Metro News Release

For immediate release: December 22, 2008

Metro announces schedules for Christmas and New Year's

Metrorail to stay open until 2 a.m., New Year’s Eve

Metrorail and Metrobus will operate on a regular weekday schedule Christmas Eve (Wednesday, December 24), a Sunday schedule on Christmas Day (Thursday, December 25), a regular weekday schedule with a 2 a.m. closing on New Year’s Eve (Wednesday, December 31) and a Sunday schedule on New Year’s Day (Thursday, January 1).

Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 24
Metrorail will operate on a normal weekday schedule, opening at 5 a.m. and closing at midnight. Metrobus will operate on a normal weekday schedule. MetroAccess will operate normally.

Christmas Day, Thursday, December 25
Metrorail will operate on a Sunday schedule, opening at 7 a.m. and closing at midnight. On Christmas Day (Thursday, Dec.25), all Metrorail trains will operate with four cars. Christmas Day ridership is extremely light, as last year about 69,000 people rode the Metrorail system (the highest Christmas ridership in history), compared to an average weekday ridership of 750,000. Metrobus will operate on a Sunday schedule. MetroAccess will operate normally, but all subscription trips are canceled.

New Year’s Eve, Wednesday, December 31
Metrorail will operate on a regular weekday schedule, opening at 5 a.m., and staying open two hours late, closing at 2 a.m. Metrobus will operate on a normal weekday schedule and will also operate until 2 a.m. to make sure rail and bus passengers catch their necessary connections. MetroAccess will operate normally.

New Year’s Day, Thursday, January 1
Metrorail will operate on a Sunday schedule, opening at 7 a.m. and closing at midnight. On New Year’s Day (Thursday, Jan. 1), all Metrorail trains will operate with four cars. New Year’s Day ridership is also traditionally light, as last year only about 126,000 people rode the Metrorail system. Metrobus will operate on a Sunday schedule. MetroAccess will operate normally, but all subscription trips are canceled.

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News release issued at 10:18 am, December 22, 2008.