New York subway logs faster run times in November

Last month, the MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) subway logged improved running times, or the time it takes for trains to travel from terminal to terminal, on every line in its system. 

Overall, A division trains are running close to 4 percent, or about two-and-a-half minutes, faster than last year, while B division trains are running about 2 percent, or about one-and-a-half minutes, faster than 2018, NYCT officials said in a press release.

Line 7 and 7 Express, which were upgraded to communications-based train control signaling in 2018, have logged the biggest improvement in running time. Line 7 recorded a 9.2 percent improvement and 7 Express logged a 10.5 percent improvement.

The running time metric is a new one that NYCT is recording. It is made possible by the use of new technology to better track train location. The metric enables crews to track how fast trains are getting through the system, officials said.

“By improving our ability to measure service in different ways, we are now able to better pinpoint areas for improvement, as well as identify gains being made, such as the improving run times through the system meaning customers are getting where they need to go faster,” said Sally Librera, NYCT’s senior vice president for subways.

Preliminary data for November and the 12-month average shows subway performance has improved overall on every weekday metric compared with the same month last year.

On-time performance (OTP) has registered above 80 percent for the sixth straight month. November’s weekday OTP was nearly 82 percent, up 17 percent from a year ago.