MTA Metro-North Railroad Has Packages, Promotions and Passport Program for the Entire Family
Popular Vaccination Program at Grand Central Terminal Extended Indefinitely
View Photos from News Conference
View Video from News Conference
MTA Metro-North Railroad is celebrating New York’s reopening this summer with even more affordable and convenient ways to get to popular attractions, and a special bonus for the kids. In addition to a number of discount offers and promotions for family and friends, Metro-North also has a special passport providing an interactive experience for children and a prize for taking half a dozen rides on the train.
“There are so many family-friendly events and venues that are open this summer and easily accessible by Metro-North,” said Metro-North President Catherine Rinaldi. “We are proud to bring back many discount offers for our customers as well as other promotions to ride safely and ride often.”
Promotions include the Metro-North Railroad Passport Program for children and families. In coordination with the railroad’s TRACKS (Together Railroads and Communities Keeping Safe) Program, Metro-North offers a passport booklet, featuring safety tips from rail safety superhero Metro-Man, with an area to receive punches from conductors when riding the train. Once, six punches are received, parents can take photos of the punched booklet pages and email to MNRTracks@mnr.org as proof to earn a special prize mailed to their home. Passport booklets are available for pick-up at the Station Masters Office and Info Booth in Grand Central Terminal, or can be download here. You can also request a passport to be mailed to your home by emailing MNRTracks@mnr.og. For more information about Metro-North Railroad’s TRACKS program, visit http://web.mta.info/mnr/tracks/.
Travelers not yet vaccinated can get the shot on their way to any of New York’s popular destinations without needing to set an appointment. The popular vaccination programs at Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station have been extended indefinitely and provides anyone, including those visiting New York, the opportunity to get the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine with the added benefit of a free 7-day MetroCard or free round-trip Long Island Rail Road or Metro-North ticket. The pop-up location at Grand Central Terminal’s Vanderbilt Hall is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. with the capacity to administer 300 vaccinations per day.
And, as a thank you to its monthly customers, every Saturday through August 28, Metro-North will honor all monthly tickets for travel to and from all Metro-North stations, regardless of what stations are printed on the ticket. Monthly ticketholders traveling on these days will be able to bring up to four additional travelers for only $1 per person each way.
Off-peak fares remain in effect on all trains, including during traditional peak travel times, until further notice. For more information about the Metro-North summer schedule, visit this MTA webpage.
MTA’s #TakeTheTrain, #TakeTheBus Campaign includes images of destinations throughout the Metro-North region, and Metro-North has established partnerships with many of the most exciting venues around. Offers include one-time events and promotions, hiking and biking trips, visits to small towns, gardens, aquariums, museums and more across New York City, the Hudson Valley and Connecticut.
"New York State is home to countless unique, historic, and family-friendly attractions - many of which are accessible by Metro-North Railroad,” said New York State Executive Director of Tourism Ross D. Levi. “This summer offers the perfect opportunity to explore some of these renowned destinations, and I LOVE NY welcomes residents and visitors alike to come be a part of it and find what they love on their next New York getaway."
"There's so much to do in New York State and we really need New Yorkers to bring back the $118 billion industry. 269 million visitors is what New York State had before COVID," said Chair of the New York State Tourism Advisory Council Cristyne Nicholas. "And I want to thank Cathy and the MTA and Metro-North for adding service. We are certainly starting to see that people are coming back, but there's room to welcome more."
"As Connecticut's largest family attraction closest to Manhattan, we're happy to have multiple ways to encourage New Yorkers to visit," said Dave Sigworth, Associate Director of Communications for The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. "For city residents, coming up to The Maritime Aquarium by train makes for a fun, affordable and convenient daytrip full of close encounters with sharks, seals, sea turtles, jellyfish and more. Especially now that folks are feeling safe and ready to venture back out, post-COVID, we're excited to welcome them in with a brand new 4D theater, an enormous new seal habitat and more – just an hour's train ride away."
“We are thrilled to announce our partnership with the MTA and generate awareness amongst exhibit goers of all the different ways they can join us at Pier 36 through the end of August,” said Immersive Van Gogh Producer Corey Ross.
We are thrilled to partner with Metro-North to welcome back the commuters from Westchester and Connecticut to visit New York and to come to Pier 36 to see the exhibit," said Immersive Van Gogh New York Producer Maria Shcolover. "For this show, we brought different designs from Italian designers and New York's own David Korins who is the creative director of Broadway sets such as Hamilton and many other shows."
Limited Experiences and Events
Immersive Van Gogh is a unique event running for a limited time this summer. Metro-North customers who book their tickets on the MTA’s discount web page will receive 10% of all ticket levels to the exhibit. Long Island Rail Road customers will receive a free roundtrip ticket per event ticket purchased when purchasing from the discount page.
The Putnam Wine & Food Festival at Mayor’s Park in Cold Spring takes place on August 7 and 8 and is just a short walk from Cold Spring Station. Customers who purchase the discount package via vending machine or ticket office will receive 25% off rail and admission tickets.
Other Highlighted Discount Offers
The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk
Customers can save approximately 25% off rail and admission tickets by purchasing this package that is a 10-minute walk from the South Norwalk train station getting visitors up close with river otters, seals, sharks, jellyfish and more.
Price from Grand Central Terminal/Harlem-125th Street:
- $42.75 for adults
- $37 for seniors
- $18.50 for children aged 5 to 11
- $16.50 for children aged 3 to 4
- Free for children under 3
Bannerman’s Island Tour
Customers can save approximately 25% off rail and admission tickets by purchasing this escorted tour that includes a rich history of the castle and its remains, plus panoramic views of the Hudson Valley. Tour meets on the river side of Beacon Station.
Price from Grand Central Terminal/Harlem-125th Street:
- $62.50 for adults
- $57 for seniors
- $37 for children aged 5 to 11
- $35 for children under 5
Storm King Adventure Tours
Customers can save 15% on admission when purchasing in advance and using Discount Code MTA2021. Storm King Adventure Tours leads scenic kayak tours in the Hudson Valley including Bannerman's Island, Moodna Marsh, Fishkill Creek, and more. Take Metro-North's Hudson Line to Peekskill or Beacon stations. Either station is a 25-minute ride to 4 Duncan Avenue in Cornwall. From there, customers can call a rideshare or reserve a Zipcar ahead of the trip. Gear and instruction is provided.
New York Botanical Garden
Customers can save 20% on Garden Pass tickets when purchasing in advance and using Discount Code MTA2021. Metro-North's Harlem Line goes to Botanical Garden Station in the Bronx. View unique blooms while wandering through 250 acres with one million plants. The discount offer is valid through October 31, 2021.
For more information about discount rail and admission packages, visit https://new.mta.info/daytrips
Getting to Area Parks and Beaches
Croton Point Park
Croton Point Park located in is a 10-minute walk from Metro-North's Croton-Harmon Station on the Hudson Line. Customers should use the Veterans Plaza exit for closest access point.
Rye Playland Beach
Rye Playland Beach shares property with the popular Playland Park in Rye, New York. Metro-North customers can take the New Haven Line to Rye Station where the No. 75 bus to Playland will meet specific trains throughout the day.
Tarrytown River Walk
Tarrytown River Walk is a short stroll from Tarrytown Station, a 45-minute train ride from New York City. The prime waterfront site and public park offer magnificent views stretching to the Manhattan skyline. The park is a segment of the county's planned 51-mile River Walk and adjacent to Tarrytown's Pierson Park.
Mill River Park
Mill River Park is just a 45-minute train ride from New York City and home to 12 acres of green landscape, nestled in the middle of the city of Stamford, Connecticut. The park is less than a half-mile walk from the Stamford station.
More About the #TakeTheTrain, #TakeTheBus Campaign
Today's announcement is part of the MTA’s #TakeTheTrain, #TakeTheBus campaign which launched on May 16 in conjunction with 24/7 subway service resuming for the first time since May 6, 2020, to encourage New Yorkers to return to a more reliable, cleaner system than the one many last used before the pandemic arrived in New York.
The launch of the campaign coincides with recent ridership increases in the system, with more than 2.5 million daily weekday riders on subways over the past few weeks and weekday bus ridership reaching 1.2 million. Recent combined Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road ridership of 220,000 is almost ten times higher than the combined average of 23,000 of a year ago.