Experiences of New York Subway Trains and Buses

[DynamicSpirit]

What are people's experiences of travelling on (and paying for) public transport in New York? I'm asking because I'll be there for the first time in a few days - in particular travelling from JFK airport to Staten Island. Particular questions are:

1. From the metro map, it looks like the best route is: Airtrain to Jamaica, then Subway J/Z to Broad Street, then ferry to St George, then bus from there to the place I'm staying. Can anyone with experience of the system confirm that's a sensible route (with a suitcase).
2. The MTA website (https://new.mta.info/fares) seems to indicate you can pay for all journeys with a debit card. Is this correct and are UK debit cards likely to work for this without problems.
3. Are the buses and trains generally reliable?
4. Anything else I need to be aware of that would come as a surprise to someone mostly familiar with UK buses and trains?

 

[SteveM70]

Its payment card or their MetroCard, which costs a dollar (I think) and can be recharged at machines at stations. When we were last there (2017) four of us shared one MetroCard and there were no issues passing it back at the gateline, and it seemed to be pretty commonplace

I'm 99.9% sure its a standard single fare for any Metro journey so there's no need to tap out

The Staten Island ferry is free though

 

[DynamicSpirit]

OK thanks. So is there actually any advantage to using a MetroCard, as opposed to just using a bank payment card?

 

[Wandering Pom]

One thing to beware: the AirTrain is a separate fare system from the Subway. I think it's free for journeys between any pair of stations except Jamaica, and something like $8 for entry or exit at Jamaica (i.e. for interchange with the Subway or LIRR). I believe there are transit options involving local buses that avoid the $8 fare, but they're likely to be less convenient, especially with luggage.

 

[Huntergreed]

Very simple fares system. You only need to “tap in” at the turnstile with a contactless card (my UK card worked absolutely fine) and then you just walk out through the turnstile at the other end - it’s a flat fare regardless of journey length/distance.

I sometimes found the turnstiles are not particularly well designed for carrying large suitcases so just be careful with this!

The “air train” at JFK is NOT included in the subway and there’s a separate fare for this when exiting at Jamaica.

Something to be aware of (more so in central Manhattan) is that the NY the subway has a mix of ‘local’ trains and ‘express’ trains. These generally use different tracks (for example, many are at island platforms with one track being local and the other express) - double check the sign on the platform before you get on. I didn’t do this on my first day and had to double back a couple of times! It is often faster to get an ‘express’ to a certain station and then walk across the island platform and catch the ‘local’ to your stop.

Also be aware that there is often more than one station with the same name (there are three ‘23 St’ stations for example). They are served by different lines (pretty much all lines run north (uptown) and south (downtown)). There are often separate entrances for uptown and downtown with no connection between the two beyond the turnstiles - always double check the sign above the entrance as you go down the stairs.

 

[SteveM70]

OK thanks. So is there actually any advantage to using a MetroCard, as opposed to just using a bank payment card?

The only advantages for me were:

(a) travelling with three kids meant I could manage all the fares with one card - not sure if you can tap in multiple times with a single debit card

(b) I was a bit uneasy about security at first (possibly misguided and based on internet horror stories) and didn't really want to be flashing my cards

 

[185]

Local Trains - letter or number in a circle.
Express Trains - letter or number in a diamond.
JFK - It may not be possible anymore however you used to be able to avoid the Airtrain fee by getting off at the last free stop, car park 9 and walk 300m to the Howard Beach subway station. I'm told they may have put a gate in since my last trip.

If you've time, be sure to use the cable car to Roosevelt Island with your MetroCard, great views over the river.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

The “air train” at JFK is NOT included in the subway and there’s a separate fare for this when exiting at Jamaica.

Can you avoid that extra fare by taking the Air Train to Howard Beach/JFK Airport instead? And then using Subway A (Looking at the map, for me it looks like that would mean changing to J/Z at Broadway Junction)

 

[Ghostbus]

Anything else I need to be aware of that would come as a surprise to someone mostly familiar with UK buses and trains?

Maybe don't rule out the car entirely? If you have a license obviously. My experience is historical, but I am quite sure the general rule still holds that America is far less anti-car and anti-motorist than Europe. For both cultural and geographic reasons. And I was certainly surprised to learn this is true even when comparing Manhattan to Westminster. In the early 2000s, purely because I already had a hire car for work, staying near JFK, I enjoyed a very pleasant Sunday because of it.

It was the equivalent of driving from Croydon to Soho in half an hour, finding a free on street parking spot in minutes, and then having a full day as a tourist on foot of ferry, and back in time for tea. I did Times Square and the Empire State, and took the ferry to the statue and Ellis Island. It had all been on a whim, my choice to drive being half about the love of this huge American car, and half a trepidation about grappling with an unfamiliar system. Had I needed to, as a regular bus/Tube user in London, I was fine with perhaps having to park well short of Manhattan and continue by public transport. I just didn't need to.

 

[cactustwirly]

What are people's experiences of travelling on (and paying for) public transport in New York? I'm asking because I'll be there for the first time in a few days - in particular travelling from JFK airport to Staten Island. Particular questions are:

1. From the metro map, it looks like the best route is: Airtrain to Jamaica, then Subway J/Z to Broad Street, then ferry to St George, then bus from there to the place I'm staying. Can anyone with experience of the system confirm that's a sensible route (with a suitcase).
2. The MTA website (https://new.mta.info/fares) seems to indicate you can pay for all journeys with a debit card. Is this correct and are UK debit cards likely to work for this without problems.
3. Are the buses and trains generally reliable?
4. Anything else I need to be aware of that would come as a surprise to someone mostly familiar with UK buses and trains?

There is also the LIRR from Jamaica which is heavy rail and might be more interesting, although it is more expensive than the subway

 

[stuu]

Can you avoid that extra fare by taking the Air Train to Howard Beach/JFK Airport instead? And then using Subway A (Looking at the map, for me it looks like that would mean changing to J/Z at Broadway Junction)

No, the charge is the same there as at Jamaica

 

[Ted633]

Can you avoid that extra fare by taking the Air Train to Howard Beach/JFK Airport instead? And then using Subway A (Looking at the map, for me it looks like that would mean changing to J/Z at Broadway Junction)

No. You get charged that way as well.

As for your other questions, I used a debit card every time without issue. Just beware that you may get a small fee from the bank per transaction (depending on your bank). Mine was only a few pence per transaction so was no bother, but if it is more it may be worth buying a metrocard and loading it up in one hit.

Cost per entry (regardless of distance) is $2.90 with a cap of $34 per week so if you use the subway a lot later trips are free.

Reliability was good when I was there. Just beware of engineering works causing route changes at the weekends

The system of express and local services can be confusing at first. Double check that your destination is local only or all trains before boarding!

Last thing, frequency isn't as good as over here. Especially if you are waiting for a specific service. Waiting over 10 minutes wouldn't be unusual if you were aiming for a specific route.

 

[67thave]

Can you avoid that extra fare by taking the Air Train to Howard Beach/JFK Airport instead? And then using Subway A (Looking at the map, for me it looks like that would mean changing to J/Z at Broadway Junction)

To avoid the charge, take the AirTrain towards Howard Beach and get off at Lefferts Boulevard (the stop before Howard Beach). Follow the signs for the Q10 or Q10LTD (LTD is short for "limited", which in New York City indicates a local bus service which only serves major stops - it does not indicate a service which only runs at certain times of day) towards Kew Gardens. Take the Q10 or Q10LTD to Jamaica Avenue, where the J/Z station at 121st Street is a short walk away.

What are people's experiences of travelling on (and paying for) public transport in New York? I'm asking because I'll be there for the first time in a few days - in particular travelling from JFK airport to Staten Island. Particular questions are:

1. From the metro map, it looks like the best route is: Airtrain to Jamaica, then Subway J/Z to Broad Street, then ferry to St George, then bus from there to the place I'm staying. Can anyone with experience of the system confirm that's a sensible route (with a suitcase).
2. The MTA website (https://new.mta.info/fares) seems to indicate you can pay for all journeys with a debit card. Is this correct and are UK debit cards likely to work for this without problems.
3. Are the buses and trains generally reliable?
4. Anything else I need to be aware of that would come as a surprise to someone mostly familiar with UK buses and trains?

1) That's a very scenic route but it is not very sensible. However, why are you staying on Staten Island? Not only is it inconvenient to reach, the areas close to the ferry landing are not particularly safe.
2) The MTA does accept contactless but I am not certain if non-USA cards will work.
3) Buses are typically very slow but will get you from point A to point B without issue. The subway is faster and typically reliable, but be aware that regular service changes occur during the overnight hours and on weekends which often result in vastly different service patterns due to trackwork and maintenance.
4) You're going to be surprised at how few personnel are present in the stations themselves and the sheer amount of exits from each station. In addition, if you are staying south of the Staten Island Expressway (Interstate 278), you might want to familiarize yourself with the express buses as they will get you to Manhattan more quickly than the ferry though at a higher price ($7 USD). The higher price does include a free transfer to the subway and the vehicles themselves are coaches with with more comfortable seating than found elsewhere on the MTA's bus network.

Additionally, this is a bit off topic but I would highly recommend the New York Transit Museum in Downtown Brooklyn, which has a large collection of old rolling stock and is housed in a disused subway station:

Home

The New York Transit Museum is a unique museum devoted to the impact of public transportation on the growth and development of the New York metropolitan region.

www.nytransitmuseum.org

 

[Thames99]

I've not been to JFK for years, but buses used to run to parts of JFK to avoid being fleeced on the Airtrain. Looking it up now Q3 and Q10 still exist.

Q3 seems to run from terminal 8 (which would be free on the Airtrain from other terminals) to Jamaica. Q10 runs from Lefferts Blvd Airtrain to Kew Gardens subway.

Whether either is worth the hassle to save a couple of dollars I don't know.

 

[brooklynbound]

There's been an ongoing issue with the AirTrain gates at JFK and Howard Beach with the Port Authority effectively admitting that passengers are passing through without paying. The turnstiles have been left open on a regular basis since tap to pay was introduced, apparently in part because at busy times they're slowing doing passengers.

The transit museum regularly runs its preserved kit on the network. I see there are a series of trips next month. They're sold out but you can still see the trains in action.

 

[U-Bahnfreund]

Local Trains - letter or number in a circle.
Express Trains - letter or number in a diamond

That's not really true: the circle/diamond distinction is only made if the same service has a local and express variant. So there's a 6 local and also a <6> express during peak hours. But the 4 and 5 are always express in Manhattan and have a circle anyway.

One thing to be aware of is that on Select Bus Services (SBS), if you don't use OMNY, you need to use buy a ticket from a machine at the stop before boarding.

 

[BahrainLad]

It’s worth getting something like a Revolut card and then loading it up with USD in advance of the trip to use for smallish purchases so you don’t end up paying hefty fees.

I visit NYC ~2-3 times a year and have done so for almost 20 years, I keep a USD balance on a Revolut and then set my Apple Watch to use that card as “Express Transit” and then tap in to the Subway/Airtrain using it. Very easy, and also very safe (as I don’t have to hang about the turnstile fishing for wallet or phone etc I just whizz through).

Be aware the Subway can be pretty sketchy compared to the Tube even in Manhattan, but I have never felt unsafe and I have been known to take it at 2am after a night out even in the last year or so.

Another vote for the Transit Museum in Brooklyn!

Also I’d take the E/LIRR to/from JFK, as the A is very infrequent (20 minute headway?) and slow.

Or, Blade Helicopters. One way, $200, 7 minutes. Ideal if you have very small amounts of hand luggage and spectacular views of Manhattan if you go to/from the west side heliport near Hudson Yards.

 

[Bald Rick]

In my recent experience:

Yes UK cards work fine, both debit and credit. Check your own card’s terms and conditions to see if you will be charged a fixed transaction fee and/or a % commission. Plenty of cards out there that don’t charge either. For example my debit card charges 2.99% commission plus 50p per transaction, which makes each $2.90 subway journey cost £2.80 rather than £2.23 at today’s exchange rate. Yes it’s only 57p, but it is very annoying given that it costs the bank essentially nothing. So I use one of my credit cards, which is zero fees for foreign currency transactions. As an aside, credit cards are used much more than debit cards by the locals in the US.

Quickest route would be Airtrain to Howard Beach (or Lefferts Boulevard and a shorter walk for the freebie, as detailed above), A train (15 min frequency most of the day) to Jay St Metro Tech in Brooklyn, easy change to the R train to head under the East River to Whitehall St South Ferry which is right next to the Staten Island Ferry terminal.

Last time I was there the Airtrain was running to a different service pattern due to long term engineering works. I think these have finished now, but double check that your train goes to Howard Beach (or Jamaica if you head that way) - you may need to change at Federal Circle, which is easy.

If you get any sort of ‘regular’ train while you are there - NJ Transit, LIRR or MetroNorth, (or Amtrak if travelling a longer distance) buy your ticket in advance. You don‘t have to for the first three, but will pay much more on the train. When on the train, the conductor will put a tag on your sest hook to show that he / she has seen your ticket and doesnt need to bother you again. If you move seats this then becomes an issue!

Also, on regular trains beware that some services have doors that don’t open at some stations out in the boonies (basically smaller stations when away from Manhattan). This is because of different platform heights in some cases - where certain doorson individualcoaches will not open, and short platforms for others. The announcements will usually mention this, but are often inaudible due to the poor PA and/or “US English”. If in any doubt check with the conductor.

Beware that in my experience, whilst staff are helpful, their manner might seem quite brusque. This applies on all transport, and also at the airports!

If you want any advice on what to see or do, let us know! Meanwhile enjoy the trip, hope you chose Virgin Atlantic

 

[DynamicSpirit]

Quickest route would be Airtrain to Howard Beach (or Lefferts Boulevard and a shorter walk for the freebie, as detailed above), A train (15 min frequency most of the day) to Jay St Metro Tech in Brooklyn, easy change to the R train to head under the East River to Whitehall St South Ferry which is right next to the Staten Island Ferry terminal.

Thanks for the detailed info.

Looking on Google maps, it does seem to be a very short (and not unpleasant) walk from Lefferts Boulevard to Howard Beach. But it's not clear from Google Maps whether Howard Beach station has an entrance on the East side that would give you access from the car park, allowing you to walk from Lefferts Boulevard. Anyone know whether it does?

Beware that in my experience, whilst staff are helpful, their manner might seem quite brusque. This applies on all transport, and also at the airports!

Yes, thinking about it, although I've never been to NY, I have experienced that brusqueness in other parts of the US.

 

[nlogax]

Omny has made things much simpler, even more so now that JFK Airtrain uses it. That was a holdout for some time and the sole reason I kept a Metrocard with credit on me.

The subway is grubby, complex and literally falling apart in multiple locations and reminds me of parts of the Tube in the late 80 / early 90s. Maybe that’s why it’s my favourite mass transit system of anywhere I regularly visit.

 

[Track2012]

There is no entrance from the Lefferts Blvd. Airtrain station/parking lot to the Howard Beach A train station, although people have bee known to break down the fence or climb over it. The cheapest route is the free Airtrain to Lefferts Blvd. and the the Q10 to Lefferts Blvd. (the A train stop, not the Airtrain airport station) for the A train or to Kew Gardens for the E or F train to Manhattan, with a free transfer from the bus to the subway, after paying the fare on the bus and using the same credit card or Metrocard (cash fare won't enable a free transfer). There's also the B15 bus from the Lefferts Blvd. Airtrain station to New Lots Ave. in Brooklyn for a free transfer to the 3 train to Manhattan (albeit a local train and mostly below ground in Brooklyn, but it gets you within a block of the Staten Island Ferry in Manhattan). The J/Z is also local the whole way to Manhattan and above ground in Queens and Brooklyn and then over the Williamsburg Bridge (!), but the A/E/F trains are express all the way and below ground - except for the above-ground A in Queens). The Airtrain to Jamaica is also an option, but expensive, as has ben noted) and then the Long Island Railroad (more expensive than the subway but at half-price for us old people outside of morning rush hours) or J/Z/E to Manhattan (no half fare without having registered with the Transit Authority).

 

[stadler]

What are people's experiences of travelling on (and paying for) public transport in New York? I'm asking because I'll be there for the first time in a few days - in particular travelling from JFK airport to Staten Island. Particular questions are:

1. From the metro map, it looks like the best route is: Airtrain to Jamaica, then Subway J/Z to Broad Street, then ferry to St George, then bus from there to the place I'm staying. Can anyone with experience of the system confirm that's a sensible route (with a suitcase).
2. The MTA website (https://new.mta.info/fares) seems to indicate you can pay for all journeys with a debit card. Is this correct and are UK debit cards likely to work for this without problems.
3. Are the buses and trains generally reliable?
4. Anything else I need to be aware of that would come as a surprise to someone mostly familiar with UK buses and trains?

I would recommend the Lefferts Boulevard option for getting from the Airport to the City Centre that others have mentioned. This costs only USD2.90 total and it avoids the extortionate Air Train rip off monorail. I have always used this method in the past.

The free Air Train monorail from the Airport to Lefferts Boulevard only takes five to ten minutes (depending which terminal you are at), and then the Q10 bus from Lefferts Boulevard monorail station to Lefferts Boulevard Ozone Park subway station takes fifteen to twenty minutes (depending on the time of day and traffic), and then the Subway line A from Lefferts Boulevard Ozone Park to the City Centre takes fourty to fifty minutes (depending what stop in the City Centre you want), so the total journey time from start to finish is probably around seventy to eighty minutes total.

The subway stop at Fulton Street (on the A line) is a short easy ten minute walk (maybe fifteen maximum at a slower walking pace) to the Staten Island ferry terminal. So you could easily take the train from Lefferts Boulevard Ozone Park and alight there and walk to the ferry terminal. The ferries are very frequent and free of charge.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

To avoid the charge, take the AirTrain towards Howard Beach and get off at Lefferts Boulevard (the stop before Howard Beach). Follow the signs for the Q10 or Q10LTD (LTD is short for "limited", which in New York City indicates a local bus service which only serves major stops - it does not indicate a service which only runs at certain times of day) towards Kew Gardens. Take the Q10 or Q10LTD to Jamaica Avenue, where the J/Z station at 121st Street is a short walk away.

Ah thanks! Having read this again along with @stadler's and @Track2012 's posts, I've now understood it properly. And it looks like the Q10 is very frequent too. Yes using the Q10 to either Jamaica Avenue or Lefferts Boulevard Ozone Park seems a pretty decent way to do it without getting fleeced by the Airtrain charges And has the advantage of a bit more of a view of New York too (especially since the J/Z service appears to be mostly above ground).

Do the buses in New York have audio announcements or visual indicators of the stops, or should I expect to rely on my phone's geolocation/hoping something outside the windows will be obvious to know when I've reached the right stop?

1) That's a very scenic route but it is not very sensible. However, why are you staying on Staten Island? Not only is it inconvenient to reach, the areas close to the ferry landing are not particularly safe.

I'm staying on Staten Island because all the hotels in Manhattan or in more convenient locations were showing at like £200/night when I was booking And the free ferry to get to the island doesn't sound unpleasant.

Additionally, this is a bit off topic but I would highly recommend the New York Transit Museum in Downtown Brooklyn, which has a large collection of old rolling stock and is housed in a disused subway station:

Home

The New York Transit Museum is a unique museum devoted to the impact of public transportation on the growth and development of the New York metropolitan region.

www.nytransitmuseum.org

Thanks! I'll check that out.

Definitely appreciate all the advice. It's amazing the knowledge of transport outside the UK there is here

 

[SteveM70]

And the free ferry to get to the island doesn't sound unpleasant

Unless you manage to get one of the tickets to climb up inside the Statue of Liberty, the Staten Island ferry gives you great views for free

 

[Beebman]

The subway is grubby, complex and literally falling apart in multiple locations and reminds me of parts of the Tube in the late 80 / early 90s. Maybe that’s why it’s my favourite mass transit system of anywhere I regularly visit.

I love it too! Yes it needs quite a lot of TLC (e.g. fixing the rainwater leaks which can leave the occasional puddle on platforms) but I enjoy the general atmosphere of the system and the experience of passing through stations on Express services.

Unless you manage to get one of the tickets to climb up inside the Statue of Liberty, the Staten Island ferry gives you great views for free

You can visit Liberty Island without going inside the Statue by buying a General Admission and boat ticket from City Experiences (It's about $25 which also includes a stop at Ellis Island) although IMO the best views are from the vessel as it approaches the Island to dock there. But yes the Staten Island Ferry is free although views of the Statue can be a little distant on occasions if the boat takes a slightly longer route.

 

[Ted633]

One additional thing I found with Subway is that it is rather warm! The trains all have air con, but the stations and platforms themselves can be quite hot & stuffy (my experience when I went at the beginning of this month anyway)

 

[richardderby]

be aware of people around you on the subway, there are pickpockets and from previous visits, a lot of crazy people... it will get you from A to B, but not very pleasantly. Hopefully the NYC congestion charge will start soon, the subway needs the modernisation dollars

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Enjoy your trip and please write up your findings.

First used the subway back in 1984 when a % of the trains were wrecked by graffiti vandals , but they were making inroads into that and the problem was largely sorted by 1988. The older trains looked very handsome in Tuscan Red , known as "Redbirds" - now it is all highly shiny stainless steel.

All trains , bar some shuttles and I think the "L" line in deepest Brooklyn have conductors in the middle of the train and they (in my experience) are helpful enough - good idea to travel near them if you have any concerns , but I never saw anything worrying. (trust me , I explored some of the slightly sketchy areas in the Bronx and Brooklyn)- this is now now akin to "The Warriors" - great film and excellent music tracks.

Much of the system has been slowed down with "timers" to guard against overspeeding , but the "A" in Manattan gives a good run express from 59th to 125th. I commend
the great , scenic run over the Manhattan Bridge , nice and slow too.

Some of the older stations of the "IRT" - the 1 / 2 / 5 / 6 lines - the oldest ones have magnificent period station tilework from 1904 onwards , which are listed and quite superb. (Interborough Rapid Transit" - the downtown 6 turns round via a loop line and you can legitimately stay on the empties to get a quick view on the closed City Hall station ,before the train goes back into service uptown.

Coney Island (Stillwell Avenue) is worth a trip out - there are several lines going there - the one via Brighton Beach is recomended as you can get off and see a well know Russian "colony". Coney is very famous for Nathans hotdogs - opposite the station and the NY equivalent of London's Pie and Mash. Iconic.

Last - hard plastic seats , but comfy enough.

Some on train annoucements are now automatic , but some conductors make manual announcements which can sometimes be quirky - the norm is "Step Inside and watch the closing doors - this an "X" train calling next at XXX.

 

[12LDA28C]

I'm staying on Staten Island because all the hotels in Manhattan or in more convenient locations were showing at like £200/night when I was booking And the free ferry to get to the island doesn't sound unpleasant.

The Staten Island Ferry is a NYC institution and well worth doing just for the trip, which takes you right past the Statue of Liberty. There is however, not a great deal to see when you reach the Island so I usually come straight back.

 

[Bald Rick]

Coney Island (Stillwell Avenue) is worth a trip out - there are several lines going there - the one via Brighton Beach is recomended as you can get off and see a well know Russian "colony". Coney is very famous for Nathans hotdogs - opposite the station and the NY equivalent of London's Pie and Mash. Iconic.

+1 for Coney Island.

Take the B to Brighton Beach (it’s express some of the way, but only runs weekdays) wander down to the beach / shore, and then west along the Boardwalk towards Stillwell Av station. There’s a Nathan‘s on the Boardwalk and another by the station itself, however next door to the one on the Boardwalk is Ruby’s, which is the oldest bar/grill on the Boardwalk. Expect to pay about $7-10 for a beer, plus tip of course.

Then get the N back from Stilwell Av, as it goes right through the middle of the Coney Island Yards - MTAs largest depot / maintenance facility for the Subway. Swap to the R at 36th St (Brooklyn) if you want to get back to the Staten Island Ferry terminal.