The R-train: tied for below-average.
Earlier this week, the Straphangers Campaign – a project of the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) – released it’s annual State Of The Subways report cards. And shockingly – perhaps inexplicably – Bay Ridge’s beloved R-train was not at the bottom of the list.
Out of 19 major subway lines graded, the R-train was tied for tenth, with a “MetroCard rating” of $1.20. Tied with three other lines (the D, N, and 3-trains). Six lines (A, B, 2, 4, 5, and C) rated worse than this Mediocre Quartet, and the G-train* isn’t even one of them!
The R-train lost points for the amount of scheduled service (ranking 15th out of 20 lines) and the consistency with which those trains arrive (11th out of 20).
Please, for my sake, try to look surprised. But it get’s worse:
- The trains of the R break down more than on any other line except the C-train (about 78,000 miles between breakdown-caused delays, versus 800,000+ miles-between-breakdowns on the system-best E-train).
- In-car announcements, while correct 78% of the time, put the line at 18th out of 20 (7 and C are worse).
- In-car cleanliness is below average – tied for 13th with three other lines.
The good news: there’s no better line to travel if you’re looking for a seat during rush hour.
* The Straphangers Campaign researched 21 major subway lines, and gave ratings to 19 (the J and Z were combined into one route for grading purposes, and the MTA doesn’t provide crowding data for the G-trin that is necessary in the report card methodology.) For 2012, the Q-train was rated best, and the C-train was rated worst.