Why does the New York subway mix letters and numbers?
In cities around the world, subway lines use either numbers or letters. In New York, you'll find both. Here's why the system mixes letters and numbers on its lines.
New York’s subway mixes letters and numbers
- Look closely at a New York subway map and you’ll spot something unusual. Most cities worldwide use one system: numbers (Paris, Marseille, Brussels) or letters (Lyon, Rennes). New York’s subway uses both letters and numbers.
- The red lines, which run from the Bronx to lower Manhattan, are numbered 1, 2, and 3. The blue lines use letters: A, C, and E. Brooklyn is the same—you can take lines 4 and 5, or lines N, R, and Q. Here are 10 things to know about using the New York subway.
Three companies, one subway system
- Why the mix? It’s simply a historical accident. When New York’s subway opened in the early 1900s, two private companies ran different parts of the network. The numbered lines belonged to the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT). The lettered lines—A through G—were operated by the Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Company (BMT).
- The two private companies soon ran into trouble, and the city decided to take control. In 1932, the city created its own company, the Independent Subway System (IND), and built new lines. Suddenly there were three companies running one network. By 1940, the city had bought out both private operators and gradually unified the system. The line names, though, stayed the same.
