NYMTA Both MTA Metro-North Railroad and MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) have broken post-pandemic ridership records in December, according to MTA. The week of Dec. 15 was the highest post-pandemic ridership recovery week for Metro-North, with 827,015 total riders representing a record 88% of an average pre-pandemic week in December 2019, the agency reported. The weekend of Dec. 20-21 was said to be Metro-North’s strongest weekend ridership performance of the post-pandemic era, with 245,638 riders. Average midweek ridership of 244,809 on Tuesday-Thursday, Dec. 16-18, stood at 88% of December 2019 midweek ridership, a new post-pandemic record, the agency noted. At LIRR, 183,250 people rode the train on Saturday, Dec. 13, and 152,661 people rode on Sunday, Dec. 21—the highest post-pandemic Saturday and Sunday ridership. According to MTA, on-time performance for both commuter railroads in 2025 has consistently been at or near 97%. Customer satisfaction levels are also high, with LIRR at 81% and Metro-North at 85%, according to MTA’s latest “Customers Count” survey. “We’re thrilled to see record ridership on Metro-North,” Metro-North President Justin Vonashek said. “From Super Express trains to delighting customers with our holiday lights trains, we’re always finding new ways to enhance the rider experience.” “We continue to shatter ridership records because we are providing plenty of service to meet demand and remain focused on improving the customer experience,” LIRR President Rob Free added. “The LIRR is the best way to travel not just during the holiday season but throughout the year and we look forward…
