Bowling Green – South Ferry Shuttle
| Bowling Green/South Ferry shuttle | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Type | Rapid transit |
| System | New York City Subway |
| Status | Ceased operations |
| Locale | Lower Manhattan |
| Termini |
Bowling Green South Ferry (inner loop and platform) |
| Stations | 2 |
| Operation | |
| Opened | February 1909 |
| Closed | February 13, 1977 |
| Owner | City of New York |
| Operator(s) | New York City Transit Authority |
| Character | Underground |
| Rolling stock | R12 |
| Technical | |
| Number of tracks | 1 |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) |
| Electrification | 625V DC third rail |
The Bowling Green–South Ferry shuttle was a service of the New York City Subway system that operated between Bowling Green and the South Ferry inner loop. It operated to provide South Ferry service for IRT Lexington Avenue Line riders during hours when the 5 service did not stop at South Ferry (weekdays during the day and at first also late nights). Because the inner loop station that the shuttle used at the South Ferry station was on such a tight curve, four R12 cars (5703-5706) that were used on the shuttle were modified and equipped so that the center door of each car could be kept closed, while the other doors opened.
The shuttle was first operated in February 1909 to allow all rush hour trains to go to Brooklyn; the shuttle only operated during rush hours. Formerly, all Broadway express trains had terminated at South Ferry, with all Lenox Avenue express trains through to Brooklyn. Locals all ended at City Hall.
In August 1964, the Low-Voltage cars that were in service on the shuttle were replaced with R12s, which had their door circuits modified so that only the doors which aligned with the portals would open.
In 1967, the shuttle, as with all others, was given the label SS.
The New York City Transit Authority decided that the shuttle was more trouble to operate than the benefit it provided. At midnight between February 12 and February 13, 1977, the Bowling Green shuttle was discontinued without replacement, and since then IRT Lexington Avenue Line passengers must walk a relatively short distance from Bowling Green station to South Ferry and the Staten Island Ferry terminal there.
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