Railroad On-Time Performance at Record Highs with Metro-North Above 98% and the LIRR at 97%
Health and Wellness, Kids Programming, Yoga, Book Readings, and Stand-Up Comedy to Grace the Historic Venue
Tracks Raw Bar & Grill to Open This Summer in Grand Central Madison
Palladino’s Steak & Seafood to Open in West Balcony With Retail Space Facing Inside and Outside
Nearly 90% of Retail Spaces at Grand Central Terminal Filled – A Post-Pandemic High
View Photos of Event
View Video of News Conference
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced A Grand Summer, a series of community events. Taking place throughout the summer, the series includes a mix of free and ticketed events across a variety of categories, including book clubs, children’s events, fitness activities, and stand-up comedy. The cultural programming, developed after public requests at last year’s Summer Streets for more community-building activities, come as more dining establishments are slated to enter the increasingly thriving retail environment, including the long-awaited Tracks Raw Bar & Grill restaurant in Grand Central Madison. Palladino’s Steak & Seafood is expected to open next month in the balcony space adjacent to Vanderbilt Avenue with a formal dining room, a more casual space, and a dramatic outdoor terrace, offering a one-of-a-kind venue for unforgettable gatherings in the heart of Midtown. San Wei, featuring ramen, dumplings, and bao is expected to open shortly after, in August 2025 in the Dining Concourse.
Home to the Metro-North Railroad and the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) via Grand Central Madison, customers of either railroad can enjoy a seamless commute to Grand Central as both railroads are operating with record high on-time performance, and continue to break post pandemic ridership records. On-time performance (OTP) for both railroads remains historically high with Metro-North at more than 98% and the LIRR at an overall 97%. Last May, the LIRR achieved its highest on-time performance for any May in recorded history (excluding 2020) with an OTP of 96.7%, and Metro-North achieved an impressive 99.1% on-time performance. Within the past month, both railroads have reached new post-pandemic one-day high ridership levels, with 285,050 riders on the LIRR on Tuesday, May 20, and 255,638 customers on Metro-North on the same day.
“We are very excited to bring a first-of-its-kind series of summer events to Grand Central, providing the public an opportunity to enjoy one of the most iconic spaces in New York City, and quite frankly – the world,” said MTA Chief Real Estate Transactions and Operations Officer David Florio. “Located in the heart of midtown Manhattan, served by the busiest two railroads in the country and multiple subway and bus lines, Grand Central is a perfect space to bring people together – and complemented with new restaurant openings, Grand Central is further solidifying its reputation for premier dining and shopping.”
“With record ridership and on-time performance, it’s the perfect time to explore all that Grand Central has to offer,” said Metro-North Railroad President Justin Vonashek. “And this summer, we’re offering a bit more with the summer series events, taking full advantage of this historic public space to build community in response to requests last year when Grand Central Terminal’s debut in the city’s Summer Streets program became a crowd favorite.”
“More Long Islanders are choosing to travel to Grand Central Madison and, this summer, LIRR customers have even more reasons to head to Grand Central,” said Long Island Rail Road President Rob Free. “With record on-time performance and the most robust train service in our history, planning an affordable and convenient trip has never been easier.”
“Since opening Grand Brasserie last fall and open daily from 5:30 am to 2 am, we’ve had the privilege to welcome hundreds of visitors every day – from early morning power breakfasts to business lunches, pre-theater rendezvous to late-night revelers before they catch the train home – and, everyone in between,” said Rick Blatstein of Grand Brasserie. “With design by the Rockwell Group who honors the grandeur of the historic Vanderbilt Hall and creative menus by Executive Chef Guillaume Thivet who offers timeless French classic cuisine from morning to night, we’re thrilled that Grand Brasserie has become a go-to destination for New Yorkers, commuters and tourists and is now part of the fabric of the iconic Grand Central landmark.”
“I am so excited to be bringing Tracks to Grand Central Madison to continue the tradition started 20 years ago in Penn Station,” said Tracks Raw Bar & Grill Co-owner Bruce Caulfield. “We will bring our award-winning raw bar and my iconic railroad memorabilia to this new location with a more modern look to match the brand new LIRR terminal. Most importantly, we will bring the same hospitality to this new location and welcome back so many old friends and create new memories and become the Cheers of Grand Central!”
“Our goal is to exceed our guests’ expectations every day, with an unwavering work ethic and a vision, to one day be considered a true New York institution,” said Joseph Palladino, Founder, Palladino’s Steak & Seafood. “As a native New Yorker, opening Palladino's at Grand Central Terminal is deeply personal. This iconic location deserves a restaurant that honors both its storied past and the energy of today’s city. With Chef Sam Hazen's incredible culinary vision and Rockwell Group’s bold design, I intend to bring a very special steakhouse to Grand Central, one that locals and visitors alike can embrace. I couldn't be more excited to share our passion for exceptional service and great cuisine with the city that shaped me."
“We are honored to join the Grand Central family as the exclusive noodle and bubble tea destination in the heart of New York City,” said San Wei Regional Manager Richard Wu. “We cherish this incredible opportunity to serve you at one of the city’s most iconic and bustling landmarks.”
As one of the most-visited destinations in New York City, Grand Central Terminal offers history, architecture, transit, dining, and shopping, all under one roof and now with the addition of summer events, the bustling transit hub maximizes the use of one of New York City's most valuable public spaces. Below is a list of some upcoming events:
Tuesday, June 17, 6-7 p.m.: Connect @ Grand Central, featuring book readings with Hudson News and Belletrist in the Biltmore Room
Thursday, June 19, 6-7 p.m.: Fitness @ Grand Central, featuring Club Pilates x The American Cancer Society (ACS) in Vanderbilt Hall
Saturday, June 21, 11a.m.-2p.m.:International Day of Yoga in Vanderbilt Hall
Thursday, June 26, 6-7p.m.:Laugh @ Grand Central, featuring Stand Up NY in the Pullman Space near Track 104 in the Dining Concourse
Saturday, July 19, 11 a.m.-1p.m.:Kids @ Grand Central, featuring The Rock and Roll Playhouse in Vanderbilt Hall
Thursday, July 24, 6-8 p.m.: Connect @ Grand Central, featuring Paint 'n Pour in the Biltmore Room
For the full list of events and most up-to-date schedule, please see Public Events - Grand Central Terminal. For a map of Grand Central Terminal, visit https://grandcentralterminal.com/terminal-map/.