Once Upon a Time Under Times Square

Once Upon a Time Under Times Square

An Uptown 1 Train of the New York City Subway system passes by an open portion
of the Times Square Shuttle Station, after departing its own station in the extensive
subterranean mass transit complex under Times Square.

The Times Square Shuttle Subway Station is the western terminus of the heavily used
42nd Street Shuttle service connecting Grand Central and Times Square and, by
extension, major trunk Subway service on the East and West Sides of Manhattan.

The Shuttle actually uses a portion of the original IRT (Interborough Rapid
Transit) system dating back to the early years of the 20th century.

As such, it was located on a tight curve, where the line under 42nd Street swung in a
northwesterly direction to align it with the portion of the route heading up the West Side.

The acutely curved nature of the station necessitated gap fillers, platform extensions that would
roll out to meet the arriving trains to make boarding and alighting safer. The station layout was
cramped, crowded, and often chaotic...and not a little intimidating, especially to first time users.

An extensive project to redesign this vital station is making for a much more orderly flow of trains -
and passengers - with a longer, wider, and straighter platform and less columns getting in the way.

But, for the Subway enthusiast/photographer, a rare treat has been eliminated - that of enjoying an up-
close and personal - almost perpendicular - view of moving trains in the cavern beneath Times Square.

More of the story, from a Subway enthusiast who'll miss this facet of the otherwise challenging station:
https://medium.com/@emberphoto/sic-mass-transit-gloria-midtownus-1ac07f2c0b11

©2021 Steve Ember