat to answer questions from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Metro-North Train Time app – Metro-North unveiled major upgrades to its Train Time app late last year to keep customers updated by the second. The upgraded app includes real-time capacity tracking to enhance social distancing, real-time train location updates every three seconds, and is available in six languages.
Email and text message service updates – Customers are urged to sign up to receive alerts, tailored by specific branch and time of day, by visiting www.MyMTAAlerts.com.
Twitter – Twitter users can follow @MTA, @LIRR and @MetroNorth to receive dynamic service updates and customer service support.
WhatsApp – Customers can chat with Metro-North via WhatsApp. NYC Transit first added the function last year and following its success Metro-North introduced this tool for their customers in March. WhatsApp expands the number of customer service channels available to riders and is especially helpful for non-native English speakers. Riders can receive customer service support in their native language through the help of Google Translate. LIRR customers can access a similar chat feature through the LIRR TrainTime app.
These communication channels can be accessed while at home or on the go. For customers who are located at stations, the MTA will post the latest service updates on digital signs at station platforms and will make audio announcements over public address systems, and on-board announcements made by train crews.
For those who prefer to contact the MTA by telephone, information is available by dialing 511, the New York State Travel Information Line. Connecticut customers should call 877-690-5114. Those who are deaf or hard of hearing can use their preferred service provider for the free 711 relay to reach the MTA at 511.