It isn’t yet snowing in New York City but with a big storm heading our way, the MTA is already working to move its trains underground. As of 5:45 p.m., trains on the A, B, D, E, F, N, Q, Z, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 will make all local stops as spare rolling stock is moved to the express tracks. Some routes that do not operate all night — including the B, per signs I saw on my way home — will see service halted earlier than normal.
For those heading to points north, Metro-North is reducing service at 8 p.m. Following the end of the evening rush, the railroad will operate hourly service on all three lines. After midnight, trains will run local to New Haven, Southeast and Corton where diesel service will pick up to take passengers to Poughkeepsie. Metro-North will be storing up to 120 rail cars inside Grand Central and hopes to minimize the number of trains that could become stranded during the storm. The LIRR has yet to issue an update.
I’ll have more as the snow arrives and service patterns change. This extreme planning is, of course, in response to the storm a few years ago that left subway riders stuck out in the depths of Brooklyn and Queens overnight as snow drifts piled up. Travel safe, and stay warm.