IRT Nostrand Avenue Line

IRT Nostrand Avenue Line
The 2 and 5 trains serve the entire IRT Nostrand Avenue Line.
Overview
Type	Rapid transit
System	New York City Subway
Termini	President Street Flatbush Avenue–Brooklyn College
Stations	7
Daily ridership	61,390
Operation
Opened	August 23, 1920
Owner	City of New York
Operator(s)	New York City Transit Authority
Character	Underground
Technical
Number of tracks	2
Track gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Electrification	600V DC third rail

The IRT Nostrand Avenue Line is a rapid transit line of the IRT division of the New York City Subway running under Nostrand Avenue in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. It is served at all times by the 2 train, and is also served by the 5 train on weekdays during the daytime.

The Dual Contracts, which were signed on March 19, 1913, were contracts for the construction and/or rehabilitation and operation of rapid transit lines in the City of New York. The contracts were "dual" in that they were signed between the City and two separate private companies (the Interborough Rapid Transit Company and the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company), all working together to make the construction of the Dual Contracts possible. The Dual Contracts promised the construction of several lines in Brooklyn. As part of Contract 3, the IRT agreed to build a subway line along Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn. The line was supposed to extend to Coney Island. The construction of the subway along Nostrand Avenue spurred real estate development in the surrounding areas. In September 1917, the line was projected to open at the end of 1918. The Nostrand Avenue Line opened on August 23, 1920 at 12:40 AM.

The line was planned to be extended to Marine Park, Brooklyn (at what is now Kings Plaza) under either Utica Avenue, using a brand-new line, or Nostrand Avenue and Flatbush Avenue, using the then-new IRT Nostrand Avenue Line as part of the Dual Contacts There were also alternate plans for the Nostrand Avenue Line to continue down Nostrand Avenue to Sheepshead Bay.