Bowling Green-South Ferry Shuttle

The Bowling Green-South Ferry Shuttle (also Bowling Green Shuttle) was a service of the New York City Subway system 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, cars used on the shuttle were equipped so that the center door of each car could be opened there, while keeping the others closed.

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 expresses had terminated at South Ferry, with all Lenox Avenue expresses through to Brooklyn. Locals all ended at City Hall.

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 now IRT Lexington passengers must walk from Bowling Green station to South Ferry and the Staten Island Ferry terminal there.

External links

• Abandoned Stations – Bowling Green & South Ferry platforms

References

• Shuttle Trains in Subway, New York Times May 27, 1908 page 5
• Want to Run Shuttle Trains, New York Times June 7, 1908 page 18
• Shuttle Service in Subway, New York Times February 25, 1909 page 11
• M.T.A. Expected to Save Franklin Avenue Shuttle, Once an Austerity Target, New York Times February 10, 1977 page 27