Long Island Rail Road use exceeded its September 2019 level, while Metro-North set a new weekend record during the fall travel season. The gains show how commuter rail is changing as leisure trips grow, even as the MTA faces rising long-term costs.
MTA commuter rail ridership reached several post-pandemic milestones in September and October, with Long Island Rail Road passenger counts moving above 2019 levels and Metro-North reporting record weekend demand.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the figures Wednesday, pointing to added service, new fare options and large capital projects. The results are significant, but they need context. One strong month does not mean every railroad division has fully recovered, and the State Comptroller says the Metropolitan Transportation Authority still faces growing budget gaps after 2026.
The story matters beyond New York City and Long Island. Mohawk Valley travelers use the same state-supported rail corridor when they ride Amtrak from Utica toward the Hudson Valley and New York City. The results also show how travel patterns, weekend service and public investment can shape demand for passenger rail.
LIRR passes its September 2019 level
Long Island Rail Road ridership in September 2026 reached 102 percent of the railroad’s September 2019 level, according to the Governor’s Office. It was the second month since the pandemic in which LIRR exceeded its comparable 2019 total. June 2026 also reached 102 percent.
The railroad carried 321,497 riders on Wednesday, Sept. 9. That was its second-highest weekday total of 2026. The larger count came on June 18, when 369,482 riders used the LIRR during the New York Knicks championship parade.
LIRR also recorded three consecutive September weeks in which Tuesday through Thursday ridership exceeded 300,000 passengers each day. State officials said that had not happened since the pandemic.
The state connects the growth to Grand Central Madison and the Main Line Third Track and Double Track projects. Those changes helped support a 41 percent increase in scheduled LIRR service, according to the release.
LIRR President Rob Free said the railroad has added frequency and flexibility while modernizing its system. Those service gains are real operational changes, but the ridership announcement does not measure how much each project contributed to the increase.
Metro-North records strong weekdays and weekends
Metro-North reached 90 percent of its September 2019 ridership level. That was its second-strongest recovery month of 2026, behind June, when it reached 93.2 percent of the comparable 2019 level.
From Sept. 21 through Sept. 25, the railroad carried 1,294,011 weekday riders. Excluding the Knicks parade on June 18, its strongest single day was June 17, with 277,410 riders. That represented 93.8 percent of the June 2019 weekday level.
Express trains appear to be attracting riders
Metro-North added super-express trains on the New Haven Line in July 2022 and on the Hudson Line in April 2025. The MTA says those trains can save riders up to 50 minutes on New Haven Line trips and up to 14 minutes on Hudson Line commutes.
Since spring 2026, ridership on those trains has grown faster than overall peak-period use on the two lines. Hudson Line super-express use increased 8 percent, while New Haven Line super-express use rose 6 percent, according to the state.
Weekend travel is leading the recovery
The strongest change may be when people are riding. Through October 2026, Saturday use across LIRR and Metro-North was 66 percent higher than during the same period in 2022. Sunday use was up 64 percent.
LIRR carried 353,308 riders during Sept. 5 and 6, its busiest weekend of the year. That total was 62 percent above an average September weekend in 2019.
Metro-North added fall service to meet demand on the Upper Hudson Line. The Leaf Peeper schedule began Oct. 3 with five additional outbound and three additional inbound trains. After demand increased, the railroad added six more trains in each direction on Oct. 17.
The railroad is now operating 40 extra weekend trains on Saturdays and Sundays during the fall period. The additional Hudson Line service is scheduled to continue through Sunday, Nov. 8. Riders should confirm schedules before traveling because seasonal service can change.
During the weekend of Oct. 24 and 25, Metro-North carried 323,423 passengers. That exceeded the previous 2026 weekend record of 302,610 riders set June 13 and 14. The October total was also 25.5 percent above an average October weekend in 2019.
The state attributes part of the increase to fall foliage and seasonal events, including Tarrytown’s Halloween parade. This supports a broader pattern identified by the State Comptroller: weekend transit use has recovered faster than traditional weekday commuting.
Lower fares are changing travel inside New York City
CityTicket sales increased 361 percent from 2022 through 2025, according to the Governor’s Office. CityTicket allows discounted LIRR and Metro-North travel when a trip stays entirely within New York City.
The largest reported sales increases were at Melrose, up 503 percent; Laurelton, up 478 percent; Bayside, up 294 percent; and Fordham, up 173 percent.
The MTA expanded CityTicket from a weekend-only product to weekday off-peak travel in 2022, added a peak option in 2023 and introduced a CityTicket Day Pass in January 2026. MTA fare materials list the day pass at $14.50 on weekdays and $10.50 on weekends. It is valid through 4 a.m. the next day. Travelers should check the MTA TrainTime app or current fare page because prices and rules can change.
Strong ridership does not erase financial risks
The ridership figures are encouraging, but they do not by themselves show that the MTA is financially secure. State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli reported Oct. 22 that the authority’s $21.9 billion operating budget is balanced for 2026. He also projected gaps of $295 million in 2027, $507 million in 2028, $707 million in 2029 and $897 million in 2030.
Healthcare, pensions, energy, debt service and paratransit are among the costs growing faster than projected revenue. Before the pandemic, fares and tolls covered more than half of the MTA operating budget. They covered 34 percent in 2025, making the system more dependent on taxes and subsidies.
The Comptroller expects LIRR to finish 2026 at about 97 percent of its full-year 2019 ridership and Metro-North at about 87 percent. That helps explain why a single September comparison can exceed or approach 2019 while annual recovery remains incomplete.
DiNapoli called for continued ridership growth, cost controls, savings and a new labor agreement. His report also identifies federal transportation decisions, fuel and materials costs and future casino-tax revenue as budget risks.
New trains and station projects are planned
The MTA approved 316 M-9A railcars in June 2025, with 160 assigned to LIRR and 156 to Metro-North. In May 2026, it began seeking proposals for 252 additional single-level Metro-North coaches.
The 2025-2029 capital plan includes $6 billion for Metro-North cars and infrastructure. Other projects cited by the state include the Grand Central train shed and Park Avenue Viaduct, Penn Station Access, Hudson Line resiliency, and transit-oriented development in Beacon, Harrison and Westbury.
At Jamaica Station, the state budget includes $50 million for redesign work. The station connects LIRR with subway and AirTrain service and handles about 200,000 riders each day, according to the Governor’s Office.
What Mohawk Valley travelers should know
The MTA does not operate trains in Utica. Local rail travelers generally use Amtrak’s Empire Corridor to reach Albany, the Hudson Valley and New York City. Poughkeepsie is served by both Amtrak and Metro-North, which can make it a transfer point for some trips.
Amtrak’s current timetable and trip planner should be checked before leaving. Not every Empire Service train serves every station, and transfers may require separate tickets. The Utica station is staffed and has an accessible platform, waiting room, ticket office and passenger assistance. Amtrak advises travelers to arrive early, especially when they need ticketing or baggage help.
For Metro-North or LIRR travel, use the MTA TrainTime app or official schedule page. Check seasonal trains, transfer time, accessibility, parking and the last return train before making a weekend trip.
Related Phoenix coverage
- New York commuter rail crime drops 20.1 percent through August
- MTA acquires land for possible Port Jefferson LIRR upgrades
- New York outlines major Hudson Valley rail investment
Sources and travel resources
- Governor’s Oct. 28, 2026, ridership announcement
- New York State Comptroller’s October 2026 MTA financial outlook
- MTA 2026 fare-change materials
- Amtrak schedules and personalized timetables
- Amtrak Utica station information
Have recent rail schedules or fare options changed how you travel from the Mohawk Valley? Share a specific experience in the comments, but do not post ticket numbers or other personal travel details.
