Service History
The section from East 180th Street to Dyre Avenue was once the mainline of the New York, Westchester and Boston Railway, a standard gauge electric commuter railroad built by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad. Upon its closure in 1937, the entire property was put up for sale.
| Rush hour service, designated with a diamond bullet until May 2005 |
In 1940, the City of New York purchased the section and began integrating the line into the system. The railroad north of the city line to White Plains and Port Chester was quickly dismantled. The section below East 180th Street to Greens Farm Junction was once used to interchange with the New Haven (and later Penn Central and Conrail) to bring subway cars and other equipment on and off the system. This section has since been removed, isolating this part of the subway from interchange.
Beginning 1934, trains normally ran from 241st Street or East 180th Street to Atlantic Avenue. During rush hours, they were extended to Utica Avenue.
From 1938 to 1950, weekend trains ran to Utica Avenue. Over the years, they were extended to New Lots Avenue every once in a while.
Beginning May 3, 1957, limited rush hour trains ran to Flatbush Avenue. This was discontinued on April 8, 1960.
From May 24, 1976 to 1980 and on January 18, 1988, midday trains terminated at Bowling Green.
Beginning July 10, 1983, all rush hour service ran to Flatbush Avenue, with limited service to/from Utica or New Lots Avenue.
In 1995, rush hour service to 241st Street was cut back to Nereid Avenue.
In 2000, there was a plan to switch the peak direction rush hour express service between East 180th Street and 149th Street – Grand Concourse by having the 2 run express and the 5 run local. This plan was canceled due to complaints of possible delays on both services.
On May 27, 2005, use of the 5 diamond to indicate peak direction service to Nereid Avenue was discontinued.
On June 29, 2009, 5 trains were extended to Flatbush Avenue during midday hours.
From March 29 to September 3, 2010, rush hour peak direction 5 express service was suspended due to rehabilitation of East 180th Street and signal replacements along the IRT White Plains Road Line. PM northbound express service was suspended again on March 28, 2011 to allow for the second phase of the signal replacement project. This time, service was restored on August 8.
Read more about this topic: 5 (New York City Subway Service)
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