From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
7-Flushing Local is a IRT New York Subway train. Operating between Flushing, New York, in Queens and Times Square in Manhattan, this 8 mile (12.87 km) line travels through one of the most ethnically diverse areas in the world. The 7 is the offical train of the New York Mets and the US Open (tennis), since both are located at its Willets Point/Shea Stadium station. Since the 1964 New York World's Fair was at Flushing Meadows, the 7 was the main train route to the event.
In 1999, the 7 train route was designated a National Millennium Trail (along with the Appalachian Trail and 14 others) by a joint program of the White House Millennium Council, the United States Department of Transportation, and the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. It was chosen as a representative of the immigrant experience, and because the approximate path of the Flushing line has been in continuous use as a transportation route since the 17th century.
R36 cars have served the 7 exclusively since 1964. Most of these cars have been retired and used as artifcial barrier and coral reefs, but some remain. The 7 is now mostly made up of R62A cars built in 1986. The R36 cars were built exclusively for the 7 in 1964 and painted in a "Bluebird" (light blue scheme (later painted in Redbird red by 1986-1989.)
The route has 3-track express service. The express runs to Manhattan in the morning and from Manhattan in the afternoon. Some express trains are run especially for Mets and US Open games.
The 7 has been known for its various styles of architecture along the line, which range from steel girder elevated lines to European-style concrete viaducts. The 7's underground stations have some unique designs as well, such as Hunters Point Avenue (which is in an Italianate style) and Grand Central (a single round tube similar to a London Underground station).
Plans are under way to extend the 7 to Manhattan's West Side in time for the 2012 Summer Olympics. A stadium and sport complex are being developed there. New cars with Automatic Train Operation (ATO) may be purchased as well.
Alternate names for the 7: IRT Flushing, IRT Queensboro, The International Express
Stations (with other train transfers/connections) :
- Flushing (Main Street) (Long Island Railroad-1 block)
- Willets Point-Shea Stadium
- 111 Street
- 103 Street-Corona Plaza
- Junction Boulevard
- 90 Street-Elmhurst Avenue
- 82 Street-Jackson Heights
- 74 Street/Broadway (E,F,G,R,V)
- 69 Street-Fisk Avenue
- 61 Street-Woodside (Long Island Railroad)
- 52 Street-Lincoln Avenue
- 46 Street-Bliss
- 40 Street-Lowery
- 33 Street-Rawson
- Queensboro Plaza (N,W)
- 45 Road-Courthouse Square
- Hunterpoint Avenue (Long Island Railroad)
- Vernon Jackson (Long Island Railroad 1 1/2 blocks at Borden)
- Grand Central-Lexington Av/42 Street (4,5,6,S, Metro-North Railroad)
- 5 Avenue-Bryant Park (B,D,F,Q,V)
- Times Square-Broadway/7 Avenue (A,C,E,N,Q,R,S,W,1,2,3,9)
