A-C (New York City Subway service)
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The A Eighth Avenue Express and C Eighth Avenue Local are two services of the New York City Subway. They are colored blue, since they use the IND Eighth Avenue Line through Manhattan. The longest one-seat ride on the subway system is on the A, 31 miles (50 km) from Inwood, Manhattan, to Far Rockaway, Queens. The normal A service pattern is from 207th Street in Inwood to Lefferts Boulevard in Ozone Park, Queens, or to Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue in Far Rockaway, Queens, running express in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Some rush hour trips run to Rockaway Park-Beach 116th Street; the Template:NYCS S Rockaway Rockaway Park Shuttle serves Beach 116th Street at all times. C trains run local along this route from 168th Street in Washington Heights, Manhattan, to Euclid Avenue in Brooklyn. During late nights, when C service doesn't run, A service runs local to Far Rockaway only; a special shuttle (the Lefferts Boulevard Shuttle) runs from Euclid Avenue to Lefferts Boulevard. Because the two lines run together for a large portion of their lengths, they are often called simply the A–C.
Billy Strayhorn's jazz hit "Take the A Train" (popularized in 1941 by Duke Ellington) made the A train famous. It is among the better-known trains in the system.
The following lines are used by the A and C (the latter of which has no late night service):
Line | Tracks | When |
---|---|---|
IND Eighth Avenue Line north of 168th Street | N/A | always (A only) |
IND Eighth Avenue Line south of 168th Street | A express (local late nights) C local | always |
IND Fulton Street Line north of Euclid Avenue | A express (local late nights) C local | always |
IND Fulton Street Line south of Euclid Avenue | local | always (A only) |
IND Rockaway Line to Far Rockaway (full line) | N/A | always (A only) |
IND Rockaway Line to Beach 116th Street (full line) | N/A | A rush hours, peak direction only |
Contents |
Service history
A and AA
Template:Rollsign | Template:Rollsign |
1967-1979 bullets (in a circle)
|
The A and AA were the first services on the IND Eighth Avenue Line when it opened on September 10, 1932. The A ran express between 207th Street and Hudson Terminal (today's World Trade Center station), and the AA was a local between 168th Street and Chambers Street (adjacent to Hudson Terminal). During late nights and Sundays, the A didn't run and the AA made all stops along the line.
C and CC
Template:Rollsign |
1967-1979 bullet (in a circle)
|
The C and CC began operation on July 1, 1933 over the new IND Concourse Line. The CC provided continuous local service between 205th Street and Hudson Terminal (possibly cut back to Bedford Park Boulevard while the C ran in that direction), while the C express ran only in the peak direction during rush hours, continuing through downtown to Bergen Street in Brooklyn.
Detailed history
The A was extended to Jay Street–Borough Hall on February 1, 1933, when the Cranberry Street Tunnel to Brooklyn opened; an extension to Bergen Street opened on March 20, and to Church Avenue on October 7.
On April 9, 1936, the IND Fulton Street Line was opened to Rockaway Avenue. On December 30, 1946 and November 28, 1948, the line was extended to Broadway–East New York (i.e., Broadway Junction) and Euclid Avenue, respectively.
On April 29, 1956, Grant Avenue was opened, and the line was extended over the BMT Fulton Street Line to Lefferts Boulevard.
Two months later on June 28, 1956, the former Long Island Rail Road Rockaway Line was converted to subway specifications, and service began to Rockaway Park and Wavecrest (Beach 25th Street). At this time, rush hour express service on the Fulton Street Line with the Template:NYCS E (C beginning in 1976) begins.
On January 16, 1958, a new terminal was created at Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue, and the through connection to the Long Island Rail Road's Far Rockaway station was severed.
In 1963, the Template:NYCS E became the express to the Rockaways, and the A ran local to Euclid Avenue or Lefferts Boulevard at all times. (Template:NYCS H shuttle service from Euclid Avenue provided all service to the Rockaways).
On July 9, 1967, the A was extended to Far Rockaway middays, evenings, and weekends.
In 1972, the A was extended to the Rockaways at all times, replacing the H shuttle.
On January 2, 1973, the A became the express service along Fulton Street.
In 1986, the practice of using double letters to indicate local service was discontinued. The AA was renamed the Template:NYCS K.
In 1988, the A, C, and Template:NYCS K lines underwent service changes. The Template:NYCS K was discontinued, and the C was extended to run at all times except late nights. It ran local to Euclid Avenue midday and rush hours (the A ran express in Brooklyn during this time) and to World Trade Center during evenings and weekends.
Until 1990, the main service was to Lefferts Boulevard, while the Far Rockaway service did not run late nights; at this time, a transfer to a shuttle at Euclid Avenue was available. Since then, this pattern has been switched, with late-night A service running to Far Rockaway only. A shuttle now provides service from Euclid Avenue to Lefferts Boulevard during late nights. A few years later, special A service began running from Beach 116th Street to 207th Street during the morning rush and from 59th Street–Columbus Circle to Beach 116th Street during the evening rush.
On March 1, 1998, the Template:NYCS B and C lines switched northern terminals. C trains began to terminate at 168th Street.
In 1999, C service ran local to Euclid Avenue and A trains ran express in Brooklyn at all times except late nights.
After the September 11, 2001 attacks, C service was suspended until September 21, 2001. Template:NYCS E service was extended from Canal Street to Euclid Avenue at all times except late nights. A trains took over service to 163rd Street–Amsterdam Avenue and 155th Street at all times. Template:NYCS D trains ran local between 145th Street and 59th Street on weekends.
On January 23, 2005, a control room at Chambers Street caught fire, crippling A and C service. Contrary to initial assessments, regular service resumed just a few months later, on April 21.
Station listing
For a more detailed station listing, see the articles on the lines listed above.
External links
- MTA NYC Transit - A Eighth Avenue Express
- MTA NYC Transit - C Eighth Avenue Local
- MTA NYC Transit - A schedule (PDF)
- MTA NYC Transit - C schedule (PDF)
References
- Line By Line History
- IND Subway Services
- City Opens Subway to Brooklyn Today, New York Times February 1, 1933 page 19
- City Subway Adds a New Link Today, New York Times March 20, 1933 page 17
- New Bronx Subway Starts Operation, New York Times July 1, 1933 page 15