Christmas Day is the ghost town of train schedules. Most trains just sit in the yard, sleeping off a big meal. New Year’s Day? Totally different vibe.
Trains are creatures of habit. They run on a Sunday schedule. Every year. Like clockwork.
Why a Sunday schedule? Because January 1st is officially a public holiday in most places. And Sundays are the “chill” day for rail operators.
But Wait – It Gets Weirder
In New York City, the subway runs a “Sunday service” on New Year’s Day. But that’s a lie. It’s actually slightly better than a Sunday. They add extra trains for the late-night party crowd.
London’s Tube does the same thing. You’ll get a Sunday service, but with a few special early-morning trains for the brave souls who didn’t get to bed until 4 a.m.
Japan goes full wild mode. On New Year’s Day, their trains run all night long. Seriously. The “Hatsumode” tradition means millions visit shrines. So trains never sleep.
In Germany, it’s a mixed bag. Most regional trains run a Sunday schedule. But the high-speed ICE trains? They’re mostly normal – because Germans don’t mess around with efficiency, even after champagne.
