Are there abandoned subway stations in NYC?

Yes, New York City has numerous abandoned subway stations, ranging from architecturally significant "ghost stations" like the ornate City Hall station (still viewable on the 6 train loop) to forgotten platforms like 91st Street, lower levels of busy stops, and those from old elevated lines, with the New York Transit Museum at Court Street offering public access to some.

How many abandoned subway stations are in New York?

Its predecessors—the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT), the Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit Corporation (BMT), and the Independent Subway System (IND)—were consolidated in 1940. Since then, many New York City Subway stations have been permanently closed, either entirely (9 of them) or in part (24 of them).

Are there abandoned subway tunnels in New York City?

Yes, New York City has many abandoned subway tunnels and stations, forming a "ghost system" with famous examples like the ornate Old City Hall Station, hidden platforms (like Track 61 at Grand Central or 91st Street), and portions of never-used extensions like the Second Avenue Subway tunnels from the '70s, alongside older, forgotten remnants like Alfred Beach's 1870 pneumatic subway.
 

Why was the City Hall Subway station abandoned?

New York City's historic City Hall subway station was abandoned in 1945 primarily because its sharply curved platform and shorter length made it unsafe and inefficient for the newer, longer subway cars, coupled with low ridership, making it obsolete despite its beautiful architecture. The station, once the "jewel" of the early system, couldn't be easily retrofitted, so trains switched to the nearby, more functional Brooklyn Bridge station, but the track still serves as a turnaround for the downtown 6 train.
 

How to see abandoned subway station in NYC?

How to visit the abandoned Old City Hall Station / 6 train abandoned station

1. Take the 6 train heading downtown.
2. When the train makes its final stop at the “Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall” station, passengers are told to exit the train.
3. Stay on the train and duck down so as not to be easily spotted.

10 Abandoned Historic Subway Stations in NYC You Can Still Visit

What is the most unreliable subway line in NYC?

And while every rider has a strong opinion about which subway line caused the most grief over the last 12 months, the data has spoken: in 2025, the B train once again earned the not-so-coveted title of NYC's slowest and most unreliable subway line.

Which NYC building has a secret subway station hidden below?

🚇 Hidden beneath the Waldorf Astoria lies Track 61 — a secret train station few New Yorkers even know exists.

What secret train station is hidden under a famous New York hotel?

Track 61 is a storage track abutting a private railroad platform on the Metro-North Railroad in Manhattan, New York City. It is located beneath the Waldorf Astoria New York hotel, within an underground storage yard northeast of Grand Central Terminal. The platform is part of the Grand Central Terminal complex.

Did people live under the subway in NYC?

In late 1980s and early 1990s New York, thousands of the homeless roamed the streets. Most slept on the streets or in shelters, but a small group of them went underground and took refuge in the huge system of subway and train tunnels.

What is the oldest station in NYC?

The oldest active station in NYC's subway system is debated but often refers to the first-opened, ornate City Hall Station, built in 1904 as the flagship of the IRT, featuring Guastavino tiles and skylights, though it's now a museum piece; for an actively used, old-style station, Chambers Street (1913) retains much of its original early 20th-century look.
 

Is there a secret tunnel under the White House?

Yes, there are secret tunnels under the White House, most famously a 761-foot tunnel connecting the East Wing to the U.S. Treasury Building for emergency evacuation, built during FDR's time. Another known tunnel connects the Oval Office area to the Presidential Emergency Operations Center (PEOC) bunker beneath the East Wing, providing secure access for the President. These tunnels are part of a larger underground network designed for security and continuity of government.
 

Have mole people been spotted in NYC?

Two decades after NYC sought to relocate its infamous tunnel-dwelling denizens, a years-long investigation reveals a few hardy souls still toiling and thriving beneath the city streets. They insist they wouldn't live anywhere else.

What happens to abandoned stations?

Abandoned railway stations can be repurposed to be retained as commercially viable structures within an urban environment, or as part of an urban regeneration project.

What is the largest abandoned subway system in the United States?

The largest abandoned subway in the U.S. is in Cincinnati, Ohio, featuring about two miles of unfinished tunnels built in the old Miami-Erie Canal bed, construction started in 1920 but halted due to costs and WWI, leaving intact tunnels and stations that are now used for utilities but have seen proposals for future reuse like retail or recreation.
 

What are the coolest neighborhoods to explore in NYC?

For first-time visitors, the best neighborhoods in NYC to explore include Midtown Manhattan for its iconic sights, Greenwich Village for charming streets and cafes, SoHo for shopping and art, and Williamsburg in Brooklyn for trendy eats and waterfront views.

How do I get to the abandoned City Hall subway station in NYC?

There are two ways to see New York's long-abandoned City Hall station. The first is to ride a downtown 6 train to its terminus at Brooklyn Bridge – City Hall, and remain onboard until it begins its signature turnaround loop to go back uptown.

What state is #1 in homelessness?

California has the largest homeless population by sheer numbers, with over 187,000 people in early 2024, followed by New York, but states like Hawaii and New York often rank highest when homelessness is measured as a rate per capita (per 100,000 residents). So, while California has the most, Hawaii and New York can lead in prevalence relative to their total population.
 

Is Dark Days a true story?

Dark Days is an American documentary film directed, produced, and photographed by the English documentarian Marc Singer that was completed and released in 2000. Shot during the mid-1990s, it follows a group of people who lived in the Freedom Tunnel section of the Amtrak system at the time.

Why is the 7 train purple?

The 7 Flushing Local and <7> Flushing Express are two rapid transit services in the A Division of the New York City Subway, providing local and express services along the full length of the IRT Flushing Line. Their route emblems, or "bullets", are colored purple, since they serve the Flushing Line.

What is the Ghost train station in NYC?

NYC has several abandoned train stations, with the most famous being the stunning Old City Hall Station, a beautiful architectural gem on the downtown 6 line, accessible via a special tour or by staying on the train as it loops. Other notable abandoned spots include the ruins of Bartow Station in the Bronx (Harlem River & Port Chester Railroad), and the vacant Westchester Avenue Amtrak Station.
 

Why did they get rid of the old Penn station?

By 1960, however, with the rise of the automobile and air travel, train travel had declined to 27% of intercity traffic. With the railroad industry in decline it was increasingly difficult for the Pennsylvania Railroad to justify maintaining a cavernous terminal in the country's most expensive real estate market.

Does the Z train exist in NYC?

Yes, there is a Z train in NYC, but it's a special, limited service that runs only during weekday rush hours in the peak direction (from Jamaica Center, Queens, into Manhattan's Financial District), operating as an express along the J line by skipping some stops. The Z train is part of the NYC Subway system, working with the J train, and it's known for being less common, sometimes making riders wonder if it's real.
 

What is the deepest subway station in NYC?

The deepest subway station in NYC is 191st Street in Manhattan, served by the 1 train, located about 173 feet (53 meters) below street level in the Washington Heights neighborhood, making it the deepest in the entire New York City Subway system.
 

What happened to Waldorf Astoria New York?

The Waldorf Astoria in NYC closed in 2017 for a massive, $6 billion restoration and conversion, transforming part of the iconic building into luxury condos while preserving historic areas, and it has recently reopened in 2025 with fewer, larger rooms, aiming to blend its legendary past with modern appeal, bringing back its famous lobbies and ballrooms after an eight-year overhaul.
 

How to get free subway rides in NYC?

Subways and local buses

Get free rides after 12 fares within seven days using the same device or contactless card with fare capping.