Transit Authority

Q: On my way back to the city from vacation, I noticed that Metro North has begun to operate some new trains on the Harlem line. What are they, and are they going to be used on all commuter lines?A: The trains you are referring to are actually the new M7 cars, which were and are continuing to be purchased by the state for use on the Long Island Rail Road and Metro North’s two main New York lines, the Harlem and Hudson lines, according to Marjorie Anders, a spokeswoman for Metro North. So far, 120 of 300 new cars for Metro North riders are in service,according to Ms. Anders. About 250 of 678 new M7s the LIRR is buying are currently in use, according to a press release by the cars’ manufacturer, Bombardier Transportation, of Quebec. According to the manufacturer, the cars cost $1.72 million apiece.The new M7s feature larger windows, brighter lights inside the cabin, and text displays of all announcements. Among other improvements touted by the MTA are ” ‘new generation’ vacuum toilets,” which, like those used on airplanes, isolate waste into separate tanks. They also feature dual air-conditioning units, in case one breaks down. The trains may remind subway riders of the R142s, which are used on the Lexington and Seventh Avenue lines and are also made by Bombardier.Q: As I paged through the MTA Arts for Transit insert from your December 10-12 edition, I came across a picture of the old City Hall subway station. I’ve seen so many pictures of it, and the place is quite stunning. So how come it’s not in service anymore? Also, why are there new photos available of a station that I thought was abandoned?The City Hall station opened in October 1904, at the birth of the subway system, and closed in December 1945, when the IRT began to phase out the original five-car trains. Stations that could be lengthened or changed to accommodate larger trains were modified and kept, while those that could not be updated were abandoned. The newer, longer trains had center doors, which were deemed too dangerous to operate in the City Hall station because of its curvature, according to nycsubway.org. Despite its aesthetic appeal, the City Hall station simply could not be used with newer trains.The station is not exactly abandoned, however. Southbound 6 trains exit the Brooklyn Bridge station, their last stop, and pass through the City Hall station as they loop around and become northbound.In addition, tours of the station were conducted by the New YorkTransit Museum until 1998, when the mayor’s office in the Giuliani administration expressed concern about the possibility of its use for attacks on City Hall.Questions about getting around the city? Please e-mail transit@nysun.com.

Transit Authority

Transit Authority

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