For immediate release: December 8, 2016

Metro announces holiday service info, extended hours on New Year's Eve

Metro today released holiday service information, including an announcement about special late-night rail service until 3 a.m. on New Year’s to offer riders a safe transportation option at a time when no track maintenance is scheduled. 

SafeTrack surges will be suspended from December 20 through the end of January, as previously announced, to allow for Inauguration preparations. Information about 2017 SafeTrack surges will be announced in early January. 

In addition to a break from surge activity, there will be no scheduled maintenance on the Metrorail system over the Christmas or New Year’s holiday weekends. Trains will run on their regular weekend schedules on all lines.

On Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Christmas Day Observed (Monday, Dec. 26), the Metrorail system will open at 7 a.m. and close at midnight each day. Off-peak fares will be in effect all day, and parking will be free at all Metro-operated facilities. Metrobus will operate on a Saturday schedule on December 24 and on a Sunday schedule on December 25 and 26.

On New Year’s Eve, the Metrorail system will open at 7 a.m. with special extended service on all lines until 3 a.m. The additional three hours of service – consistent with past years – is a special exception to a moratorium on extended hours during the year-long SafeTrack maintenance program. 

Metro GM/CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld made the decision to keep the system open late on New Year’s Eve because doing so would provide an important public service, while not impacting critical safety or maintenance-related work. 

“We are pleased to offer special late-night rail service again until 3 a.m. on New Year’s Eve,” Wiedefeld said. “I view this as an important public service for the benefit of riders and the communities we serve.”

On New Year’s Day and New Year’s Day Observed (Monday, Jan. 2), the Metrorail system will open at 7 a.m. and close at midnight. Off-peak fares will be in effect all day, and parking will be free at all Metro-operated facilities. Metrorail and Metrobus will operate on Sunday schedules on January 1 and 2.

Last train departure times vary by station. Customers can check last train times on New Year’s Eve by visiting a station’s webpage (wmata.com/stations) and adding three hours to the regular last train time.

The break in SafeTrack work also allows Metro to offer extra service to Inauguration events. On January 20, Metrorail will open early at 4:00 a.m. with near rush-hour service levels on all lines until 9 p.m.