3 (New York City Subway service)

Seventh Avenue Express
Northern end 148th Street
Southern end New Lots Avenue or 42nd Street (late nights)
Stations 34

The 3 Seventh Avenue Express is a rapid transit service of the New York City Subway. It is colored red on station signs, route signs and the official subway map, since it uses the IRT Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line through most of Manhattan.

The 3 service operates at all times. Normal service operates between 148th Street in Harlem, Manhattan and New Lots Avenue in New Lots, Brooklyn, making express stops in Manhattan and all stops in Brooklyn. During late nights, 3 service operates as an express between 148th Street and Times Square – 42nd Street.

Contents

Service history

R12 end rollsign
1967–1979 bullet

On November 23, 1904, the IRT Lenox Avenue Line opened between 96th Street and 145th Street. 3 trains ran between 145th Street and City Hall, making all stops.

On July 1, 1918, the entire IRT Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line was completed. 3 trains were rerouted south of 42nd Street from the IRT Lexington Avenue Line to this new line. They now made all stops to South Ferry.

Beginning January 4, 1955, 3 trains ran express in Manhattan rush hours and were redirected to Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn during that time.

On February 6, 1959, trains made express stops in Manhattan and ran to Flatbush Avenue whenever they operate (all times except late nights). Over the next 24 years, trains were sent back and forth repeatedly between Flatbush and New Lots Avenue until July 10, 1983, when it was permanently stationed at New Lots Avenue so they could access the Livonia Yard.

On May 13, 1968, trains were extended to the newly completed 148th Street – Lenox Terminal. During late nights and early Sunday mornings, trains ran only as a shuttle between 148th and 135th Streets until 1995, when the shuttle was discontinued (except Sunday mornings) and shuttle buses provided service to Lenox Terminal.

From March to October 1998, the IRT Lenox Avenue Line was rehabilitated. Most 3 service was rerouted to 137th Street – City College.

After September 11, 2001, the 3 service became a local in Manhattan. After a few switching delays at 96th Street, service was changed on September 19, 2001. It ran in Manhattan as an express between Harlem – 148th Street and 14th Street and was replaced by 1 service in Brooklyn. It returned to New Lots Avenue on September 15, 2002.

On July 27, 2008, late night 3 service was restored, operating as an express between 148th Street and Times Square – 42nd Street.[1][2]

Route

Service pattern

The following table shows the lines used by the 3 service, with shaded boxes indicating the route at the specified times:

Line From To Tracks Times
all ex.
nights
late
nights
IRT Lenox Avenue Line Harlem – 148th Street Central Park North – 110th Street all    
IRT Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line 96th Street Times Square – 42nd Street express
34th Street – Penn Station Chambers Street  
IRT Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line,
Brooklyn Branch
Park Place Borough Hall all
IRT Eastern Parkway Line (full line) Hoyt Street Crown Heights – Utica Avenue local
IRT New Lots Line (full line) Sutter Avenue – Rutland Road New Lots Avenue all

Stations

For a more detailed station listing, see the articles on the lines listed above.

Station service legend
Stops all times
Stops all times except late nights
Stops weekdays only
Stops rush hours only
Stops rush hours in the peak direction only
Time period details
Stations Subway transfers Connections
Manhattan
Harlem – 148th Street
145th Street
135th Street 2 
125th Street 2  M60 bus to LaGuardia Airport
116th Street 2 
Central Park North – 110th Street 2 
96th Street 1  2 
72nd Street 1  2 
Times Square – 42nd Street 1  2 
7  <7> (IRT Flushing Line)
A  C  E  (IND Eighth Avenue Line at 42nd Street – Port Authority Bus Terminal)
N  Q  R  (BMT Broadway Line)
S  (42nd Street Shuttle)
Port Authority Bus Terminal
34th Street – Penn Station 1  2  M34 / M34A Select Bus Service
Amtrak, LIRR and NJ Transit at Pennsylvania Station
14th Street 1  2 
F  M  (IND Sixth Avenue Line at 14th Street)
L  (BMT Canarsie Line)
PATH at 14th Street
Chambers Street 1  2 
Park Place 2 
A  C  E  (IND Eighth Avenue Line at Chambers Street – World Trade Center)
PATH at World Trade Center
Fulton Street 2 
4  5  (IRT Lexington Avenue Line)
A  C  (IND Eighth Avenue Line)
J  Z  (BMT Nassau Street Line)
Wall Street 2 
Brooklyn
Clark Street 2 
Borough Hall 2 
4  5  (IRT Eastern Parkway Line)
R  (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)
Hoyt Street 2 
Nevins Street 2  4  5 
Atlantic Avenue 2  4  5 
B  Q  (BMT Brighton Line)
D  N  R  (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)
LIRR Atlantic Branch at Atlantic Terminal
Bergen Street 2 
Grand Army Plaza 2 
Eastern Parkway – Brooklyn Museum 2 
Franklin Avenue 2  4  5 
S  (BMT Franklin Avenue Line)
Nostrand Avenue 2  4  5 
Kingston Avenue 2  4  5 
Crown Heights – Utica Avenue 2  4  5 
Sutter Avenue – Rutland Road 2  4  5  B15 bus to JFK Int'l Airport
Saratoga Avenue 2  4  5 
Rockaway Avenue 2  4  5 
Junius Street 2  4  5 
Pennsylvania Avenue 2  4  5 
Van Siclen Avenue 2  4  5 
New Lots Avenue 2  4  5  B15 bus to JFK Int'l Airport

References

External links