The Metro-North Railroad and Long-Island Railroad are welcoming back customers with the return of the popular “Summer Saturdays” program. Monthly railroad commuters and their friends and families can save and explore local regions with ‘Summer Saturdays’ on LIRR and Metro-North this summer.

 

Between Saturday, July 3, and Saturday, August 28, LIRR and Metro-North will honor all monthly tickets for travel to and from all LIRR and Metro-North stations, regardless of what stations are printed on the ticket. Monthly ticket holders traveling on these days will be able to bring up to four additional travelers for only $1 per person each way.

 

This means a Metro-North customer whose monthly ticket is usually valid between Grand Central Terminal and Yonkers could ride as far away as Mount Kisco or Poughkeepsie, and an LIRR customer whose monthly ticket is usually valid between Penn Station (Fare Zone 1) and Hicksville (Fare Zone 7) could ride as far away as the Hamptons, Montauk, or Greenport (all Fare Zone 14) on Saturdays at no added cost.

 

“I’m excited to join the LIRR in bringing Summer Saturdays to Metro-North,” said Metro-North president, Catherine Rinaldi. It’s a great way for riders to explore the great trails, museums and more that the Hudson Valley and Connecticut have to offer. So, bring your friends and family, hop on board and get more value out of your Metro-North commutation.”

 

There will be no cross-honoring between the railroads, meaning LIRR customers cannot use their monthly tickets to travel on Metro-North, and vice versa. Four Montauk branch LIRR trains are exempt from the program: the 7:10 a.m., 8:10 a.m., 10:10 a.m. and 12:10 p.m. trains from Jamaica to Montauk.

 

MTA officials said the agency has undertaken unprecedented cleaning and disinfecting protocols in the year since the pandemic began to ensure that the system is as safe as possible for its customers. It has also rolled out what it described as robust public education campaigns, and has issued millions of masks to its customers. MTA officials said the agency is also hosting public vaccination hubs at Grand Central and Penn stations.

 

Under updated CDC guidance, masks are no longer required on outdoor NYC Transit platforms, outdoor Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad and Staten Island Railway stations and platforms, and bus stops. Once a customer boards a train, bus or paratransit vehicle, masks are required.