C (New York City Subway service)
The C Eighth Avenue Local[3] is a 19-mile-long (31 km)[4]: 1 rapid transit service in the B Division of the New York City Subway. Its route emblem, or "bullet", is blue since it is a part of the IND Eighth Avenue Line in Manhattan.[5]
The C operates at all times except late nights between
Historically, most C service ran only during rush hours, along the
History
Original IND service
The AA and CC services were the predecessors to the current C service. A and AA service began on September 10, 1932, with the opening of the first line of the
The C and CC services began operation on July 1, 1933, when the
On January 1, 1936, C service was extended to
IND Sixth Avenue Line opens
On December 15, 1940, the
In the 1940s, C trains ran every 10 minutes during rush hour, CC trains ran every 4 minutes, and D trains ran every 5 minutes.[13]
On October 24, 1949, C express service was discontinued. Additional D service was added to offset this loss. The CC, which only ran during rush hours, began terminating at
On August 30, 1976, the CC train replaced the
On August 28, 1977, late night AA service was eliminated. The A began making local stops in Manhattan during late nights, when the AA was not running.[7][21]
On May 6, 1985, the IND practice of using double letters to indicate local service was discontinued. The AA was renamed the K and rush hour CC service was renamed C. The off-peak Rockaway Park Shuttle was renamed
Modern service consolidations
On December 10, 1988, the
On October 23, 1992, rush hour C service was cut back from Rockaway Park–Beach 116th Street to Euclid Avenue. The 1992 change introduced five A trips in each direction run from
On May 29, 1994, weekend service between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. was extended to
The B and the C, which both ran local along Central Park West, switched northern terminals on March 1, 1998, ending the connection between the C and the Bronx. Instead of alternating between three different terminals depending on the time of day, all C service now terminated at 168th Street.[10][27] The change was made to reduce crowding on the C and to reduce passenger confusion about the C's route.[28]
Starting on May 2, 1999, C trains were extended to Euclid Avenue on evenings and weekends. The 1999 change had the C run local in Brooklyn and Manhattan and the A run express at all times except late nights.[7]
In the wake of the
On January 23, 2005, a fire at the
From March 29, 2020,[33][34] to April 29, 2020,[35] C trains were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City, and A trains to Lefferts Boulevard ran local in their place.[36] The cutbacks meant that wait times during rush hours increased from 8 to 12 minutes. In March 2021, TWU 100, the union for subway workers, sued the MTA in order to prevent the reduced frequencies from being permanent.[37] That same month, the MTA decided to bring back full C service; full service was restored in mid-2021.[38][39]
Maintenance and rider issues
Criticism
In August 2012, the Straphangers Campaign rated the C train the worst of the city's subway services for the fourth straight year. No other service has ranked worst for more than three years in a row. The group found that the C performed worst in three of the six categories in its annual State of the Subways Report Card: amount of scheduled service, interior cleanliness, and breakdown rate. It also ranked next-to-worst in car announcement quality, after the 7, but performed above average in regularity of service and crowding.[40] The New York Times called the C the "least loved of New York City subway lines", citing its fleet of R32s, which were almost 50 years old at the time the Times reported on the issue.[41] The New York Times has also stated that the C train "rattled and clanked along the deteriorating maze of tracks beneath the city, tin-clad markers of years of neglect."[42] In 2017, the Times referred to the R32s on the C as the world's oldest subway cars "in continuous daily operation".[42] The R32s were initially retired in late April 2020, but were temporarily pressed back into service from July through October 2020 and finally retired in early January 2022.[43]
Improvements
In 2011, problems with the R32s were at a peak as the fleet's failure rate was rising steadily. In 2012, money was directed to replace the R32 with the R179. Bombardier Transportation won the $600 million contract to build 300 new cars.[42] The R179s were expected to replace the R32s with some being allocated to the C. However, delivery of the R179s was delayed until 2017 and the R32s momentarily remained in service after the order was completed, so stopgap measures were implemented.[44]
In the 2010s, all trains on the C were only 480 feet (146 m) long, partially due to lower ridership levels on the route, according to NYC Transit's Rapid Transit Loading Guideline. This contrasted with trains on the rest of the mainline B Division (except for the
On November 6, 2018, some 480-foot-long R179 trains started running on the C,[48] gradually displacing the R160As back to East New York Yard by February 6, 2019.[49] The R179s periodically experienced major mechanical and technical issues, forcing the MTA to remove them from service.[50][51][52][53] The R211 fleet, which is being delivered as of 2023[update], is also expected to run on the C;[54] one of the 600-foot-long R211 trains, an R211T with open gangways, began running on the C in February 2024.[55]
Service frequencies on the C were increased after the New York state government provided funding for the changes in mid-2023.[56][57] On August 7 of that year, midday service was increased to run every eight minutes instead of every ten minutes.[56][58] There was supposed to be another service increase during the evening starting in December 2023, but as of February 2024[update], this service increase has not happened.[56][59]
Route
Service pattern
The following table shows the lines used by the C:[60]
Line | From | To | Tracks |
---|---|---|---|
IND Eighth Avenue Line | 168th Street
|
Canal Street
|
local |
Chambers Street
|
High Street
|
all | |
IND Fulton Street Line | Jay Street–MetroTech
|
Euclid Avenue
|
local |
Stations
For a more detailed station listing, see the articles on the lines listed above.[3]
Station service legend | |
---|---|
Stops all times | |
Stops all times except late nights | |
Stops weekdays during the day | |
Station closed | |
Stops rush hours only (limited service) | |
Stops rush hours/weekdays in the peak direction only | |
Time period details | |
Station is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act | |
↑ | Station is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act in the indicated direction only |
↓ | |
Elevator access to mezzanine only |
Stations | Subway transfers | Connections | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manhattan | ||||
Eighth Avenue Line | ||||
168th Street | A 1 (IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line) |
|||
163rd Street–Amsterdam Avenue | ||||
155th Street | Bx6 Select Bus Service
| |||
145th Street | A B D (IND Concourse Line) |
|||
135th Street | B | |||
125th Street | A B D | M60 Select Bus Service to LaGuardia Airport | ||
116th Street | B | |||
Cathedral Parkway–110th Street | B | |||
103rd Street | B | |||
96th Street | B | |||
86th Street | B | M86 Select Bus Service
| ||
81st Street–Museum of Natural History | B | M79 Select Bus Service
| ||
72nd Street | B | |||
59th Street–Columbus Circle | A B D 1 (IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line) |
|||
50th Street | ↓ | E (IND Queens Boulevard Line) | Station is ADA-accessible in the southbound direction only. | |
42nd Street–Port Authority Bus Terminal | , daytime only) | M34A Select Bus Service
| ||
34th Street–Penn Station | A E | Pennsylvania Station
| ||
23rd Street | E | M23 Select Bus Service
| ||
14th Street | A E L (BMT Canarsie Line at Eighth Avenue) |
M14A/D Select Bus Service
| ||
West Fourth Street–Washington Square | ) | PATH at Ninth Street
| ||
Spring Street | E | |||
Canal Street | A E | |||
Chambers Street | A E (at World Trade Center)[a] 2 3 (IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line at Park Place) R W (BMT Broadway Line at Cortlandt Street) |
PATH at World Trade Center
| ||
Fulton Street | ) | PATH at World Trade Center
| ||
Brooklyn | ||||
High Street | A | NYC Ferry: East River and South Brooklyn routes (at Old Fulton Street and Furman Street) | ||
Fulton Street Line | ||||
Jay Street–MetroTech | ) | |||
Hoyt–Schermerhorn Streets | A G (IND Crosstown Line) |
|||
Lafayette Avenue | ||||
Clinton–Washington Avenues | ||||
Franklin Avenue | S (BMT Franklin Avenue Line) | |||
Nostrand Avenue | A | B44 Select Bus Service, LIRR Atlantic Branch at Nostrand Avenue | ||
Kingston–Throop Avenues | B15 bus to JFK Int'l Airport | |||
Utica Avenue | A | B46 Select Bus Service
| ||
Ralph Avenue | ||||
Rockaway Avenue | ||||
Broadway Junction | ) | |||
Liberty Avenue | ||||
Van Siclen Avenue | ||||
Shepherd Avenue | ||||
Euclid Avenue | A |
Notes
References
- ^ 'Subdivision 'B' Car Assignment Effective December 19, 2021'. New York City Transit, Operations Planning. December 17, 2021.
- ^ "Subdivision 'B' Car Assignments: Cars Required November 1, 2021" (PDF). The Bulletin. 64 (12). Electric Railroaders' Association: 3. December 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
- ^ a b "C Subway Timetable, Effective June 26, 2022". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f "Review of the A and C Lines" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. December 11, 2015. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
- ^ "Line Colors". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
- ^ "Gay Midnight Crowd Rides First Trains in New Subway". The New York Times. September 10, 1932. p. 1. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
- ^ a b c d Chiasson, George (November 2011). "A History of the A Train". The Bulletin. 54 (11). Electric Railroaders' Association: 3 – via Issu.
- ^ "City Opens Subway to Brooklyn Today". The New York Times. February 1, 1933. p. 19. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
- ^ "New Subway Link Opens Wednesday: Independent Line Will Offer Express Service to Borough Hall in Brooklyn" (PDF). The New York Times. January 29, 1933. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Korman, Joseph. "IND Subway Services". ERA NY Division Bulletins October and November 1968. Retrieved October 7, 2018 – via thejoekorner.com.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
- ^ Oszustowicz, Eric (March 2006). "A History of the R-1 to R-9 Passenger Car Fleet" (PDF). The Bulletin. 49 (3). Electric Railroaders' Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 27, 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
- ^ a b "Concourse IND Opened 70 Years Ago" (PDF). The New York Division Bulletin. 46 (7). Electric Railroaders' Association: 1, 16. July 2003.
- ^ "Two Subway Links Start Wednesday". The New York Times. April 6, 1936. p. 23. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
- ^ "C Service Between 205th Street and Brooklyn" (PDF). New York Division, Electric Railroaders Association. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
- ^ Linder, Bernard (October 1968). "Independent Subway Service History". New York Division Bulletin. Electric Railroaders' Association.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
- ^ "Service Adjustment on BMT and IND Lines Effective 1 A.M. Monday, Aug. 30". New York City Transit Authority. August 1976. Retrieved October 23, 2016 – via Flickr.
- ^ "Service Adjustments on the BMT and IND Lines Effective Midnight, Saturday, August 27". New York City Transit Authority. 1977. Retrieved June 9, 2016 – via Flickr.
- ^ "Hey, What's a "K" train? 1985 Brochure". New York City Transit Authority. 1985. Retrieved June 17, 2016 – via Flickr.
- ^ Annual Report on ... Rapid Routes Schedules and Service Planning. New York City Transit Authority. 1989. Archived from the original on July 31, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
- ^ "System-Wide Changes In Subway Service Effective Sunday, December 11, 1988". New York City Transit Authority. 1988. Retrieved June 17, 2016 – via Flickr.
- ^ "October 1992 New York City Subway Map". New York City Transit Authority. October 1992. Retrieved October 7, 2018 – via Flickr.
- ^ "May 1994 Subway Map". New York City Transit. May 1994. Retrieved October 7, 2018 – via Flickr.
- ^ "March 1, 1998 B C Routes are switching places above 145 St". New York City Transit. March 1998. Retrieved October 23, 2016 – via Flickr.
- ^ "Changes in B & C service". New York Daily News. February 24, 1998. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
- ^ Donohue, Pete (September 23, 2001). "Traffic nightmare looming, but help near for drivers, straphangers". New York Daily News. pp. 38–39. Retrieved July 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "9/11 Service Changes". Second Ave. Sagas. September 11, 2007. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
- ^ "Map of 9/11 service changes". www.nycsubway.org. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
- ^ "MANH/BKLYN, A and C Train, No C Train Service". mymtaalerts.com. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. March 29, 2020. Archived from the original on April 29, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ Martinez, Jose (April 28, 2020). "Subway Service Slowly Gets Back On Track As Transit Workers Return". The City. Archived from the original on April 29, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ "Update: QNS, C Train, No Scheduled Service". mymtaalerts.com. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. April 28, 2020. Archived from the original on April 29, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ Guse, Clayton (March 18, 2021). "Union sues to stop MTA reduced service on C and F subway lines". New York Daily News. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
- ^ Nessen, Stephen (March 30, 2021). "MTA Will Restore Full Subway Service On C And F Lines". Gothamist. Archived from the original on March 30, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ Hallum, Mark (March 30, 2021). "MTA to restore full C, F train service while subway boss Feinberg hints at return to 24-hour system". amNewYork. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
- ^ "State of the Subways 2012 table". straphangers.org. Straphangers Campaign. 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
- ^ a b c Santora, Marc (June 6, 2017). "How Did the Subway Get So Bad? Look to the C Train". The New York Times. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
- ^ Bechtel, Allyson (April 24, 2020). "Car assignments – effective April 27, 2020". New York City Transit Authority. Archived from the original on April 26, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
- Daily News. New York. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
- ^ Chiasson, George (November 2010). "New York City Subway Car Update" (PDF). The Bulletin. 53 (11). Electric Railroaders' Association: 5. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
- ^ Chiasson, George (February 2012). "New York City Subway Car Update" (PDF). The Bulletin. 55 (2). Electric Railroaders' Association: 19–20. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
- ^ Barone, Vincent (December 18, 2017). "MTA adds longer cars to C trains to alleviate rush-hour crush". AM New York. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- ^ "Subdivision 'B' Car Assignments: Cars Required November 4, 2018" (PDF). The Bulletin. 61 (12). Electric Railroaders' Association: 5. December 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 5, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
- ^ "Subdivision 'B' Car Assignments: Cars Required April 29, 2019" (PDF). The Bulletin. 62 (6). Electric Railroaders' Association: 4. June 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 6, 2019. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
- ^ Rivoli, Dan (January 9, 2019). "NYC Transit's new subway cars suffering on the tracks, dozens pulled from rails". New York Daily News. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
- ^ "MTA Pulls Nearly 300 Brand New Subway Cars Over Door Problems". NBC New York. January 8, 2020. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
- ^ Guse, Clayton (January 9, 2020). "Out with the new, in with the old as MTA puts 55-year-old cars on A, C, J and Z lines after contractor's latest train screw up". New York Daily News. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
- ^ MTA (June 3, 2020). "New York City Transit Interim President Sarah Feinberg Launches Investigation into Chambers Street Station Incident". MTA. Archived from the original on June 3, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
- ^ Martinez, Jose (March 10, 2023). "Railfans Flock to A Train for Big Reveal: NYC's First New Subway Cars in Years". The City. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
- ^ Siff, Andrew (February 1, 2024). "MTA debuts new 'open gangway' subway cars. Here's why you'll like them". NBC New York. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
- ^ a b c Brachfeld, Ben (May 4, 2023). "MTA details subway service expansions coming to 12 lines, starting this summer". amNewYork. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
- ^ Izzo, Christina (May 8, 2023). "Changes are coming to the G, J and M trains this summer". Time Out New York. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
- ^ "MTA Announces Next Phase of Service Increases to Begin on 1 and 6 Subway Lines". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
- ^ "MTA Announces Rollout of Subway Service Enhancements Starting This Summer". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. May 4, 2023. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
- ^ "Subway Service Guide" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. September 2019. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
- ^ "Station Complexes". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. May 28, 2019. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
External links
- MTA NYC Transit – C Eighth Avenue Local
- MTA Subway Time—C Train
- "C Subway Timetable, Effective June 26, 2022". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
- MTA NYC Transit – A C Line Review