K (Eighth Avenue Local)

Summary

The K Eighth Avenue Local, earlier the AA, was a rapid transit service of the New York City Subway. Its route bullet was colored blue on station signs, car rollsigns, and the official subway map since it ran on the IND Eighth Avenue Line.

"K" train symbol
Eighth Avenue Local
An R42 K train at Chambers Street
Northern end168th Street
Southern endWorld Trade Center
Stations23
Started serviceSeptember 10, 1932; 91 years ago (1932-09-10)
DiscontinuedDecember 11, 1988; 35 years ago (1988-12-11)
Route map

Legend
Down arrow  B   K 
168th Street
163rd Street–Amsterdam Avenue
155th Street
145th Street
135th Street
125th Street
116th Street
Cathedral Parkway–110th Street
103rd Street
96th Street
86th Street
81st Street–Museum of Natural History
72nd Street
59th Street–Columbus Circle
50th Street
(Disabled access southbound)
42nd Street–Port Authority Bus Terminal
34th Street–Penn Station
23rd Street
14th Street
West Fourth Street–Washington Square
Spring Street
Canal Street
World Trade Center | Chambers Street
Up arrow  E   K 
Legend

Lines used by the "K" train
Other services sharing tracks with the "K" train
Unused lines, connections, or service patterns
 K 
Termini of services

Cross-platform interchange

Platforms on different levels

The K operated during midday, evenings, and weekends, making local stops between 168th Street in Washington Heights, Manhattan and World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan via Central Park West and Eighth Avenue in Manhattan. During late night hours, the A express made local stops on the IND Eighth Avenue Line. During rush hours, the C, formerly the CC, ran between Bedford Park Boulevard and Euclid Avenue, replacing the K as the local on Eighth Avenue. It was discontinued in 1988 as part of a series of major service changes.

History edit

Service as the AA edit

 
Sixth Avenue Subway Will Be Opened to the Public at 12:01 A.M. Sunday, Dec 15, 1940

A and AA service began on September 10, 1932 with the opening of the IND Eighth Avenue Line. The Independent Subway System (IND) used single letters to refer to express services and double letters for local services. The A ran express and the AA ran local, from 168th Street to Hudson Terminal (now World Trade Center). The AA ran at all times, and it was extended to 207th Street during nights and on Sundays when the A did not run. When the Eighth Avenue Line was extended to Jay Street–Borough Hall on February 1, 1933 the AA was extended there evenings and Sundays, when the A did not run.[1][2]

 
1967–1979 bullet
 
1979–1985 bullet

On July 1, 1933, the AA was suspended when the Concourse Line opened and the new CC service provided local service on Eighth Avenue in its place. A service began running express in Manhattan at all times. AA service was restored as part of changes made in conjunction with the opening of the IND Sixth Avenue Line on December 15, 1940. The AA would only run during non-rush hours and Saturday late afternoon through all day Sunday service to Chambers Street. Rush hours, which at the time included Saturday mornings and afternoons, the AA did not run; it was replaced by the BB (later B) service, which instead ran on the Sixth Avenue Line.[3] On January 5, 1952, AA service began operating during Saturday mornings and afternoons, replacing BB service.[2] This pattern was unchanged until August 28, 1977, when late night service was replaced by an all local A service.[1][4]

Service as the K edit

 
This brochure was published in 1985 to explain the relabeling of double-letter subway services, including the creation of the K.

On May 6, 1985, as part of the elimination of double letters, the AA was renamed the K. This service operated between 168th Street and World Trade Center during midday, evenings, and weekends. During late night hours, the A express made local stops on the Eighth Avenue Line. During rush hours, the C, formerly the CC, ran between Bedford Park Boulevard and Rockaway Park–Beach 116th Street, replacing the K as the local on Eighth Avenue.[5] This change was not officially reflected in schedules until May 24, 1987.[1]

 
To scale line map

On December 11, 1988, as part of the widespread service changes that day, the K was discontinued, being replaced by the C train, which was expanded from its rush-hour only service to include midday service between 145th Street and Euclid Avenue, early evening (until 9 p.m.) service from 145th Street to World Trade Center, and weekend service matching the former K between 168th Street and World Trade Center.[6] The B was also expanded to middays to match part of the former K.[7][1]

Final route edit

Service pattern edit

The following table shows the lines used by the K service:

Line From To Tracks
IND Eighth Avenue Line 168th Street World Trade Center Local

Stations edit

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 during the day
  Stops weekdays in the peak direction only
Time period details
  Station is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act
  ↑ Station is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act
in the indicated direction only
  ↓
  Elevator access to mezzanine only
  Stations   Subway transfers Connections
Manhattan
  168th Street  
  163rd Street–Amsterdam Avenue
  155th Street
  145th Street A  
D   (IND Concourse Line)
  135th Street
  125th Street A  D 
  116th Street
  Cathedral Parkway–110th Street
  103rd Street
  96th Street
  86th Street
  81st Street–Museum of Natural History
  72nd Street
  59th Street–Columbus Circle A   D  
1   (IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line)
  50th Street E  
  42nd Street–Port Authority Bus Terminal A   ​​E  
1  2  3   (IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line),
7   <7>  ​ (IRT Flushing Line),
B   D   N   Q   R   (BMT Broadway Line),
S   (42nd Street Shuttle)
at Times Square–42nd Street
Port Authority Bus Terminal
Note: Yellow B and D services discontinued
  34th Street–Penn Station A   ​​E   Amtrak, LIRR, NJ Transit at Pennsylvania Station
  23rd Street E  
  14th Street A   ​​E  
L   (BMT Canarsie Line)
  West Fourth Street–Washington Square A   ​​E  
F   <F>   S   JFK   (IND Sixth Avenue Line)
PATH at Ninth Street
Note: Grand Street Shuttle and JFK Express discontinued
  Spring Street E  
  Canal Street A   ​​E  
  World Trade Center E  
A   (IND Eighth Avenue Line at Chambers Street)
2  3   (IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line at Park Place)
PATH at World Trade Center

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d "The ERA Bulletin 2011-11" (PDF). Issuu. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  2. ^ a b Linder, Bernard (October 1968). "Independent Subway Service History" (PDF). New York Division Bulletin. Electric Railroaders' Association. 11 (5): 3–8.
  3. ^ "The New Subway Routes". The New York Times. December 15, 1940. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  4. ^ "Service Adjustments on the BMT and IND Lines Effective Midnight, Saturday, August 27 New York City Transit Authority (1977)". Flickr - Photo Sharing!. June 9, 2016. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
  5. ^ "Hey, What's a "K" train? 1985 Brochure". Flickr - Photo Sharing!. June 17, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  6. ^ Johnson, Kirk (December 9, 1988). "Big Changes For Subways Are to Begin". The New York Times. p. B1, B6. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  7. ^ "System-Wide Changes In Subway Service Effective Sunday, December 11, 1988". Flickr - Photo Sharing!. June 17, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2016.