By Gus Saltonstall
Significant changes to a pair of Upper West Side train lines will go into effect at the start of next week.
On Monday, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced that weekday rush hour service enhancements will begin on May 18, including for the 2 and 3 train lines.
“Some train trips during AM and PM rush hours are shifting earlier or later across [these] subway lines to better align with ridership patterns,” the MTA wrote in an email to the press, which added that the changes will help more than 1.2 million daily riders.
What does that mean, exactly?
The MTA is adding one northbound 2 train trip each hour from 6 to 7 a.m., 7 to 8 a.m., 8 to 9 a.m., and 5 to 6 p.m. It is also eliminating one northbound 2 train from 5 to 6 a.m., 9 to 10 a.m., and 6 to 7 p.m.
Changes are also coming to the 3 train line.
The MTA is adding one northbound 3 train trip from 7 to 8 a.m., 7 to 8 p.m., and 9 to 10 p.m., while removing a northbound 3 train from 10 to 11 a.m., and 6 to 7 p.m.
The state agency is then adding one southbound 3 train trip from 5 to 6 a.m., 7 to 8 a.m., 6 to 7 p.m., and 7 to 8 p.m., but removing a southbound 3 train trip from 8 to 9 a.m., 9 to 10 a.m., and 4 to 5 p.m.
An additional weekday change will see the MTA operate five southbound 2 train trips on the local track between Times Square-42nd Street and Chambers Street between 11:15 p.m. and 12:15 a.m. to reduce the possibility that the 2 and 3 trains will delay one another.
There are also changes coming to the 4 and 5 lines, but those don’t make stops on the Upper West Side.
You can check out a full breakdown of the changes — HERE.
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I am all happy for more trains
. But this costs money. How exactly will the MTA pay for this? I hope the most recent subway fare increase pays for this.,because I do noooot look forward to paying even more.
This does not cost money. As the article and the MTA’s own material state, there is no net increase in service or cost. They are just shifting existing trains into/out of different hours.
Wait, doesn’t every added train seem to be countered with a removed train at a less busy hour ? That is how I read the above, almost a swap
Maybe the governor will bail out the MTA
and we can delay their pension payments. Just like the mayor!
The congestion charge is helping to pay for improvements to the subway.
If you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you. MTA wastes millions on fare cards. Tokens cost nothing.
You mean the fare cards that have already been phased out? And the tokens that haven’t been used in 20+ years? Peak WSR comment.
How so? They have to be fabricated, just like cards.
It’s also removing 6 trains.
It will be paid for by the warm embrace of collectivism.
Worth doing the math on what this actually means for UWS commuters. The net is +3 trains per day across both lines, but the 3 train southbound is losing trips at 8–9am and 9–10am. And both the 2 and 3 are cutting a northbound trip from 6–7pm. They are making cuts during peak rush hour and presenting it as a service improvement. Pretty ridiculous.
Please add more trains on the 1,2, and 3 and make them go faster.
Sounds more like minor changes.
“It is also eliminating one northbound 2 train from 5 to 6 a.m.,” I feel bad for the folks who have to get to work in the early morning and now have to wait longer on the train platform. It’s already scary enough – making people wait there longer is making their hard schedule even harder.
It’s going to effect me I catch the 5:25a train at Nevins I guess it’s getting cut
Who cares. subways are dangerous and scary and I always have to wait a long time and always packed and I am a senior I hardly ride them anymore they are scary dangerous always crowded
Susan, I’m sorry that you feel scared and find that the trains are dangerous and always crowded and you are always waiting a long time.
I’m also a senior, but I think the trains are awesome. They are crowded at rush hour but nothing like they were when I was in high school (in the 1970s) and we were packed in like sardines, so crowded that you couldn’t move at all. They aren’t crowded at other times, quite often I get a seat. At most times of day (not at 5:30 am, though) the west side trains run very often. I can’t remember ever waiting more than perhaps 6 minutes. Sure, they aren’t really pleasant, but they give us amazing transportation, and being a senior the price is quite good.
Totally agree. I’m a senior too and the subway is my first choice for transportation.
These are major subway changes? Come on, guys!
Bring back the 9 train!
So someone is finally actually making changes using logic and common sense based on the stats. What a refreshing change!
There’s no logic for removing one southbound #3 during 8am-9am rush hour without a corresponding addition to the #2 line, which will likely delay or inconvenience Bronx & Manh. riders who must report to work by 9, or shortly theresfter.
Anyone remember the good old days when most things actually worked?
Not really
who can remember this???!!!
dang, I was hoping my prayers for a weekend B train had finally been answered. one day…
MTA reconfiguring the schedule so better service for some – and worse service for others.
In the meantime, Mayor giving more money so City DOT can expand bike lanes.
If City has so much money, it should increase contribution to State MTA for essential bus and subway – not expand bike lanes
“An additional weekday change will see the MTA operate five southbound 2 train trips on the local track between Times Square-42nd Street and Chambers Street between 11:15 p.m. and 12:15 a.m. to reduce the possibility that the 2 and 3 trains will delay one another.”
Misleading. That really means all five EXISTING trains in that time slot will run local instead of express.
And what a weird rationale. How could #2 and #3 trains running x minutes apart during rush hour not be MORE likely to delay each other than the same trains running 2x minutes apart at midnight?