List of unused or defunct New York City Subway services facts for kids
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) runs the New York City Subway, one of the biggest subway systems in the world! Have you ever wondered why some letters and numbers are missing from the subway maps? It's because the MTA has special reasons for not using them. These reasons help keep the system clear and easy to understand for everyone.
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Why Some Letters Aren't Used
The MTA avoids using certain letters for subway lines to prevent confusion or awkward situations.
Letters That Look Like Numbers
: The letter I looks a lot like the number 1. Imagine trying to tell the difference quickly on a busy platform!
: The letter O looks just like the number 0. This could be very confusing for riders.
Letters That Sound Funny
: The letter P sounds like the word "pee." The MTA wants to avoid anything that might sound silly or rude.
: The letter U sounds like the word "you." This could make announcements confusing.
: The letter Y sounds like the word "why." Again, this could lead to misunderstandings when talking about subway lines.
Secret Letters and Numbers for Computers
Even though you don't see them on public maps, the MTA uses some special numbers and letters behind the scenes. These are mainly for their computers to keep track of trains.
How Shuttles Are Tracked
The three short subway lines called "shuttles" all use the letter S on maps. This can be tricky for computers to tell them apart. So, the MTA uses different internal codes for them:
: The number 0 helps computers identify the 42nd Street Shuttle.
: The letter H is used for the Rockaway Park Shuttle. You might have seen the H on maps before 2012. It was used when Hurricane Sandy caused damage, and the regular Line A couldn't run.
Letters Saved for Future Plans
The MTA is always planning new subway lines or changes. They keep certain letters "reserved" for these future projects.
Planning for New Lines
: The letter T is reserved for a new line that will run when the Second Avenue Subway project is fully finished.
: The letter X is a placeholder for a future service. The MTA hasn't decided yet what number or letter it will officially become.
Subway Lines That Are No Longer Running
Over the years, some subway lines have been changed or stopped completely. Here are a few examples of letters and numbers that used to be on the maps but aren't anymore.
Old Numbers and Letters
: The number 8 used to be for trains on the IRT Third Avenue Line. This line stopped running on April 28, 1973, when the Third Avenue Line was closed.
: The number 9 was an express version of Line 1. It made fewer stops. However, it caused other trains on the same line to be delayed. So, Line 9 stopped running on May 27, 2005.
: The letter K was for trains on the IND Eighth Avenue Line. It ran between 168th Street and World Trade Center. Line K stopped running on December 11, 1988.
: The letter V was for trains on the IND Sixth Avenue Line. It ran between Forest Hills–71st Avenue and Lower East Side–Second Avenue. Line V stopped running on June 25, 2010, because the MTA didn't have enough money to keep it going.
Special Displays on Subway Trains
Even though some numbers and letters aren't used for regular lines, some older subway cars could still display them.
Older Train Displays
: Some older trains, like the R62 and R62A models, could show these numbers. When these trains were new, the MTA thought about using separate numbers for express lines instead of diamond shapes.
: Other older trains, like the R32 and R32A models, could display these letters. This allowed the MTA to use them for special services, especially during emergencies.
Modern Digital Displays
Newer subway trains, such as the R142, R143, R160, R179, and R188 models, have digital displays. This means they can easily show any service number or letter the MTA needs, making them very flexible!
