All aboard the hush-hour train.
Noise-rattled Metro-North riders will see relief next month when the rail line keeps one car on many of its trains silent, officials said Tuesday.
Metro-North first piloted quiet cars on some Harlem and Hudson line trains last fall, discouraging riders from talking loudly or using their cell phones.
The program’s popularity prompted the rail line to expand it to all morning and evening rush-hour trains on the Harlem, Hudson and New Haven lines starting April 2, officials said.
“With people working longer hours and with the proliferation of electronic devices, the need for quiet cars has never been greater,” Metro-North President Howard Permut said.
The railroad hasn’t had problems with riders refusing to comply during pilot programs, Permut said. A recent survey found overwhelming support for the policy, Permut said.
“Quiet cars are a hit,” Permut said. “With very few exceptions, people have quickly adapted to the new etiquette.”
The program is voluntary, but conductors can issue “Shh!” cards, officials said.
The last car on all morning peak trains, and the first car on all evening peak trains, will be designated cell-free zones. Riders in those cars also are asked to refrain from loud conversations and from using other electronic gadgets, including DVD players and laptops unless they don’t create any noise, according to the railroad.
“If headphones are used, they must be at a volume that cannot be heard by others,” Metro-North said in a statement.
