Tag: times square

Did You See the Wrapped Shuttle Train?

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The MTA just unveiled its fully advertisement wrapped subway train.

The shuttle (S) from Times Square to Grand Central has every single car wrapped from top to bottom, inside and out with a giant vinyl ad for History’s “Cities of the Underground.”

The Times reports that the vinyl costs $75,000 per car.  I don’t know if that’s just the cost of having the ad made or if that includes it running on the trains for a month.

That sounds like a lot, but in the grand scheme of advertising, that’s pretty cheap.  The whole train is probably going to run them about $370,000 for the month.  A single full page ad in the New York Times runs $80,000 to $150,000.  So this will probably be seen by just as many people and will gain press attention.

The Times has a photo, but I didn’t want to steal it.  If anyone has a picture of it, we’d love to post it.  Send it to submit [at] subwayblogger.com.

Nostalgia Train to Run to Shea for Final Game

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The nostalgia subway train ran to Yankee Stadium for the final game, but did you know that it is also the final season for Shea Stadium?  Haha.  Yankee Stadium is stealing spotlight bigtime.

Anyway, the MTA is going to run the nostalgia train out to Queens for the final Mets game at Shea Stadium.

The MTA sent me a press release with the details.

Fans, along with NYC Transit officials, will board the 7 train from the 42nd Street/Times Square Station shortly after 11 a.m. and arrive at Willets Point/Shea Stadium at around 12 noon.  A fitting way to pay tribute to the long standing stadium and the train that serviced it for 44 years.

Upon arrival at Willets Point, fans will be greated jams from the MTA’s Music Under New York program.  Yeah, Willets Point isn’t “under ground” but whatever, the music will be good.

So if you’ve never had a chance to ride the nostalgia train, now’s you chance.  Actually, it is probably the best time to hit because it is cool outside.  The nostalgia train has no air conditioning, so riding in the summer is a very sweaty experience.

Photo Credit

WOW. Gun Show on the Subway

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Holy hell, did you see all the guns on the subway today?  Apparently, it’s all part of “Operation TORCH,” a new federally funded security initiative.

The NYPD received a $30 million grant to increase subway security in a major way.  However, it seems like they are only focusing on major subway hubs. 

The police units, part of a new program called Operation TORCH, will focus on major transit hubs, including Times Square, Herald Square and Grand Central Terminal, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said. [1010 WINS]

I’m not sure what good that does.  I guess it deters an attack from those stations.  However, a terrorist could just get on at a different stop!

All they would have to do is get on a random stop and ride straight into Times Square or Grand Central and detonate a bomb.  So I don’t think it makes it any safer from a terrorism perspective.

On a petty crime level like purse snatching and pickpocketing, that will probably go down on the fortified stations, but that’s probably about it.

Bomb Explosion in Times Square Disrupts Subway Service

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A small bomb was set off in Times Square around 3:45am today. The explosion occurred on the doorstep of the Army/Navy recruitment station on the island in the center of Times Square.

As a result, the police immediately suspended subway service in Times Square. Luckily, trains kept moving and simply bypassed Times Square. However, since TS is a major transfer hub, bypassing it makes it a little tricky for commuters.

Luckily, service resumed fairly quickly…or somewhat quickly.

The station was/is basically on super secure mode. Trains entering the station were boarded by police dogs and checked before being allowed to proceed. In the station itself, there were officers in SWAT gear with machine guns. There were many people being randomly stopped and checked as well.

This will likely continue for the next few days. However, as the mayor said, it’s back to business as usual in Times Square, with a few more automatic weapons near by.