Memorial Day Monday, May 25, 2026 is a holiday — which means the LIRR, Metro-North, and NJ Transit are all running on weekend or holiday schedules rather than their normal weekday timetables. If you are commuting in Tuesday morning, May 26, regular weekday service resumes. Here is your complete preview of what is running Monday and what to expect Tuesday morning when the workweek restarts.
Long Island Rail Road: Sunday Schedule Monday, Weekday Schedule Tuesday
According to the MTA’s official Memorial Day service announcement, the LIRR runs on a Sunday (holiday) schedule all day Monday, May 25. That means fewer trains per hour, especially in the middle of the day and late evening, and the elimination of most weekday peak-direction express runs.
The Cannonball, the LIRR’s iconic express to Montauk, kicked off the summer season last Thursday and is operating this Memorial Day Monday at 6:21 p.m. westbound from Montauk (instead of its usual Sunday slot). Sunday-only Montauk afternoon trains scheduled at 1:46 p.m., 4:17 p.m., and 6:21 p.m., plus the 3:25 p.m. westbound from Southampton, all shift to Monday for the holiday.
Monday morning’s most important practical note: the LIRR is also accepting subway riders at no additional cost at Flushing, Mets-Willets Point, Woodside, Grand Central Madison, and Penn Station while the 7 train is suspended between Queens and Manhattan until 10:30 a.m. If you are heading into Midtown from Queens early Monday, the LIRR is your fastest option.
For Tuesday morning, regular weekday schedules resume, including the new May 11 timetables that took effect earlier this month. Use the TrainTime app to confirm your train.
Metro-North: Sunday Schedule on East of Hudson, Extra Port Jervis Train
Metro-North’s East of Hudson lines — Hudson, Harlem, and New Haven — operate on a Sunday schedule Monday, May 25, per the MTA’s official announcement. That means roughly hourly off-peak service on most branches, with fewer express trains and longer gaps in midday.
On the Port Jervis Line, one extra train is added on Memorial Day: it departs Port Jervis, NY at 4:05 p.m., stops at all stations between Port Jervis and Suffern, then runs express to Secaucus Junction and Hoboken, arriving at 6:24 p.m. A connecting train from Secaucus Junction reaches New York Penn Station at 6:33 p.m. — useful if you are heading back to the city after a day upstate.
Metro-North is also rolling out two new summer programs worth knowing about: a Day Pass for unlimited travel between selected zone pairs from purchase until 4:00 a.m. the next day, and a Family Plan letting one adult travel with up to four children ages 5 to 17 for just $1 per child each way. Both can soften the cost of a day trip to Cold Spring, Beacon, or New Haven this summer.
NJ Transit: Holiday Schedule Monday, Extra Bay Head Shuttles
According to NJ Transit’s official Memorial Day holiday service page, on Monday, May 25, NJ Transit rail operates on a regular weekend/major holiday schedule with two enhancements. First, the Bay Head-Long Branch shuttle runs hourly from approximately 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. — convenient for anyone hitting the Jersey Shore. Second, the Port Jervis Line gets an extra Train 88 from Port Jervis to Hoboken.
Bus and Light Rail also run on modified schedules. NJ Transit’s holiday alerts specifically advise checking your route on the NJ Transit mobile app or at njtransit.com before heading out, because service levels can differ from both regular weekday and standard weekend timetables.
For Penn Station commuters heading back from a long weekend Tuesday morning: weekday schedules resume Tuesday, May 26. Expect the usual rush-hour crowding, especially on the Northeast Corridor and Morris & Essex lines, as everyone who took an early getaway Friday tries to get back to the city at the same time.
Tuesday Morning Commute Preview
All three commuter rail systems return to full weekday service Tuesday, May 26. A few things to watch:
- LIRR: The new May 11 timetables are in their third week. If you have not updated your saved schedule in the TrainTime app, do it Monday night.
- Metro-North: Tuesday-morning Hudson Line trains tend to fill up faster the week after a holiday weekend, especially Cold Spring and Garrison departures. Get to the platform a few minutes early.
- NJ Transit: Northeast Corridor riders should leave a buffer — the first post-holiday rush often runs heavier than a typical Tuesday.
Service is subject to change. Always confirm with the MTA app for LIRR and Metro-North, and the NJ Transit app for NJ Transit, before you leave the house.
