Northern end Harlem–148th Street Depot Livonia Yard | Rolling stock 250 R62s (25 trains) Stations 34 | |
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Southern end New Lots Avenue (all except nights)
Times Square–42nd Street (late nights) Started service November 23, 1904; 112 years ago (1904-11-23) | ||
The 3 Seventh Avenue Express is a rapid transit service in the A Division of the New York City Subway. Its route emblem, or "bullet", is colored tomato red since it uses the IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line through most of Manhattan. The 3 operates between 148th Street in Harlem, Manhattan and New Lots Avenue in East New York, Brooklyn, making express stops in Manhattan and all stops in Brooklyn, except nights when it short turns at Times Square–42nd Street in Midtown Manhattan.
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Service history
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.
As of 1934, 3 service operated between 145th Street and South Ferry except late nights, when service operated between 145th Street and 96th Street, making local stops.
Beginning on January 4, 1955, some 3 trains ran express in Manhattan during rush hours and were extended to Flatbush Avenue; a few layups and put-ins ran to New Lots. Late night service was discontinued between 145th Street and 96th Street.
Beginning on December 20, 1957, 3 trains were rerouted to New Lots Avenue during rush hours.
On February 6, 1959, all trains except late nights made express stops in Manhattan as part of the "West Side Improvement" and ran to Flatbush Avenue.
Beginning on April 8, 1960, 3 trains rerouted to New Lots. Weekday evening service was cut to a shuttle 145th Street to 135th Street only.
Beginning on April 18, 1965, 3 service ran to Flatbush Avenue again.
Beginning on October 17, 1965, weekend evening service was also cut to a shuttle 145th Street to 135th Street.
On May 13, 1968, trains were extended to the newly completed 148th Street – Lenox Terminal.
Beginning on December 15, 1968, all-night shuttle service between 145th Street and 135th Street were brought back, this was the first time since 1955.
Beginning on May 23, 1976, the current practice of starting Sunday service late (9 or 10 AM) began.
Beginning on July 10, 1983, the 2 and 3 trains swapped Brooklyn Terminals, and the 3 was permanently stationed at New Lots Avenue so it could access the Livonia Yard and shops.
Beginning on August 5, 1990, late-night shuttles between 148th Street and 135th Street were discontinued and replaced by shuttle buses.
Beginning on September 4, 1994, late-night shuttles between 148th Street and 135th Street were resumed, but were discontinued again on September 10, 1995.
From March 2 to October 12, 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.
Service pattern
The following table shows the lines used by the 3, with shaded boxes indicating the route at the specified times:
Stations
For a more detailed station listing, see the articles on the lines listed above.