MagCloud

Though the New
York City subway is
by far the busiest
subway system in
the United States
with 1.7 billion riders
annually, it’s only
the seventh-busiest
system in the world.
Tokyo, the world’s
busiest system,
sees nearly twice as
many riders a year.
No G to Manhattan
By annual ridership, the New York City Subway is the busiest
rapid transit rail system in the United States and in the Americas,
as well as the seventh busiest rapid transit rail system in the
world; the metro (subway) systems in Seoul, Beijing, Shanghai,
Moscow, Tokyo, and Guangzhou record a higher annual ridership.
It offers rail service 24 hours every day of the year.
Stations are located throughout the boroughs of Manhattan,
Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. While Staten Island does
have a rail line, the Staten Island Railway, it is not officially considered
part of the subway, and does not have any direct rail link
with the subway system, so any Staten Island passengers wishing
to visit another borough must take a ferry or bus. The Port
Authority Trans-Hudson and the AirTrain JFK, in Manhattan
and Queens respectively, accept the subway’s MetroCard but are
not part of the subway; thus, free transfers are not allowed.
All services pass through Manhattan except for the G train,
the Franklin Avenue Shuttle, and the Rockaway Park Shuttle.
Large portions of the subway outside Manhattan are elevated,
on embankments, or in open cuts, and a few stretches of track
run at ground level. In total, 40% of track is not underground
despite the “subway” moniker.
Many lines and stations have both express and local services.
These lines have three or four tracks. Normally, the outer two
are used for local trains, while the inner one or two are used
for express trains. Stations served by express trains are typically
major transfer points or destinations.
28 VAYVEN
Take the A Train