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Quizzes > Lifestyle & Hobbies > Travel & Transportation

Think You Know the NYC Subway? Take the Quiz!

Ready for NYC subway trivia? Prove your MTA knowledge now!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for NYC subway quiz on golden yellow background

Think you know the city that never sleeps? Dive into our ultimate nyc subway quiz to test your mta trivia skills and discover how well you know the rails! This challenge puts your knowledge of iconic station stops and surprising facts from daily commutes to the mta train operator practice test under the spotlight. You'll uncover hidden gems beneath Times Square, learn to spot express vs. local routes, and test your recall of legendary line colors. Warm up with a quick hit of new york trivia , then tackle true nyc subway trivia in each round - just like our trivia questions about new york challenges. Perfect for commuters, tourists, and history buffs alike - boost your transit IQ and become a subway pro. Start the quiz now!

When did the first section of the New York City Subway officially open?
October 27, 1904
January 1, 1910
July 4, 1788
December 31, 1965
The inaugural subway line in New York City opened on October 27, 1904, running from City Hall to 145th Street in Manhattan. This marked the beginning of what would become one of the world’s largest rapid transit systems. The opening was a major civic event, attended by thousands of passengers on opening day. Wikipedia
How many boroughs of New York City are served by the subway system?
4
5
3
2
The New York City Subway serves four boroughs: Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens. Staten Island is not part of the subway network; it is served by the Staten Island Railway instead. This distribution makes the subway one of the most extensive urban transit systems in the world. MTA NYC Transit
Which New York City borough is not served by the subway but has its own railway service?
Staten Island
Manhattan
Brooklyn
Queens
Staten Island does not have subway service; instead, it is served by the Staten Island Railway, which operates similarly to a light rail line. All other four boroughs are connected to the broader subway network. This separation dates back to the historical development of New York City’s transit agencies. Wikipedia
What color represents the A, C, and E subway lines on the official MTA map?
Blue
Green
Red
Yellow
The A, C, and E trains run along the Eighth Avenue Line in Manhattan and are colored blue on the official MTA subway map. Each trunk line under Manhattan is assigned a distinct color for easy identification. The blue shade helps riders distinguish these services from other routes. MTA Subway Map
Which station has the highest annual ridership in the NYC Subway system?
Times Square–42nd Street
Grand Central–42nd Street
Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center
34th Street–Penn Station
Times Square–42nd Street is the busiest station in the system, handling over 60 million entries annually. It is a major transfer hub serving seven subway lines and the Port Authority Bus Terminal connection. Its high traffic reflects its central location in midtown Manhattan and proximity to Broadway theaters. MTA Data
Which of these services runs along the Lexington Avenue Line in Manhattan?
4, 5, and 6 trains
A, C, and E trains
1, 2, and 3 trains
J and Z trains
The Lexington Avenue Line is served by the 4, 5, and 6 trains, running north–south on Manhattan’s East Side. It is one of the system’s busiest corridors and the only trunk without a letter designation. Riders rely on these lines for access to major destinations like Grand Central and Union Square. Wikipedia
Which train provides direct service to Far Rockaway in Queens?
A train
F train
3 train
L train
The A train splits in Queens with one branch going to Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue. This service is unique among A train routes and provides a crucial link to this coastal community. Alternative routes require transfers or buses. MTA A Line Info
Which station was permanently closed after the September 11, 2001 attacks?
Cortlandt Street
South Ferry
Chambers Street
City Hall
The Cortlandt Street station on the IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line was destroyed in the collapse of the World Trade Center and remained closed for reconstruction until 2018. It was reopened under the name WTC Cortlandt with modernized facilities. Other nearby stations were damaged but reopened sooner. Wikipedia
Which NYC subway station is the deepest below street level?
191st Street
28th Street (8th Avenue line)
City Hall
Brooklyn College–Flatbush Avenue
The 191st Street station on the IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line sits about 180 feet below street level, making it the system’s deepest. It features elevators and long passages connecting to street entrances. This depth was necessary to tunnel under the high ground of Washington Heights. Wikipedia
Which line has the most stations in the entire NYC subway system?
C train
2 train
L train
G train
The C train, running from 168th Street in Manhattan to Euclid Avenue in Brooklyn, has 40 stops—the highest count of any single service. Its frequent local stops make it slower but accessible to many neighborhoods. It shares the Eighth Avenue trunk with the A and E trains. Wikipedia
In what year did the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) assume operation of the New York City Transit system?
1968
1975
1952
1984
The MTA was established in 1965 and took over the operations of the New York City Transit Authority in 1968. This consolidation was part of efforts to coordinate transit services across the region. The move helped stabilize finances and expand service planning. Wikipedia
Approximately how many miles of revenue track does the NYC Subway system have?
665 miles
550 miles
848 miles
712 miles
The New York City Subway system comprises about 665 miles of revenue track, which includes all routes in regular service. This extensive network underpins one of the world’s largest public transit systems by track length. Mileage figures fluctuate slightly with system expansions and reopenings. MTA Facts & Figures
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Iconic Stations -

    Learn to pinpoint famous stops and unique landmarks featured in nyc subway trivia to ace the quiz.

  2. Understand Line Designations -

    Differentiate numbered and lettered routes, color codes, and service patterns on the MTA network to master mta trivia.

  3. Analyze Subway History -

    Explore key milestones and fun facts that give context to the nyc subway quiz questions and deepen your transit knowledge.

  4. Apply Test-Taking Strategies -

    Use mta train operator practice test techniques to improve your accuracy and confidence when answering trivia questions.

  5. Navigate Route Options -

    Plan efficient trips by comparing express versus local services, transfer points, and line interconnections across the network.

  6. Evaluate Service Patterns -

    Interpret peak and off-peak schedules, special service changes, and express stop rules to enhance your subway IQ.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Color-Coding & Line Groupings -

    Review how each subway trunk is assigned a color - red (1-3), green (4-6), blue (A-C), orange (B/D/F/M), yellow (N/Q/R/W) and purple (7). A handy mnemonic is "Really Great Blues Often Yield Power" to recall Red, Green, Blue, Orange, Yellow, Purple in order. Official MTA maps (mta.info) use these colors consistently, so familiarizing yourself with them enhances quick line identification.

  2. Major Transfer Hubs & Terminus Stations -

    Memorize key interchanges like Times Sq - 42 St, Grand Central - 42 St, Atlantic Av - Barclays Ctr, and Fulton St for optimal route planning. Knowing terminus stations - like Flushing - Main St (7) or Jamaica - 179 St (F) - helps with understanding end-of-line services. Data from the MTA Station Profiles (mta.info/stations) highlights station layouts and available transfer corridors.

  3. Express vs Local Service & Peak Symbols -

    Understand the difference between express (fewer stops, bullet symbols) and local (all stops, hollow circles) services; for example, the 6 is local, the peak-direction 6 <6> uses a diamond bullet between Parkchester and Third Ave - 138 St. Remember that bullet shape (circle vs diamond) signals peak-only routes, a detail emphasized in official MTA training manuals and mta train operator practice test documents. Practice distinguishing bullet styles on the mta.info/trains pages to sharpen your quiz accuracy.

  4. Historic Milestones of the NYC Subway -

    Review that the first IRT line opened on October 27, 1904, running from City Hall to 145th St, and the unification of IRT, BMT, and IND lines occurred in 1940 under city control. Key expansions include the IND Eighth Ave Line (1932) and the Second Avenue Subway Phase 1 (2017); create a timeline chart to visualize these dates. Refer to the NYC Transit Museum archives or official MTA history documents for authoritative details.

  5. Ridership Statistics & Unique Station Trivia -

    Study annual ridership figures - Times Sq - 42 St is the busiest station with over 64 million entries in 2019, according to MTA's 2019 Ridership and Revenue Report. Also note quirky facts like Aqueduct - N Conduit Ave serving the lowest annual ridership, or the only station named after a weapon (Gun Hill Road). These trivia tidbits come straight from MTA's public data feeds and add flair to your nyc subway trivia arsenal.

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