Santa isn’t the only one that gets to ride in style during the holiday season–this winter the MTA is allowing straphangers to hop aboard their first ever Metro-North Holiday Lights Train, lighting up the rails and taking travelers on a festive journey through the Mid-Atlantic.
The holiday train is making its inaugural season’s journey along all three lines on the Metro-North Railroad:
- The Hudson Line between Grand Central Terminal (GCT) and Croton-Harmon
- The Harlem Line between GCT and Southeast
- The New Haven Line between GCT and New Haven
But the train is like nothing you’ve seen before–its usual silver facade is outfitted with colorful exterior lights, bringing a bit of cheer to straphanger’s journeys. Plus, special holiday-themed safety messages will play at a handful of stations. Officials hope the train will “bring back the sense of wonder…[and] create lasting memories during this festive time of year when days are short and darkness is long.”
The Metro-North Holiday Lights Train will operate on a random rotation of regularly scheduled trains on all three lines at all times of day and night. It’s lighting up the rails now through New Year’s.
Metro-North Railroad President Catherine Rinaldi stated:
I’m thrilled that Metro-North can bring the joy, beauty and lights of the season to all of our riders on their way to work, school or to see family and friends during the holidays, and to those who see it roll through their towns.
The good news: this isn’t the only festive journey you can embark on this holiday season! The New York Transit Museum has also brought back their Holiday Nostalgia Rides, taking straphangers aboard vintage cars from the 1930s on Sundays this December! Aaaand these luxurious century-old rail cars take straphangers on scenic rides only 2.5 hours from NYC!