Metro-North riders will get a boost beginning Oct. 14, when the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) plans to expand its weekly service by 79 trains.
The new schedule will provide increased frequency in the most popular off-peak and weekend time periods, the MTA said yesterday, as well as faster travel times and more space on weekend trains that are often crowded.
The expanded schedule includes 15 additional weekday trains and 30 additional weekend trains on the New Haven line, 24 additional weekend trains on the Harlem line and 10 additional weekday trains on the Pascack Valley line.
On the Harlem and New Haven lines, the new schedule will provide half-hourly service at many stations during key higher-ridership times of the day on Saturdays and Sundays.
The changes will also provide hourly service at all New Haven line main line stations in the off-peak times and on weekends by adding stops to existing trains on the east end of the line, the MTA said.
Metro-North will further expand its weekly service by 151 new trains in April 2013.
