NYC's silliest subway train (G Train)
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- čas přidán 10. 03. 2023
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The G train of the New York subway is one of the most notorious lines out of the entire NYC subway system. Not only is it the shortest train but it's also the only train that does not travel in and out of Manhattan. Main traveling trough Brooklyn and a small portion of Queens, the G train is the unofficial mascot of Brooklyn and has become a modern meme. Learn more about the New York subway's G train in this video.
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The G does have the best view of any line in the City of New York - the Smith-9th Sts station is high above the Gowanus Canal to be able to clear ocean going ships, and offers a fantastic view of Manhattan.
czcams.com/video/zfTv_fzTGcc/video.html
Tallest station in the world!
The F also has the same view tho
True about the F. Trying to show the G some love.
my friend and i got lost on the g train on a trip and ended up having to switch directions at this station at like 2 am! it was almost worth it to see the view
To explain more on your comment about the G train switching from older to newer cars: Because the MTA is in the process of expanding CBTC (the mostly-automatic system that runs on the 7 and L trains), they wanted to streamline the maintenance of cars equipped with CBTC, and have them all at Jamaica. This meant that they took the newer cars off the N, Q, and W trains, and moved them over to Jamaica (Instead of Coney Island), which meant that the G now runs newer trains, while the older ones on the G were moved to the N, Q, and W. Also if you didn't notice, the new R211 trains entered service yesterday on the A!
Thanks for sharing! I don't ride the A often enough, hopefully I can catch one of those trains.
@@UrbanCaffeine take the A train then
doesnt queens blvd also have cbtc? i think it does but just for the portion of queens blvd because the R got r160s to accommodate and the rest of broadway is running r46 and r68s
question: does cbtc allow for full automatic trains without the operator having to accelerate and decelerate the trains?
and culver is getting it next so hopefully that includes the g cuz the g is honestly a sigma for its service
more service should be prioritized over more cars, and hopefully the f can run full culver exp when the g gets more service
@@UrbanCaffeine it seems to be running everyday, so if you want to catch it, just wait at an A train station like 207, 175, Chambers, Fulton, or High
@@dorf33 CBTC is simply a signalling system which can be used in ATP (Automatic Train Protection) Mode. What really helps with Automation, is ATO (Automatic Train Operation) the drivers input is only pushing and holding the ATO button for 1-2 seconds, then the train begins to move. Then every 15 seconds an alarm will sound and the operator has to reset it in 5 seconds, if it isn’t reset, the train gets thrown into emergency.
A few things:
1) The G serves downtown Brooklyn, which is basically a mini-Manhattan. It also serves quite a few high schools and colleges
2) Although the G doesn’t serve Manhattan, it connects to many lines that serve Manhattan. The most popular transfer points are Court Square, Metropolitan Avenue, and Hoyt Schermerhorn.
Insult to humanity to call Brooklyn “mini-Manhattan”
@@qwerty112311 downtown Brooklyn is similar to Manhattan
@@christakanst7014 lying is a sin
@@qwerty112311 frfr
@@qwerty112311 He just called Downtown Brooklyn mini-Manhattan, not all of Brooklyn.
Interesting thing about the train lengths. While the G does run with 5 cars, they aren't any longer than the 4 car trains. The older type, the R68's (and similar R46 and R44 cars) are 75 feet long, while the newer R160s use 60 ft cars. So a 4-car set of R68's is just as long as a 5-car set of R160's
ah, yes, the g sprint. the g stops at my nearest train station and i can always tell who's taking it by how fast they walk to the middle of the platform
The M’s termini situation is a result of it being a consolidation of the V & Nassau St M line. The original M service went to Southern Brooklyn via Nassau St
Wouldn’t it be overestimating its length?
A Bronx/Queens Connection would help alleviate Manhattan traffic tremendously. It's a far bigger need than a new Brooklyn/Queens line.
The Interborough Express was originally planned to go up to the Bronx, but they cut it back to end in Jackson Heights due to issues with the right of way going through Randall's Island
@@MoTheAviatorinteresting. I did not realize that.
Completely agree.
Something no one ever talk about. It's because most people commute from those boros to nyc
The G is actually 5 cars now ever since they started running the newer trains on it. It was 4 cars with the older trains
She mentioned that
The older train cars are 75 feet long, the newer are 60 so same length but more doors now.
What cars do they use now? The r179. It’s still the same overall length the cars are just smaller
@@dubreil07 r160
@@3hukwumayea same as r179 the cars are smaller than r68 so it’s similar length overall when they were 4 cars
Well done and accurate! When lines had names the G was called Crosstown. The line opened north of Nassau Ave mid 1933 and south of Nassau mid 1937.
The worst part of the G train is the lack of direct transfer with the J/Z lines. It runs right by it and is literally one block away. So frustrating as someone who lives right on the J and struggles to get to Greenpoint or deeper in Brooklyn easily
They should offer a free out of system transfer from Lorimer Street on the (J) and (M) lines to the Broadway Union Avenue (G) line station, and problem solved.
It's literally right below the J/Z at Broadway. Manhattan is the main focus of the MTA. That's where most of the jobs are
@@Jmar1024 I get they run by another, but it's not a free transfer. It should be.
@@TheAmazingallan oh I know. I totally agree with u
Wow so the lack of train availabilities to matching with frequencies of service is why the G got shorter in 2010, can’t believe I never realized that till now. Thanks for the info!
That was actually some really good and accurate math she did because that was the EXACT reason. More shorter trains to basically move the same amount of people. Well played game by the MTA.
Can't really see how thats possible because the rearranging would mean MTA would anyways needa buy new cab cars.
@@Mgameing123 remember there are some R46s set up as married pairs, and the yard was able to mix and match A and B cars. Either way, they did the math to make sure everything was set up right.
You're a natural gifted comedienne...this video is SOOOO TRUE.....I love it!
Fun fact: Every station after smith 9th st on the (G) line is a different shade of green. Well because it’s the (G) train and Green starts with green of course. That’s my fav part of the (G) 🟢 line
Pro Tip: If you want to get from Forest Hills -71st Avenue to Metropolitan Avenue vice versa without going through Manhattan take the M or R train to 63rd Drive and take the Q38 bus. That is from a motorman on the MTA. (G)reat video on the G line. I'm very glad that is getting much attention. Also to point out the G train used to end as Smith & 9th Streets when it ran from Forest Hills Continental Avenue then later was extended down to Church Avenue. One reason was provide better employee facilities on the other end of the terminal whereas at Smith & 9th there wasn't any until returning to Court Square or Forest Hills-71st Avenue
Why doesn’t the G train go on forest hills
Such a fun video! I'm new on New York as an International student. I am just so fascinated with NYC subway haha
Due to the fact about the addition of a 5th car when the train model was changed, here’s a short summary of the NYC subway’s current fleet.
Oldest trains (70s and 80s): Seats inside are red, orange, and yellow, and in the lettered lines, they also have window seats that face forwards. Also in the case of the lettered lines, each train car is longer (a failed experiment, they were shorter before they made these too,) but they tend to run in consists of 4 or 8 cars rather than 5 or 10. This is what you noticed with the switch to 5 cars.
The very oldest of these have some wood grain finish inside, and those in particular are being phased out. The rest have shiny metal interiors.
Earlier new-tech trains (1999-2018-ish): Seats are light blue benches. Interior has more plastic finishing. On the lettered lines, for every 4 cars on the old trains, 1 car is added on these due to their shorter length.
The latest new-tech trains (2023-present): Same length. Seats are dark blue benches, with yellow fold-up benches for ADA purposes. Interior is similar to the older 2000s cars but more advertisement screens and other tech. Other notable changes include security cameras, also wider doors but narrower windows. They’re testing a version with the ability to walk between cars on the C line, similar to that accordion-like hinge on the longer city buses.
The trains on the numbered lines are all the same length and car count between older and newer tech, but everything else is applicable. They don’t have the super new ones yet though: that’s gonna be a ways away.
The trains on the numbered lines are narrower. A lettered line type train would not fit inside a numbered line tunnel, while a numbered train on a letter line will cause a dangerous gap between a train and platform. The reason for the 2 standards of train size is because they were originally 2 separate systems!
Fleet models:
R44/R46: oldest trains in service on the lettered lines A, C, N, Q, W, (R46 only), and Staten Island Railway (R44 only.) Identified in interior by wood grain finish on ends and below arm rests. G line used to have R46.
R62/R62A: older numbered line train. Most commonly seen on 1,3,6 lines and Times Square shuttle.
R68/R68A: same as R62/R62A, but made for lettered lines. Seen most often on B,D,N,Q, Franklin and Rockaway shuttles, and formerly the G.
R142/R142A/R188: newer trains on the numbered lines. R188 is for 7 line only. R142/R142A are seen on 2,4,5.
R143/R160A/R160B/R179: newer trains on the lettered lines. Usually R143 for L, J, Z. R160 for G, J, Z, F, M, R. R179 for A, C, E, G.
R211A/R211S: newest trains on the lettered lines. R211A’s are currently run on A train only. R211S version is yet to be launched, and is designed for the Staten Island Railway.
R211T: test of open gangway (walk through) trains on the C line. There is an option to make more for lettered lines if they work well and passengers are happy.
R262: planned to basically be a version of the R211A or R211T, but for the numbered lines. Supposed to replace R62/R62A
There are more subtle differences between, for example, R143/160A/B/179, including the manufacturers and specific years or minor design changes. There are also specific propulsion noises when arriving and leaving stations that can be used to identify the train model without looking, but I won’t get in to these too much.
I live out in Brownsville, Eastern Brooklyn. The L train is likewise very convenient, to go straight through Brooklyn into 14 th street Manhattan while avoiding the downtown bottleneck that the 3 or 4 train have to travel through. I love train and subway information, I have ridden every line in the NYC Subway, I even had train sets as a child. Thanks for posting an excellent informative video. Subbed!
"Soon" the IBX will run along the L on the structure in Brownsville. It's the abandoned track along Van Sindren
My mom grew up in Borough Park and I think she used the G train frequently. Good memories for her.
Hi Thea I never been on the G train. The G short train story reminds me of taking the 7 train to Shea Stadium in the early 1980's on weekends. NYC was cutting back on subway services. On the weekend the 7 train got much shorter from 11 cars down to 6 cars. I wasn't happy about this. That made the train over crowded, and I didn't want to wait for the next subway because it seemed like they were running on the same schedule as the SIRR every 30 minutes I enjoy listening to the history of the G train. Congrats on 89k views and 3.3k likes. I just gave this video a thumbs up as well 😎👍
excellent video Thea - Being the train nerd that I am I will definitely take a ride on the G train when I next visit NYC in May. Love the idea of the IBX as well, shame these things take so long to come to fruition though. When you do a video on the proposed IBX would be good to see a map with the IBX and the G together to show some context.
Hi Thea, I love the pic when you mention the length of G train, there is a big mice behind those cars!!! so cute and detailed lol
I actually live not too far away from the G train line, but I usually take the F train at Ditmas Ave to get to work because that train station is closer. But a few times I had to take the G train at Church Ave because I ended up working on the weekend and for some reason the F train was either not running or not running as often. So funny enough I was doing the G sprint as well! I didn't expect the train to be so short.
The G train swapped fleet with the N/Q/W and nowadays share fleet with the E/F/R as of October 8th through November 1st of 2021. 5 car sets of 60 foot long R160 fleet are what we have for the G instead of 4 car sets of 75 foot long R46, R68, and R68A cars which the remainder of those were given to the N/Q/W. The fleet swap was because of balancing flows of the R160s maintained in Jamaica Yard given CBTC testing taking place along Queens Boulevard (E/F/M/R lines in Queens) to allow easier movements between the G route and other trackages nearby, plus CBTC testing on Culver also seemed to be a reason. CBTC testing (Communication Based Train Control) tends to work better with newer trains from the 2000s eras and onward and also this given reason for the G to become R160 is for both of its ends being reachable to the other lines that its R160s are shared with, as well as Jamaica Yard being where those R160s are being maintained at is near the Queens Boulevard Line.
A 75 foot long set of R46/R68/R68A fleet with a 4 car train is about the size of a 60 foot long set of R160 fleet with a 5 car train. The R160 five car sets that used to do the N, Q, and W lines were gradually moved to Jamaica Yard in place of ALL the R46s that were there from 2019 to 2021 (although some R160s still park in Coney Island Yard but aren’t totally maintained there anymore), given the Queens Boulevard Line CBTC testing. About 21-22 months into Queens Boulevard Line CBTC testing, it was later decided that the G had to change fleet as well so those very few R160s that did the N/Q/W from December 2019 to October 2021 were moved back to Jamaica Yard for maintenance (but still park though at Coney Island Yard), and then were given the G route to do, and the older trains on the G were given to the N/Q/W instead (those being the R46/R68/R68A sets which those specific sets are nowadays all based out of and maintained at Coney Island Yard).
Are there plans to increase the length of the trains on the g train, now as more new trains are delivered? The demand is there already for 6-8 cars
Remember the days when the G train was already using r46 from Jamaica
@@dubreil07 A long time ago, the (GG) (todays G train) operated 6 car trains of R1/9's, R10's, R16's, R32's, R38's, R40M's and R42's as well as 6 car R46's using those ex- Pitkin Yard 2 car unit R46's that were formerly used on the discontinued JFK Express from 1978 till 1990. The only cars that never saw service on the (G) or (GG) were the R11's and R27/30's. The AB types almost ran on the (GG) back in 1965-1966 when Jamaica Yard was having maintenance issues with its R1/9 fleet which were dropping like flies back then, thus the R38's were assigned to Jamaica Yard for the (E) & (F) lines instead of its original assignment for the (D) which was planned to use the Chrystie Street cut into the BMT Brighton Line making the (D) line the showcase line with new R38 cars.
A very nice, insightful video. Our hostess has lots of enthusiasm and charm. I have a couple of observations, though: 1. The G train' route was shortened because of the completion of the 63rd St Connector project meaning more train service from Manhattan would replace the G on Queens Blvd. During the hearings on this, I pushed the MTA to create a fully ADA-compliant station cluster at Court Square. The MTA agreed. This took 20 years to accomplish, with the most recent work just now finishing. A crucial transfer to the 7 train was built as part of this (the G did not connect to the 7 prior to the 63rd St Line's connection to Queens Blvd. Lastly, while the G is the only single line connecting Queens to Brooklyn without traveling to Manhattan, rider have several options to do this depending on where they are and where they want to go. In 1988, the Archer Avenue Subway Extension created a transfer at Sutphin Blvd. allowing north-south travel between Queens and Brooklyn using the E train under Queens Blvd, connecting to the J subway. Passengers in Jamaica, Queens can take the A train from Queens to Brooklyn. Lastly, the M subway from Metropolitan Avenue, Middle Village, Queens, will take you to Brooklyn.
The reason for five cars is the new style Kawasaki trains are in 5 car units. So, you can make a 10-car Train by using two of those five car units.
If you're going to Queens from Brooklyn over the weekend, like, Jamaica Queens or deeper, you're better off taking the LIRR. I will cost you 5 bucks but its worth it! The J and all them other trains take forever and if you take the bus, forget it!
M and J train can both take you from queens to Brooklyn. The M runs on the Brooklyn Queens border via ridgewood and the J can take you from Jamica queens into Willamsburg without going through Manhattan.
We can visit other planets and terraform our own but connecting the G to the J/M/Z is beyond our capabilities.
for real
Lol
The G (formally GG) used to go to Forest Hills at all times. The train has always been 4 cars long except during rush hours when it was 8 cars long all the way back when it was using the R1/9 trains. I've been riding the Queens Blvd line since the 1960s and I find it hard to believe the MTA hasn't found funding to extend the G in 60 years.
this is such a great video ! thanks for making it so delightful
Thanks for the great, informative video!
Your infographics are so great
I miss the G running to 71 Continental Avenue Forest Hills. That ended around 2002. Also the M did run from Metropolitan Avenue to Broad Street before 2008. The M was rerouted with the elimination of the weekday V train.
It should run there on Weekend service since the M line doesn't run to Forest Hills on weekends so why not give us a 2nd local Queens Blvd line?
@@xmega9526 True - the (R) line is really terrible whenever it runs to Forest Hills 71 Ave LOCAL all the way from Bay Ridge 95 Street with its 1 hour and 36 minutes all stop marathon. Service is very spotty at best, even with newer R160 cars providing all service on same. The (M) should operate to Forest Hills 71 Ave instead of to Essex Street Delancey Street from 8AM to 8PM Sat & Sun to help out the Rancid, Rarely or Rotten (R) local train which often runs in bunches like many very long bus lines in NYC. The (R) was at one time one of the BEST lines in the system when it operated to Astoria Ditmars Blvd from Bay Ridge 95 Street with its only 1 hour and 4 minutes running time which is much shorter that going to the much longer line to Forest Hills 71 Ave which was the (N) line's terminal for a long time.
The last time I was in NYC, you weren’t born yet! So why did I find this video so interesting? I am a NY fanboy, actually, and everything about our largest and greatest city fascinates me. I subscribed!
The R211 is now in service. Soon it will displace trains, allowing more trains to be on the G🎉.
Actually the G train is more important than you think. Because there's so many people in brooklyn and queens, this line helps people get through those places without too many transfers or a detour through manhattan. Unfortunatley, the MTA isn't very nice to it. In 2010, they cut off it's service to 71st street where it ran to for 40 years. It also shortened its trains to four cars long, where before, they where 6 cars long and even 8 cars long. Truth be told, the G train is one of the most underrated lines in all of the NYC transit.
Good information. Thanks for sharing!
I'll be in NYC in a couple of weeks!! I've just added a G Train ride onto my to-do list! I'm going to start getting into shape NOW for my
G Train sprint.
Thanks for sharing this video
I think the G line was originally single purposed. It was meant to serve workers of defense plants located in nearby routes during World War II. After the war, those factories shut down and, predictably, ridership declined. But the trains still run to this day.
Wow! That's a new take! Please expound, very interesting.
I used to ride this train in the late 50s when i was a kid. I think it was the GG back then and was a local that ran from Jamaica 179th to Coney Island but i could be wrong.
It did go to Coney Island, it was the F express
8:15 That's just like the downtown D at Fordham Rd. No one reads the signs that says that the train stops on the opposite track on the weekends & off-hours. So they stand in front of that long wall & end up running for & missing the train.
Definitely need to hear about this Ibx train line.
Great video, Thea.
Funfact: The G originally went to Forest Hills and Jamaica-179 St(to replace the F which was truncated to 21 St) But due to the lack of trains for the other lines. The G was permanently back at Court Square
I used to take what was the "GG" train to Aviation High School in the early 1980s. I left NY for the Airforce 38 plus years ago. It is on my bucket list of things to do in NY. (my final and only) return to my birthplace.
I used to ride the G regularly when I lived in Williamsburg. But mostly I rode the L train almost everyday. Great video - thanks!
I'll add that the G train was built by IND, known for making large stations, so it's more than just the platform people have to rush through. IRT built the numbered train lines which have smaller stations when possible
there definitely needs to be another way to get to queens through Brooklyn I wish there was an express train to queens
Such an awesome video.
I just moved to Greenpoint yesterday!
Awesome video. FR saw an elderly couple have to run down the whole platform to catch the G train. Also, bus can be better, but you have to know where you’re going because many of the buses don’t show the names of the stops, only the new buses have the screens with the stops and sometimes the displays don’t work. This can be stressful if you don’t know the area or at night when you can’t see the street signs. A workaround is to have Google maps up on your phone in real time to show you what streets you’re passing/the directions to where you’re going. There definitely needs to be better public transit between Brooklyn and Queens. I can’t tell you how many times I plug in directions to go somewhere in Brooklyn and it says take a train all the way into Manhattan then back out to Brooklyn, with an hour and a half or more travel time, when it would take maybe 20 minutes or half an hour by car. But even Ubering it, you’re looking at minimum $35-40 with tip. Often bus is the best option but because of all the stops it can take almost as long as the train, or there simply may not be service to where you want to go without complicated transfers. Sorry for the venting, lol! Maybe the best solution is to have some (more?) express bus lines to replicate what would have been a Queens/Brooklyn connector. I’d definitely visit Brooklyn more with my family if it was easier to get to.
Anyone else agrees on the fact the MTA should extend the G to Forest Hills during weeknights and weekends? Pretty much to fill in for the M and help the R 🙌
adam
@@lopwr1212 that’s me
Most definitely. Especially given that these outer borough travels are even more popular on weekends compared to Manhattan. Although I also wish there eventually will be a way to connect the G train to Astoria.
Queenslink would restore the G to Forest Hills.
They need to restore it entirely not just for weekends and nights
9:20 The (G) was reassigned to Jamaica Yard with the (E) (F) and (R) because of CBTC, and to prepare for CBTC, the Queens Blvd Line, which the E F M and R run on all use R160s, and the E F and R all maintain their trains there which means the G ditched its R68/As it has since those were sent back to Coney Island Yard for the (N) (Q) and (W) trains, while the R46s from the F and R also went to Coney Island Yard for the aforementioned trains. This means all the R160 5-car sets are assigned to Jamaica for the E F G and R trains for CBTC compatibility. I also think the E and F will also get some R211s since those lines get overcrowded on QBL, which may displace some more R160s and can boost either (G) service or adversely move these back to Coney Island Yard for the (B) and (Q) or even Concourse for the (D) since CBTC is coming to Sixth Avenue in the near future. CBTC on 8th Avenue is currently under construction and Fulton Street will also be getting CBTC so the A and C will definitely be a priority for the MTA in terms of newer trains.
Me watching someone make fun of how short their 4 car trains are while my city’s using 3 car trains
That explains the meaning of G spot.
One time, the (G) ran to 179th Street in Jamaica during Late Nights when the line was a Forest Hills to Smith - 9th Street line.
I live in that tiny area in Brooklyn where NO trains go. The IBX means nothing to me, but i use the G and I'm all for the IBX and extending the sad G train
You were right about the G to Forest Hills on the weekends when you said it, so the text correction wasn't necessary. The G was only scheduled to Forest Hills on weekends, late nights, and evenings (the only times the G was scheduled to serve Forest Hills on weekdays), yet rarely saw that service because construction would happen during weekends and overnights, and during the weekdays, they can't run three lines on the same track as that causes massive delays in service so when the V ran , the G couldn't, and if work were to happen, they would just cut R and V service early, and send the E and F, but not the G.
And yes, the G runs 5 car trains....of 60 feet in length each, still being 300 foot long trains, the same length as when it was 4 car trains of 75 feet long. The longest was their 450 foot era with 6 cars.
"There's always a 'G' at the end of waiting!" 🤣 But seriously, as someone who has lived off the G train (Bedford-Nostrand and Fulton) for more than 15 years, I love the G train-if you don't have to go to Manhattan. I'm also a movie buff and some of the best movie theaters-like both Nitehawk locations, BAM, Alamo Drafthouse, (kinda) Spectacle, and at one point, Court Street (RIP) and Videology (RIP)-in Brooklyn are off the G train. But I get it, it's not as frequent as other trains, but it's getting better year over year. However, the G on the weekend is kind of a disaster. I'd also thrown in the C train at all times in Brooklyn as a disaster too.
You can also add the (R) train as a weekend disaster as well whenever it operates local on its full route which is very problematic at best with its 1 hour and 36 minutes all local running time. Talk about LOUZY SERVICE.
We rode the G late last night to get to LIC, and again today to eat lunch at pierozek (amazing lunch BTW). We love the G!
I lived on Bedford and Lafayette for 25 years. G-Train for life.😂😂
The G train went directly under our Brooklyn apt during all hours of the day and night.
Just a little clarity on the G train model switch.
No, the G doesn't have more capacity by having 5 cars instead of 4.
4 of the older cars are the same length as 5 of the newer cars as those older cars were longer.
4 × 75' = 300'
5 × 60' " 300'
This was to accommodate the future automated signals on Queens Blvd and the F Line in Brooklyn (where G trains are stored), and now, the G line itself will receive that signaling!
Maybe you should cover the upcoming G train shutdown that's coming up this summer!
6:35 The G train is the shortest NON-SHUTTLE service, though it is shorter than the 42nd Street Shuttle, albeit by 5 feet. The shortest service, train lengthwise is the Franklin Avenue Shuttle, since it operates 2 car married pairs of R68 cars and totals to 150 feet in length, while the G operates 5 car R160 trains, which total to 301 feet in length
9:29 the reason G train switched from primarily R68A cars was because the G train operates out of Jamaica yard, which is also home to the E, F, and R trains. Communications Based Train Control was installed on the IND Queens Boulevard Line, and the R46 cars and and R68(A) cars aren't capable of operating under it. As a result, all of Jamaica's R46 cars got sent to Coney Island for use on the N, Q, and W, and all of Coney Island's R160 cars were sent to Jamaica for use on the E, F, and R lines. I am unsure why the G primarily operates R68A cars, though because as far as I am aware, Jamaica didn't have any SMEE cars prior to the swap. Perhaps it was jointly operated by both Coney Island and Jamaica?
Edit:added explanation of fleet change
Funny enough, the G used to be a bit longer back in the day when it went to Continental. It used 6 75ft trains and 8 60ft trains within ten minute intervals of each other. But with the V train that ended up going there on weekdays as a result of the 63 Street tube opening, it turned into 4 cars going to Court Square and it was scheduled to go to Continental when the V didn't run at night or the weekend. The G was also meant to go to Manhattan, but it ended up being nixed since the A/C trains were prioritized more and it didn't have a viable path to serve Manhattan. The F ended up serving 63 Street instead (it used to be via 53 Street where the V/M replaced).
Nevertheless, the cut to Court Square in the weekend after the V came out (since it went there on the weekend as a result of construction on the 63 Street connection) was frequent enough as a result of track work (some not involving Queens Boulevard itself) that it only went to Continental three different times in the weekend.
The final nail in the coffin came with the June 2010 service cuts where the G was supposed to be cut to Court Square at all times, which was the original plan for when the V came out. But that service cut came earlier than expected on April 19 as a result of the constant aforementioned track work.
Part of the contributing factor was the fact that the MTA couldn't find a way to get the G to run past Court Square. The other factor was with the early retirement of the 44, when half of the 46 was sent out west to the A/C to replace the 44 and the 160 was brought over east to displace those 46 that were sent west. The service cut also switched the G train's home yard from Jamaica to Coney Island with the 68 as it's primary car fleet, only to then switch back to Jamaica using the 160 as it's primary car fleet as a result of Communications Based Train Control that made the 160's possible.
As far as the special stop here signs are concerned, those came about as part of a study that also tried to consolidate where trains stopped - due to it stopping all over the place on the platforms based off of the time period. Knowing this, I waited where I know the G would stop at.
Great article. The last time I rode the (G) train was back in 2020 when it was operating 4 car R68's and R68A's at the time, and the trains were very crowded as well. Actually Coney Island Yard is much closer to the terminus of the (G) train than Jamaica Yard or the (S) Franklin Avenue Shuttle which if farther than Church Avenue.
I miss the nights when i use the G train to go to Dope Jams monthly Record Shop parties on Myrtle Ave. Plus i miss that Conveyer belt escalator they had at Court Sq. train station. So you didn't have to walk down that long corridor. When transferring from the F to the G
The G used to go between Forest Hills and Smith-9th Sts, Bklyn on weekdays. I took it to school. This was before the V was created, when the N ran between Forest Hills and Coney Island.
One of the benefits of Queenslink is that it would free up space to allow the G Train to return Forest Hills full time. Such a great project that I hope gets revived.
Making room for the M was the reason for the iruginal cutting back of the G at Court Square on weekdays, but not for the more recent cutback on weekends. The M doesn't run on the IND Queens Line on weekends.
I suspect that the MTA just didn't like the idea of a line with better service in a lower-service time periid. They often seem to underestimate the intelligence if their riders.
That weekend Queens service is sorely needed. With the M not running on weekends, there is only the R providing local service on the Queens Line, which leaves many stations [e.g., Woodhaven Blvd, an important bus transfer and location of Queens Center mall] badly underserved.
Great job I didn't know why those 2 queens lines didn't connect cos no one lived out there yet
My friend lives in Bayside queens there should be a line built going to coney island without going thru Manhattan it is strange queens and Brooklyn are next to each other and it's real hard to get to and real long to get to
Speaking of trains not entering in Manhattan, I do have another train in mind that might be another of those, but would only work if QueenLink is passed. With QueensLink, M trains will be rerouted away from Forest Hills and go to Rockaway Park using the Rockaway Beach branch. In the future, however, if demand calls for it, which I doubt, I thought of having two additional side platforms at Woodhaven Boulevard (when it converts to an express stop, so Woodhaven Boulevard would have 6 tracks at the same level) and convert the side platforms of 63rd Drive to island platforms, with the outer platforms covering the line between Rockaway and the Bronx at Throgs Neck via LaGuardia Airport, Flushing, and Whitestone.
I miss the R46s and R68s on the "G". I really miss the R32s on the "G" when it used to go to Forest Hills. Also eight 75 footers equal ten 60 footers. It used to be that off-hour trains would be reduced to half their length.
The G train served a purpose when it was designed, that being improved access to what was a heavily industrialized Brooklyn and Queens waterfront. That industry is of course long gone.
I honestly hope that one day the G is extended to 10 cars, because having it run with only 4 or 5 cars is honestly pretty dumb. Like, that should be reserved for shuttles, not full-length lines.
0:32 has always been one of the most mysterious places on the subway system due to the hidden tunnel at the bridge.
Yep.. a tunnel under a bridge… very strange. Recently they removed the tracks but it’s still there.
What are u talking?
@@trainluvr
There is a tunnel in between the tracks on that bridge. The tunnel comes out to the top bridge area between those two stations.
@@Bassotronics There is a curious configuration there, but the underside of the bridge is flush from edge to edge and just a couple of feet lower than the rails. All I know is I wish I had a video of the original wooden escalators I rode there in 1981. It was loud in there.
yes, an 5th track between smith 9th and 4th avenue. the 5th track was leveled while the the other 4 tracks ascend to smith 9th street. the 5th track was removed in the early 2010s as part of the culver viaduct rehab project.
Do you mean a tunnel under the Gowanus?
Awesome!! :)
Thr G is actually a pretty important line. It conects two boroughs that dont have much connection. It not going to Manhattan is important as it is the only line doing so. The G should be appreciated.
The G train used to go to Forest Hills so it was pre v and then m going out there. Yeah I remember it being 6 cars . I’ definitely wasn’t on a4 car train lol. Always been one of my favorite lines since I got my barbers was there and one of my girlfriends were there. Pushing it out to court sq was annoying to me but it is what it is. It’s so nice not to have to go through Manhattan.
Spot on with the looping of the m train or at least put one more stop in between them to make it walkable to the forest hills stop or metropolitan ave stop.
Had to take the G to get to Brooklyn Tech from court square. Train was crowded by us in the morning and afternoon on weekdays.
It's kind of a unique & I guess low-rider route in the NYC Subway system or something interconnected but it's a interesting line.
The shortest train in the entire NYC subway is the BMT Franklin Avenue Shuttle, 2 75-feet R68 cars on each train!!
I knew someone was going to bring that up. That's a shuttle though with only 4 stops. Also, the stations on that line are appropriate for the lengths of those cars, so she's is correct.
@@montyb10009 That's a damn ass lie, LOL, j/k, yes you are correct, technically speaking, BMT Franklin Avenue Shuttle is a "shuttle"!!
@@kevinb8881 😅😅😅😅
I see the S Train; the Franklin Avenue Shuttle is the shortest line of the entire New York City rapid transit system with only four station stops. The G Train [line] is shorter than all the other train routes, except for the Franklin Avenue line. The G Train had R46 trains, then R68 and R68A trains. Today, it has R160 cars because it will have computer-based train control (CBTC) signal features, along with the McDonald Avenue Line of the F train. New York City Transit rearranged the car service by assigning them to different rapid transit lines, except the R179 cars that will stay on the A Train routes.
When I grew up in Greenpoint in the 60's and 70's Nobody cared about the G train,which used to be the GG.Once the Hipsters took over the Neighborhood all they do is complain.Just curious when this young lady would like the track work to be done.
It’s important to have train lines that connect Bronx-Queens-Brooklyn without going through Manhattan. The G falls short in a few ways - the route meanders quite a bit and it misses some connections to other lines.
Yep - especially in Downtown Brooklyn area.
2:01 To make it worse, I looked it on the map and the M line is located next to some rail ROW which really could help a potential expansion. Of course, there is a cemetry on the way but it still is some lost potential for an M spiral.
The G train isn't silly!
We need more trains that let you travel directly through the outer boroughs without having to transfer in Manhattan!
And if I was the MTA I'd continue the G train up to Astoria and then extend the line into the Bronx.
Do you remember when the G train went to Steinway? Pepperidge Farmrs remembers
Yes. It used to go all the way to Forest Hills.
The M train is like this because before the cut their was a V line which I believe was the northern part of the M like and the Brown M which was the lower portion of the G train
Fun fact, The G train is the only line that doesn’t touch Manhattan. The G used to run to/from 71th-Continental Ave via the R and V lines after the Court Square
well, obviously. 🙄
The Franklin and Rockaway Park Shuttles would like to have a word with you.
I don't know if you or your parents did not grow up in NYC, but if you talk to people who have been there for 40 or more years they will tell you that the subway lines were built and designed to provide everyday transit from individual neighborhoods. You talked about the L, in addition to the G, but failed to mention any of the areas served by those lines. One could live in those parts of Brooklyn or Queens and go months without going into Manhattan. Many of the trips were between neighborhoods like Bushwick, Park Slope, Bed-Stuy, or Borough Park to Downtown Brooklyn.
Lots of morning commutes to jobs in Brooklyn and Western Queens, or, for folks like me, to schools between Bed-Stuy and Ridgewood, or Fort Greene.
my family used to live in greenpoint, the G train is a greenpoint train and it will always stay that way 💪💪 (im still in ny)
og yorkas know exactly where to be for the G, add a little train fascination knowledge to that mix and you’ll learn to spot the stop markers for each train… like those FatBoi A trains(R46s i believe), those babies stop at the 10 car mark using daaa whole station… that G train usually being 4 or 5 cars stop at the S stop marker or shuttle… mix that with the conductors black and white stripe sign which then shows you the back or middle gives you an idea where you have to be
In addition to the G Sprint and I don't know cuz I've rented very little sense if they still do this but back in the early the mid-2000s they would always have this. We're in addition to only being four cars and long it would only open the doors on the first and last car which added to the whole Mad Dash of trying to board it.
Oh wow. The "G train dash".
I used to take the G all the time. I lived near Nostrand and needed to get to the L quickly. The G was perfect instead of taking the stupid bus.
I’m in my “F*** the city” era so I’ve been loving the G lately.
The MTA also made a deep grave error having the G terminate at 21st. If they could at least make it a weekend line to Forest Hills 71st Ave, they could ease congestion in the QBL line.
I'm old enough to remember the GG! ❤
With 150,000 riders a day, it does well serving the communities of Brooklyn it goes by.
I used the g train during my time in ny. It took me where no other train would!