Metro-North Railroad records another year of high-level OTP

MTA Metro-North Railroad achieved a 97.1% on-time performance (OTP) in 2021, the second consecutive year the New York City-area commuter railroad met OTP above 97%, railroad officials announced yesterday.

The OTP in 2021 marks only the second time in Metro-North's history that it has achieved performance at that level for two consecutive years since the railroad's founding in 1983, Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials said in a press release.

Metro-North continued to increase service toward pre-pandemic levels in 2021, starting in April 2021 when it restored weekend service to Wassaic, New York.  Service was again increased in June, bringing weekday service to 67% of pre-pandemic levels and fully restoring weekend service. Since September 2021, the railroad has been operating at 82% of pre-pandemic service levels/

Also in June, Metro-North launched its updated strategic recovery plan “Way Ahead - Moving Forward,” which reiterated its commitment to safety and reliability for riders. Metro-North leaders have continued to adjust to the structural shift in people’s work and transportation patterns, updating the strategy accordingly, agency officials said.

“Maintaining safe and reliable service while restoring more trains and welcoming back more riders is emblematic of Metro-North's commitment to our customers,” said Metro-North President Catherine Rinaldi. “Moving forward into 2022, the goal will be to keep the strong progress going, and welcome even more riders back as the region continues to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic.”