The Most Popular Subway Line in NYC, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the subway line you think is the most popular!
Updated on May 11, 2024 06:52
In a bustling city like New York, where the subway system is a lifeline for millions, knowing the most favored lines can significantly enhance daily commuting experiences. With countless residents and tourists navigating these routes daily, preferences and opinions on the best lines vary, often reflecting reliability, cleanliness, and speed.
By participating in these rankings, users have the opportunity to voice their preferences, potentially influencing future improvements or highlighting the best features of popular lines. Each vote contributes to a broader community effort to identify which subway services stand out from the rest and why they are preferred by the majority.
What Is the Most Popular Subway Line in NYC?
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140votesThe 1 train is the busiest subway line in NYC, serving several major destinations such as Times Square, Penn Station, and the South Ferry Terminal. It runs 24/7 and has more than 1.5 million daily riders.The 1 train is one of the busiest and most popular subway lines in New York City. It runs along the eastern side of Manhattan, from the northern tip at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx to South Ferry in Lower Manhattan. The line continues as a shuttle service known as the 'S' train to 42nd Street-Times Square. The 1 train is known for its historic stations, scenic views of the Hudson River, and its connections to major tourist attractions and neighborhoods.
- Operational Length: 13.4 miles
- Number of Stations: 38
- Total Track Length: 26.4 miles
- Service Hours: 24 hours
- Average Weekday Ridership: more than 500,000
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226votesThe A train is a popular subway line that runs from northern Manhattan to Far Rockaway in Queens. It serves several major destinations such as JFK Airport, Times Square, and Columbus Circle. It is also the longest subway line in NYC.The A train is a popular subway line in NYC that connects Inwood in Manhattan with the Far Rockaway area in Queens. It is known for its express service and frequent operation.
- Length: 31 miles (50 km)
- Stations: 48
- Boroughs Served: Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens
- Operational Hours: 24 hours
- Express Service Availability: Weekdays and weekends
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316votes
Jorvik · CC BY-SA 3.0The L train is a popular subway line that runs from Brooklyn to Manhattan. It serves several popular neighborhoods such as Williamsburg, Bushwick, and Union Square. Despite recent service disruptions, it remains a popular line with more than 400,000 daily riders.The L train is a subway line in New York City that runs from Eighth Avenue in Manhattan to Canarsie–Rockaway Parkway in Brooklyn. It is one of the most popular subway lines due to its accessibility, frequent service, and connections to various neighborhoods in both boroughs.- Length: 31.5 miles (50.7 km)
- Number of Stations: 24
- Boroughs Served: Manhattan and Brooklyn
- Operational Since: 1924
- Average Weekday Ridership: 225,000 (pre-pandemic)
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416votes
S23725 · CC BY-SA 4.0The 7 train is a popular subway line that runs from Manhattan to Queens. It serves several major destinations such as Grand Central Terminal, Times Square, and Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. It is also known as the "International Express" due to the diverse communities it serves.The 7 train, also known as the Flushing Line, is one of the most popular subway lines in NYC. It primarily serves Queens and connects to Manhattan. The route stretches from Flushing in Queens to Times Square in Manhattan, making stops in major neighborhoods such as Long Island City, Sunnyside, Woodside, Jackson Heights, and Flushing.- Length: 22.7 miles
- Number of stations: 22
- Boroughs served: Queens and Manhattan
- Year opened: 1915
- Operating hours: 24/7
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58votes
Brady-Handy Photograph Collection (Library of Congress) · Public domainThe N/Q/R train is a popular subway line that runs from Brooklyn to Manhattan. It serves several major destinations such as Times Square, Union Square, and Canal Street. It is also known for its distinctive yellow color.The N/Q/R train is a subway line in New York City that serves Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and Astoria, connecting various neighborhoods and providing commuters with a convenient transportation option.- Line Length: approximately 33.8 miles
- Number of Stations: approximately 62 stations
- Boroughs served: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Astoria
- Start and End Points: Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue in Brooklyn and Astoria–Ditmars Boulevard in Queens
- Operational Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
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614votes
trailer screenshot (United Artists) - DVD bonus · Public domainThe J/Z train is a popular subway line that runs from Brooklyn to Manhattan. It serves several major destinations such as the World Trade Center, Fulton Street, and Wall Street. It is also known for its distinctive brown color.The J/Z train is a subway line in New York City that primarily operates between Jamaica Center in Queens and Broad Street in Manhattan. It serves as part of the B Division, which means it operates on tracks that are wider and have larger trains compared to the A Division lines. The J/Z train is known for its brown color and runs 24/7, providing a crucial transportation option for residents and visitors in the areas it serves.- First Operation: 1914
- Total Length: 19.4 miles (31.2 km)
- Operational status: Active
- Route: Brooklyn to Queens
- Number of stations: 28
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73votesThe F train is a popular subway line that runs from Brooklyn to Queens. It serves several major destinations such as Coney Island, Times Square, and Rockefeller Center. It is also known for its distinctive orange color.The F train is a major subway line in New York City that traverses from Jamaica, Queens to Coney Island, Brooklyn. It is one of the busiest subway lines in the city, serving as a crucial transportation route for residents and tourists alike.
- Operational Length: 29.06 miles (46.73 km)
- Number of Stations: 44
- Boroughs Served: Queens, Manhattan, and Brooklyn
- First Operation: December 15, 1940
- Track Gauge: 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
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813votes
Jorvik · CC BY-SA 3.0The 6 train is a popular subway line that runs from the Bronx to Manhattan. It serves several major destinations such as Grand Central Terminal, Union Square, and City Hall. It is also known for its distinctive green color.The 6 train is one of the most popular subway lines in New York City. It serves the East Side of Manhattan and connects to the Bronx. The line runs from Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx to Brooklyn Bridge–City Hall in Lower Manhattan.
- Number of stops: 38
- Total Length: 17.4 miles
- Operational since: 1918
- Boroughs served: Bronx and Manhattan
- Average weekday ridership: 782,660
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913votesThe E train is a popular subway line that runs from Queens to Manhattan. It serves several major destinations such as Penn Station, Times Square, and the World Trade Center. It is also known for its distinctive blue color.The E train is one of the busiest and most popular subway lines in New York City. It serves as a vital transportation link for residents and visitors alike, connecting various neighborhoods and providing access to key destinations.
- Line Length: 31.8 miles (51.2 km)
- Number of Stations: 36
- Service Frequency: Every 10 minutes during peak hours, every 20 minutes off-peak
- Operating Hours: 24/7
- Terminal Stations: Jamaica Center–Parsons/Archer in Queens, World Trade Center in Manhattan
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1011votesThe 2/3 train is a popular subway line that runs from the Bronx to Brooklyn. It serves several major destinations such as Times Square, Fulton Street, and Borough Hall. It is also known for its distinctive red color.The 2/3 train is a subway line in New York City. It is part of the city's extensive subway system and one of the most popular lines for commuters and tourists alike. The line serves Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx, connecting various neighborhoods and key destinations.
- Length: 33.5 miles (53.9 km)
- Stations: 27
- Boroughs served: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx
- Terminuses: Flatbush Avenue – Brooklyn College, 96th Street
- Service type: Local (all stops), express (during peak hours)
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Ranking factors for popular subway line
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RidershipThe number of commuters that use the subway line on a regular basis.
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AccessibilityThe ease with which commuters can access the subway line at different points in the city.
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ConvenienceThe frequency and reliability of subway trains during peak and non-peak hours.
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InterconnectivityThe subway line's links with other subway lines and transit systems in the city.
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CoverageThe extent to which the subway line covers important destinations and neighborhoods in the city.
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SafetyThe subway line's safety record and perception among commuters.
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ComfortThe quality and cleanliness of subway cars and stations.
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AffordabilityThe cost of riding the subway, including fares and other fees.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most popular subway line in NYC. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or subway line is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 2331 views
- 155 votes
- 10 ranked items
Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each subway line once every 24 hours. The rank of each subway line is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
More information on most popular subway line in nyc
New York City is famous for its extensive subway system that spans 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The subway system is the backbone of the city's transportation, with millions of commuters taking it every day to get to work, school, or just to explore the city. With over 665 miles of track, the New York City subway system is the largest in the United States and one of the largest in the world. The system comprises 27 different subway lines, each serving different parts of the city. While every line has its own unique characteristics, some of them stand out as more popular than others. In this article, we'll be taking a closer look at the most popular subway line in NYC.
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