Rahul Somvanshi
The MTA is adding extra trains to help New Yorkers and visitors attend the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Monday, March 17. Both the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and Metro-North will run additional service to Manhattan, making public transit the easiest way to join the festivities.
“The MTA is honored to help New Yorkers attend this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade as we’ve done for so many years,” said NYC Transit President Demetrius Crichlow.
Extra Trains and Service Details
The LIRR will add two extra westbound trains on both the Babylon and Ronkonkoma branches. All these trains will stop at Grand Central Madison, which puts passengers just a short walk from the parade’s starting point.
Metro-North is boosting service with five extra trains on its East of Hudson lines (Hudson, Harlem, and New Haven) and one additional train on each of its West of Hudson lines (Pascack Valley and Port Jervis). In the afternoon, Metro-North will monitor crowds and add extra trains as needed to handle the return trip.
“With the start of the parade being only a stone’s throw away from Grand Central Terminal, Metro-North Railroad is an ideal travel option for this year’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration,” said Metro-North Railroad President Catherine Rinaldi.
Alcohol Ban in Effect
Both railroads will enforce an alcohol ban from 5:00 a.m. on Monday, March 17 until 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 18. This ban applies to all trains and stations on both the LIRR and Metro-North. Alcohol is always prohibited throughout the subway system.
Similar Posts
Best Subway Routes
For subway riders, the Lexington Avenue line (4, 5, 6) is recommended as it covers the full parade route with stations a short walk from Fifth Avenue. Other options include:
- Taking the E or M trains to the 5 Av-53 St station
- Using the N, Q, R, or W trains to Lexington Av-59 St
- Taking the B, D, F, or M to 42 St-Bryant Park or 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Center
Subway riders should note that some station entrances will be affected during the parade. The stairs at the southeast corner of Fifth Avenue and 60th Street for the 5 Av-59 St station will be closed. At the 77 St station, certain stairs will be designated as entry-only and others as exit-only.
Bus Route Changes
Several bus routes will be rerouted due to the parade. Affected routes include the M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M31, M50, M55, M57, M66, M72, M79 SBS, Q32, and most express buses. Riders can check mta.info during the parade for real-time updates.
About the Parade
The St. Patrick’s Day Parade is the oldest and largest of its kind in the world, dating back to 1762. The parade route runs along Fifth Avenue from East 44th Street to East 79th Street. The event typically draws about 2 million spectators and features roughly 150,000 marchers. The parade begins at 11:00 a.m.
“Thanks to Grand Central Madison, Long Island Rail Road customers have easy access to this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade,” said Long Island Rail Road President Rob Free. “We’re also increasing LIRR service to Grand Central Madison on Monday morning to ensure that everyone who wants attend the parade can get there quickly and safely for a great customer experience.”
Travelers are encouraged to check the MTA app or TrainTime app before heading out to plan their journey and stay informed about any service changes.
