The day many have been waiting for is, almost, finally here! The MTA announced on Monday that Long Island Rail Road Service into Grand Central Madison will begin on Wednesday, January 25th. The first ride will depart from Jamaica at 10:45 a.m. and arrive at Grand Central Madison at 11:07 a.m. The highly anticipated opening of the new station was originally set for December, but delays have pushed it back into the new year.

LIRR sign at Grand Central
Marc A. Hermann / MTA

A limited shuttle service between Jamaica and Grand Central will operate between 6:15 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on weekdays and from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on weekends for at least the next three weeks before a full-service schedule goes into effect. The MTA announced that trains will run every 30 minutes in both directions during weekday midday periods and on weekends and once per hour during peak periods.

Tour the Secrets of Grand Central

Grand central aerial

The shuttle service trains are in addition to already scheduled LIRR train journeys. The shuttle will be followed by full service from Long Island to Grand Central in time. Schedules will be posted on the MTA Grand Central Madison website and in the TrainTime app. You can see draft schedules now to prepare for changes in your route when the full service arrives. The full-service schedule will increase overall LIRR service by 41%.

Grand Central Madison digital art
Marc A. Hermann / MTA

LIRR tickets to Penn Station are valid for arrival into Grand Central Madison since both stations are in the same fare zone. Once riders arrive at the new concourse, they will be greeted by customer ambassadors. These helpful guides can offer information about the new space as riders get acquainted. Stay tuned for more Untapped coverage of the opening and check out more photos below!

  • Escalators at Grand Central Madison
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Next, check out a sneak peek of the new art in Grand Central Madison!