The Quadrangle

Issue date: 2/23/05 Section: News

No. 9 train, famous for Bronx skip-stops, comes to a permanent stop.

The MTA recently proposed pulling the number 9 subway out of service admid another year marked by debt and increased fares. The train is set to be pulled out of service sometime in May. In a report by Channel 7 Eyewitness News, the skip-stop number 9 train is set to end, leaving the number 1 train to make every stop from 137th and Broadway to 242nd Street, Van Cortlandt Park. Originally, the "skip-stop" 9 train was created to facilitate commuters that travel through the Bronx to Manhattan, as it skipped stops that did not usually receive heavy amounts of passengers. Some viewed the 9 train as a benefit to their commute, while others were annoyed that they had to wait up to 10 minutes for a 1 when a 9 train sped past their stop in half the time. Those who objected to the train cited that it saved commuters less than 10 minutes on their trip downtown.

As the budget of the MTA steadily declines, many services are subject to suspension and cancellation.Logically, the 9 train on the west side is nearly identical to the 1, when not running during peak hours. It has yet to be determined what will become of the 9 trains; according to the Gothamist website, the MTA is still deciding whether to put the cars in their Queens yards, put them into service on other lines, or simply change their designation into 1 trains. Though many are afraid that service along the line will suffer as the line is cancelled, but the MTA stressed that the same number of trains will be running, and the seven skip-stop stations will not "see more service" as a result of the cancellation of the 9 train.

Freshman Miguel Hernandez, a commuter student who frequently rides the subway, said, "Getting rid of the 9 train would probably be more beneficial for me. The 1 makes more stops' the 9 is more express. My first class is at the Leo Engineering Building, so I always get off at 238th instead of 242nd. Only the 1 stops at 238th the 9 skips it. If I'm on the 9, I need to get off at 242nd and walk back to Leo, which takes longer. So the change would be helpful." Kelly Tierney, an sophomore, said, "It doesn't really bother me, whenever i have taken the subway the 9 is never running anyway, so i don't see it as much of an inconvenience."

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