Metro-North releases updated New Canaan direct rail schedule
NEW CANAAN — The new schedule for the return of direct rail service from New Canaan to Grand Central Station has been released by Metro-North.
Commuters and general citygoers will enjoy the “momentous” return to direct service, according to First Selectman Kevin Moynihan, with ample times in both the morning and evening rush.
For residents heading into New York City, the updated train schedule will offer direct service with stops at New Canaan Train Station at 5:37 a.m., 6:16 a.m., 7:10 a.m., 7:56 a.m., 8:53 a.m., 9:38 a.m. and additional trains every hour on the 39th minute.
Rail riders who are looking at times to return back to New Canaan will be able to arrive in town via service from Grand Central at 4:14 p.m., 5:02 p.m., 6:06 p.m., 6:37 p.m., 7:28 p.m. and 8:24 p.m., with the latest train returning to town at 2:54 a.m.
Metro-North was forced to scale back service last March when only 8 percent of the ridership was using the rails, Department of Transportation Commissioner Joseph Giulietti said.
Since then, riders coming from New Canaan have not been able to trek to or from the city without making transfers at Stamford or driving to get on a train in a different town.
New Haven Line customers will see an increase in weekday train service to approximately 82 percent of pre-pandemic levels, an increase of about 40 trains, bringing the total number of weekday trains to 246, according to a release Monday by the Town of New Canaan.
Weekend train service will also make a return to pre-pandemic service levels. Express service, only available on weekdays, to Grand Central Terminal on the New Canaan Branch Line will also resume with six trains southbound and five trains northbound to New Canaan.
Customers can access the updated service schedule on the Metro-North website and by following the links for the New Haven Line.