The
New York City Subway currently uses
various letters and numbers to designate the routes that trains use over the differing
lines in the system. Along with the color corresponding to the route's trunk line, these form a unique identifier for the route, easing navigation through the complex system. Several service labels have either been phased out or never been used. This list covers the labels not used as of June 2021[update].
A Division numbers
The
A Division uses single-digit numbers for each route. Currently, numbers 1 through 7 are in use.
0, while not used publicly, is used as the internal designation of the
42nd Street Shuttle.
8 was last used for the Bronx portion of the
Third Avenue El from 1967 to 1973 (when it was demolished). Previously it was used by the IRT to designate their route that used the
Astoria Line, which was originally jointly operated with the BMT prior to 1949. Additionally, it appears on the rollsigns of some trains as a green 8.[1]
Two-digit numbers have never been used by the A Division, but have been seen on the current
rollsigns of some trains, paired with colors used with other services. It is likely that these were assigned arbitrarily, for use if the
MTA changed the additional rush hour express service designators from a "diamond" version of the regular number to a separate number.
Trains of the
B Division use single letters of the English alphabet. These service letters are unused, but some have been used or proposed for services at various points in time:
H is the internal route designator for the
Rockaway Park Shuttle. It was used publicly until 1993, when the public route emblem was changed to S. Since then, the shuttle has only been referred to as H in internal documents. It was last used publicly for a fare-free shuttle service in the Rockaways, started in November 2012 after damage caused by
Hurricane Sandy rendered normal S shuttle and
A train services in the area inoperable. This temporary H service lasted until May 2013, when full service on both routes to the Rockaways was restored.[6][7][8]
I has never been used due to its visual similarity to the number 1.[1]
X is used as a placeholder for routes under development.[1]
Y has never been used, as it sounds like the word "why".[1]
The
JFK Express's bullet, featuring an airplane symbol inside a turquoise circle, was used from 1978 until 1990.[16]
Prior to May 1985, the B Division used two-letter combinations to indicate differing variations of similar services, but these were phased out in favor of single-letter designators.[1]
The letters H, K, and V can be seen on the
rollsigns of some older model
subway cars, with colors paired to the last
primary trunk line they were assigned to. The letters P, T, U, X and Y could last be seen on
R32 side rollsigns as a black letter inside a white circle.[17]
^"Noteworthy – 9 discontinued". May 7, 2005. Archived from the original on May 7, 2005. Retrieved September 18, 2016.{{
cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
link)
^Hirschman, David (July 21, 2008).
"The T Train: NYC Will Get Its First New Subway Line in 70 Years". Wired. No. Aug '08. p. 36. Archived from
the original on July 25, 2008. Retrieved April 8, 2014. The old (1960s) T service was also called the
West End train. The reference was to Brooklyn. By contrast, the new T service will serve the East Side of Manhattan, and 'will unite the Upper and Lower East Sides.'