The 1 Train Sucks Lately

Posted on January 7th, 2008 by The SUBWAYblogger in Live Blogging On the Subway, Transit Failures

Ok, so the 1 Train has totally sucked for….oooohhh…at least the last week.

Takes forever to come at the peak of rush hour. The person in charge of the line, or in charge of the dispatch tower must be on vacation this week. There must be a substitute in there. Why?

They’ve been using the “skip ahead to other stations” trick way too often. You know the drill…

You wait on the platform for at least 20 minutes or more. The over crowded train finally pulls in, and you knock over a few old ladies to get on the train. Meanwhile, 80% of the people waiting on the platform definitely did not make it onto this train, so you are even more thankful that you made it.

The train pulls away. It is packed so tight that you don’t even need to old on. You’re surrounded by puffy, down coats. If only there weren’t that subtle odor.

You arrive at the first stop since you got on board only to have the “English as a Second Language” door operator try to tell everyone that this local train is about to start running express. First of all, I’m not that sure they know how to use the intercom. It’s almost like having your grandmother talk into the wrong end of the phone. There’s a voice in there, but something just isn’t right.

Then, what you do hear is some sort of randomly organized words. But you do manage to detect the words “express” “nest stop” “one two five street”…not necessarily in that order.

I’m sure I’m not alone here.

9 Comments
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jay boogy said on January 8th, 2008 at 7:32 am

I generally hate the 1 train just on principle, but i have been loving the skip-stopping lately since i live way up at 215th street.

I wish they would just bring back the 9 Train and use the unused third track that runs from 103rd all the way up to Van Cordlant Park as an “Upper Manhattan” express train that skips every other stop or something. It would never travel past 96th street either.
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mg said on January 8th, 2008 at 11:43 am

The 2/3 has been awful as well, crawling between 96th and Times Sq., like it was while they were doing construction this summer. Blah.
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Leon said on January 9th, 2008 at 7:59 pm

if you read the 2007 State of the Subways Report Card, the 1 was ranked the city’s best line for the first time ever. i think the 1 is pretty cool, even better without the 9
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nathan Ashker said on January 9th, 2008 at 9:14 pm

the 6 is hands down the best.
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nathan Ashker said on January 9th, 2008 at 9:31 pm

forgot to drop my link…
http://www.nathanashker.com
It’s a subway blog. Do check it out.
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Emprice-Sario said on January 9th, 2008 at 10:48 pm

Speaking of bringing in the old lines, I agree with the 9 nine train statements, would be nice to put it to some use. Also, maybe its me being extremely observant, but why is it that everytime the A or C is about to arrive @ bway nassua, the train is always delayed in the tunnel. Same goes for Delancey and 2nd avenue.(F)
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Ri L. said on January 10th, 2008 at 11:20 am

Same goes for the R at 36th Street. Stop and wait EVERY TIME.
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mayra said on November 2nd, 2008 at 9:36 pm

i hate the weekend messups. i just happened to me this weekend . the 5 wasnt goin to bowling green and i had to take the 4 till brooklyn bridge to transfer to the 5(which it was its last stop for the 5). and i do agree with the 9 train tingy.
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The SUBWAYblogger said on November 3rd, 2008 at 9:54 pm

@mayra: Yeah delays on the weekend take especially long to fix.
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