Times Square–42nd Street station

New York City Subway station Times Square–42nd Street
Borough	Manhattan
Transfers	A, ​C, and ​E at 42nd Street-Port Authority Bus Terminal (IND Eighth Avenue Line)

Times Square–42nd Street is the busiest station complex of the New York City Subway, joining four lines, with a free transfer via a passageway to a fifth (Template:NYCS slls). It lies under Times Square, at the intersection of 42nd Street, Seventh Avenue and Broadway.

42nd Street Shuttle platforms

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New York City Subway station (rapid transit)
Station statistics
Division
Line	IRT 42nd Street Shuttle
Services	S  (all except late nights)
Platforms	Side platforms, island platform (all connected at north end)
Tracks	3
Opposite- direction transfer	Yes
Traffic
2023	54,266,441  20.5%
Rank	1 out of 423
Next north	(Terminal)
Station service legend Symbol Description Stops in station at all times Stops all times except late nights Stops late nights only Stops late nights and weekends only Stops weekdays during the day Stops weekends during the day Stops all times except rush hours in the peak direction Stops all times except weekdays in the peak direction Stops all times except nights and rush hours in the peak direction Stops rush hours only Stops rush hours in the peak direction only Station is closed (Details about time periods)

Times Square was originally a local station on the first subway in 1904. Since 1918 three shuttle tracks serve it; the southbound express track was removed. There is no track connection between the northbound local and the other two tracks anywhere along the shuttle. Platforms are located on both sides (at the old local platforms) and where the southbound express track was; all three platforms connect on the north (compass west) side. This walkway crosses the northbound local track on a bridge that can be lifted for the only access to that track, via a merge into the northbound IRT Broadway-Seventh Avenue Line local track along the original subway alignment (north of the current Broadway-Seventh Avenue Line station). The other three tracks used to curve parallel to this one.

Because of the curvature on the platforms, gap fillers are used to bridge the gap between train and platform. An underpass which used to connect the original side platforms lies between the downtown local track and the two express and the uptown local tracks of the BMT Broadway Line, which runs perpendicular to the shuttle.

Flushing Line platform

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New York City Subway station (rapid transit)
Station statistics
Division
Line	IRT Flushing Line
Services	7  (all times) <7>  (rush hours until 9:30 p.m., peak direction)​
Platforms	Island platform
Tracks	2
Opposite- direction transfer	Yes
Traffic
2023	54,266,441  20.5%
Rank	1 out of 423
Next south	(Terminal)
Station service legend Symbol Description Stops in station at all times Stops all times except late nights Stops late nights only Stops late nights and weekends only Stops weekdays during the day Stops weekends during the day Stops all times except rush hours in the peak direction Stops all times except weekdays in the peak direction Stops all times except nights and rush hours in the peak direction Stops rush hours only Stops rush hours in the peak direction only Station is closed (Details about time periods)

Times Square is the terminal for all Template:NYCS 7 service. It has one island platform between the two tracks. There are stairs and escalators along the platform leading to various mezzanines. There are "TS" tile mosaics along the station walls. An office is located at the north end of the platform.

The tracks continue south (compass west) beyond the station to an unused storage and layover area. If the Flushing Line were to be extended, work would have to done to improve this stretch. The closed lower level platform at 42nd Street-Port Authority Bus Terminal on the IND Eighth Avenue Line would also have to be removed.

Broadway Line platforms

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New York City Subway station (rapid transit)
Station statistics
Division
Line	BMT Broadway Line
Services	N  (all times) ​   Q  (all times) ​   R  (all except late nights) ​   W  (weekdays only)
Platforms	Island platforms
Tracks	4
Other information
Opened	April 14, 1918
Accessible	ADA-accessible
Opposite- direction transfer	Yes
Traffic
2023	54,266,441  20.5%
Rank	1 out of 423
Station service legend Symbol Description Stops in station at all times Stops all times except late nights Stops late nights only Stops late nights and weekends only Stops weekdays during the day Stops weekends during the day Stops all times except rush hours in the peak direction Stops all times except weekdays in the peak direction Stops all times except nights and rush hours in the peak direction Stops rush hours only Stops rush hours in the peak direction only Station is closed (Details about time periods)

Times Square–42nd Street is an express station with four tracks and two island platforms. Connections to the other lines are at the north end of the platforms. Recently in 2005, The Broadway platforms were renovated. The platforms are now fully ADA accessible.

Broadway-Seventh Avenue Line platforms

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New York City Subway station (rapid transit)
Station statistics
Division
Line	IRT Broadway-Seventh Avenue Line
Services	1  (all times) ​   2  (all times) ​   3  (all times)
Platforms	Island platforms
Tracks	4
Opposite- direction transfer	Yes
Traffic
2023	54,266,441  20.5%
Rank	1 out of 423
Station service legend Symbol Description Stops in station at all times Stops all times except late nights Stops late nights only Stops late nights and weekends only Stops weekdays during the day Stops weekends during the day Stops all times except rush hours in the peak direction Stops all times except weekdays in the peak direction Stops all times except nights and rush hours in the peak direction Stops rush hours only Stops rush hours in the peak direction only Station is closed (Details about time periods)

Times Square–42nd Street is an express station with four tracks and two island platforms. Just to the south of the station, a fifth center track begins, formed by a connection from each express track. This track splits back into the two express tracks just before 34th Street-Penn Station.

This section of line was the site of a 1928 wreck which killed 16 people, the second worst in New York City history.

The complex

This station has been undergoing total reconstruction in stages starting in the mid-1990s. The reconstruction included a new entryway on the south side of 42nd Street between Seventh Avenue and Broadway, featuring a bright neon and colored glass flashing sign with the train route symbols and the word "Subway". The street level fare control at this site features restored original "Times Square" mosaics from the Contract I station walls (now used by the shuttle). There are also similar renovated entrances on the northwest and southwest corners of Seventh Avenue and 42nd Street.

In 1999, a $244 million renovation of the complex began. The goal is to reduce congestion and improve rider access, comfort and safety by improving visual lines and increasing pedestrian capacity. The main corridor is being widened 15 feet and the number of sharp corners reduced; ADA compliance is being introduced with elevators, and new escalators are being built. The mezzanine above the BMT Broadway Line now feature a large oval balcony looking over the trackway and has reduced the sense of claustrophobia described by many riders.

The free transfer between the and Template:BMT was added in 1948. The free passageway west one block to 42nd Street-Port Authority Bus Terminal on the IND Eighth Avenue Line was added a while later.

Relative depths

• IRT 42nd Street Shuttle, 20 feet below street
• IND Eighth Avenue Line (one block west), 30 feet
• IRT Broadway-Seventh Avenue Line, 40 feet
• BMT Broadway Line, 50 feet
• IRT Flushing Line, 60 feet

External links

• Abandoned Stations - proposed Grand Central shuttle platform (includes a track diagram)
• nycsubway.org - IRT Grand Central/Times Square Shuttle: Times Square
• nycsubway.org - IRT Flushing Line: Times Square
• nycsubway.org - IRT West Side Line: Times Square/42nd Street (text used with permission)
• nycsubway.org - BMT Broadway Subway: Times Square/42nd Street