Why does NYC dump old subway cars into the ocean?

New York City dumps old subway cars into the Atlantic Ocean to create artificial reefs, transforming retired trains into thriving marine habitats that boost biodiversity, support fisheries, and provide shelter for sea life like fish, crabs, and corals. This process, part of the MTA's Redbird Reef program, involves cleaning the cars of hazardous materials and sinking them to create complex underwater structures where marine life can flourish, offering more food and protection than natural sandy bottoms.

Why are there subway cars in the ocean?

Old subway cars were dropped into the ocean by New York City as part of an artificial reef program. The primary goal was to create habitats for marine life, which helps enhance local ecosystems and supports fishing and recreational activities. Here's how and why it worked:

What happens to old NYC subway cars?

Beneath the Atlantic Ocean's surface lies an unexpected transit system, not for humans, but for fish. Thousands of New York City subway cars now serve as homes for marine life.

Why should you avoid empty subway cars?

It takes a lot for people to choose a crowded car over an empty one, so you can be pretty sure that if it is a smell, it's a really, really bad one. The most common subway horror story is probably seeing someone poop on the train — or finding evidence that somebody did so prior to your arrival on the scene.

What is the abandoned subway station in NYC?

Old City Hall Station, an abandoned subway terminal in Manhattan, features vaulted ceilings, brass chandeliers and skylights.

They Dumped 2000 Subways Cars Into The Ocean And No One Understood Why Until They Saw It

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 is the secret subway in New York City?

What's it about? In 19th century Manhattan, inventor Alfred Beach secretly built America's first operational subway - a pneumatic tube system - while battling corrupt politician Boss Tweed and transportation monopolies.

How often do NYC subway cars get cleaned?

NYC subway cars get a quick sweep/wipe down at end terminals daily, most get an exterior wash weekly, a deep interior clean roughly every 72 days (or 8-10 weeks), and intensive overnight cleanings happen at maintenance yards for a full scrub-down, tackling graffiti, gum, and grime for a thorough refresh.
 

Is $1000 enough for 3 days in New York?

Is $1000 enough for 3 days in New York? It depends on how you travel. If you're staying in a decent hotel, eating out for every meal, and doing all the big attractions, $1000 will disappear fast.

Is it possible to live in NYC without a car?

Most people who live in New York City don't own cars, finding it far more convenient to use the city's elaborate public transport system of buses, subway, and trains to get around boroughs and out of town. Of course, there are those famous yellow taxis to get you from point A to point B too.

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.

What is the lifespan of a subway car?

The average life of a subway car is around 40 years but because of the some of the greatest maintenance teams on the planet, these cars will go on longer operating on the greatest transit system in the world. That's right, I said it - the world. #NYC400#mta#newyorkcitytransit.

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.

Do train toilets empty onto the tracks?

No, modern passenger trains do not empty toilets on the track; they use retention tanks or advanced systems to store waste, which is then emptied at stations, but older trains (especially in some regions like the UK until recently) used "hopper toilets" that did discharge waste onto the tracks, leading to signs advising against use at stations. Today, systems are similar to airplanes (vacuum/holding tanks) or use bioreactors, but some very old rolling stock with basic systems still exists, though it's being phased out. 

Why is 95% of the ocean unexplored?

95% of the ocean is unexplored because of its immense size, extreme hostility (crushing pressure, total darkness, frigid temperatures), the immense cost and complexity of developing technology to reach it, and the sheer difficulty of mapping such a vast, featureless environment, making it a challenging and risky frontier for exploration. Even with modern tech, exploring the deep sea is like finding an ant on a beach, requiring specialized, expensive gear and immense effort for tiny glimpses.
 

How do New York subways not flood?

Subways have drainage systems, otherwise they'd flood every time it rains. So the water just goes into the drains and into the sewer. In general that's where all this water goes - into the drainage systems around the area.

How much money do you need for a day in New York?

For spending money in NYC, budget around $100-$200+ per person per day, depending heavily on your style: budget travelers might stretch $50-$100 (using public transport, free sights, cheap eats), mid-range travelers can aim for $150-$250 (mix of paid attractions, sit-down meals), while luxury travelers should expect $300+ for hotels, shows, and fine dining, plus accommodation costs. 

Why aren't NYC subway stations air conditioned?

It's because the system was built for a cooler climate that no longer exists. Most subway trains do have aircon but the stations they arrive at simply weren't designed to work with aircon, meaning all the heat removed from the trains on hot days is dumped onto the platforms and tunnels.

Which is the cleanest subway in the world?

While no single system is definitively the "cleanest," the Tokyo Metro (Japan), Copenhagen Metro (Denmark), and newer systems in China and Singapore are consistently praised for exceptional cleanliness due to rigorous, frequent cleaning, high tech, and cultural emphasis on tidiness, with Tokyo being famous for its deep-cleaning traditions.
 

Is the NYC subway free after 12 rides?

Yes, the NYC subway offers a permanent OMNY fare cap: after you pay for 12 rides (at the standard $2.90 fare, making the cap $34.80, rising with fare increases) in a 7-day period using the same contactless card or device, all subsequent subway and local bus rides are free until that 7-day period ends (resetting each Monday). You don't need to buy a pass; it's automatic with OMNY tap-and-go, just use the same payment method for every trip to build up your rides toward the cap. 

Are there people living in NYC subway tunnels?

Yes, people do live in NYC's subway tunnels and underground spaces, forming hidden communities of unsheltered homeless individuals known as "mole people," seeking refuge from the streets in disused areas, though numbers fluctuate and official counts vary, with estimates ranging from hundreds to thousands depending on the source and time period. These makeshift homes offer shelter but come with difficult conditions like darkness, train exhaust, and pests, yet provide a degree of privacy and community for those with nowhere else to go, as documented in films like Dark Days.
 

What do locals call the NYC subway?

New Yorkers call the subway "the subway," but more commonly refer to specific lines as "the [Letter/Number] train," such as "the 1 train" or "the A train," and sometimes just "the train," with "MTA" or "mass transit" used for the overall system. They use directions like "uptown," "downtown," or "crosstown" (referring to buses) and the line's final destination (e.g., "Bronx-bound") to navigate. 

Do celebrities ride the subway in NYC?

Happens all the time in NYC. Leave them alone. You'd be amazed how many celebrities you see on the train. I happened to rode twice on two different occasions with Matthew Broderick (Ferris Buelller).

What is the smallest city with a subway system?

The smallest city with a subway system is generally considered to be Lausanne, Switzerland, with a population around 140,000, due to its fully automated, two-line metro (M1 & M2) that serves its hilly terrain efficiently, though other small cities like Rennes, France, also have notable metro systems. 

Which US city has the best subway system?

For years, New York City has been considered one of the best cities for public transportation in the United States, with its sprawling subway system, countless buses, and iconic yellow taxis.