Lexington Avenue Subway – 6 Local

Once upon a time, the 6 line was one of the most reliable lines in the system. Although it has always been overcrowded, it ran very frequently. Even during the midday hours, you never had to wait more than four minutes for a 6 train. Over the past two years, however, the performance of the 6 train has gone down. Almost every time I use it, there’s some delay. It’s either the ubiquitous signal problem or broken rails (are the rails made in China?). Then, when the train finally arrives, it has to skip stops to make up for lost time, which pisses people at those stops off.
Did the 6 decline in quality because they started using the older cars on the 6 or is this de Blasio’s way of getting back at the people on the Upper East Side who didn’t vote for him?

The 6 line basically runs from the Bronx to downtown Manhatten via the East Side. Specifically Lexington Ave. most of the trains itself are the newest versions. There are digital signs inside the train to tell you the upcoming stop. Most of the announcements are pre recorded which is usually easier to understand. This train gets ridiculously crowded during rush hours. There are usually trains coming back to back so you can just wait for the next one.

This train is slow as a turtle because when I took the 6 train to go to college, they’re not that fast as the E train and there’s always delays because of sick passenger and a train traffic.
Rush hour is a pain in the ass because when I arrived at the 59^th street station from the R train, there’s always a lot of people at the uptown platform waiting for the damn train to come. When the 6 train arrived, the train was pack. I can’t even stand the crowded people in the train, but I refused to leave the train or take the 4 or 5 to 86^th street.

Let me preface this by saying that I’ve been riding the 6 train for over ten years, since I was in high school and I never thought I’d write a review for a subway line.
This past year, however, it’s been absolutely horrible. A nightmare. A trip that used to take 35 minutes now takes an hour and sometimes more. Constant delays all the time in the mornings during rush hour. This usually happens when it gets into Manhattan from the Bronx. I shouldn’t have to give myself an extra hour to get to work on time. They’ve also been using the older trains with the orange and yellow seats that can be so uncomfortable when it gets crowded.
For example (and these two incidents occurred on consecutive days).Yesterday the train ran smoothly until 125^th where it was delayed. With my experience, I knew this could easily add 20 minutes to my commute to 68^th, so I jumped off, caught an express ⁴⁄₅ to 59^th and took the 6 up one stop, 5 minutes late. Today, I leave 25 minutes earlier, a police investigation on 103^rd forced me to exit at 110^th where we were stalled and take a bus down. Just imagine exiting the train to find that the limited M101 doesn’t stop at 110^th but a few blocks down, huffing and puffing, you walk as fast as the frozen sidewalks allow, and just miss it. Then finally catch up to it after walking 10 blocks total, and after all this effort you still end up being 5 minutes late.
I don’t usually take such drastic action, but everyone reaches a point.
Now I guess I’ll have to give myself 2 hours and get to work with 15 minutes to spare on most days and on those rare occasions have an entire hour to burn before work.

In the bronx, the express 6 is not bad. However, the ride of the 6 in Manhattan is slow. I’d rather take the 4 or 5 in Manhattan, way faster.

Emerson said that «the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude».
Yet the 6 train would test the restraint of even a Buddhist monk.
In short, this train sucks. I am a small person, so I can’t fight my way in using a hulking physique. My strategy involves jamming myself in as closely as possible to the door, where I am ensured some measure of air to breathe.
And God help you should the train stop between stations. That girl chewing gum and listening to Nicki Minaj on her headphones at full blast? The mother with toddlers straining to keep control? Wall Street bankers throwing tantrums?
With the 2^nd Avenue subway not operational until 2029, those of us on the East Side can only suffer in silence.
A one star constitutes grade inflation for this ride. I am nostalgic for the quietude of the F when I lived in Chelsea.

I usually work the closing shift at my job. I work by the 33^rd Street station. My goodness, one train takes 6 minutes and the next one comes in 18 minutes. Wtf? Why is the train so slow (even during the day time?) A few days ago, I missed about three ⁴⁄₅ trains going to Brooklyn because of this slow train. When I arrived at Union Square, I looked up at the time clock and had to wait 12 minutes for the 4 train. Ugh, I hate you 6 train.

If you asked me about the 6 a year ago, I’d say it had faults like every line, but was reliable. This past year however? Forget it…
I’ll preface this by saying that if you’re not on it at rush hour, you’ll do OK. If you’re on during the rush, forget it.
I used to be able to get on the 8:15AM 6 train in the Bronx and eventually get to Bowling Green (after transferring) by 9:10. Plenty of time to be early for work and stop at the store too. But this past year the train has been extra slow in the morning. Dragging, stopping, lurching, dragging some more, or some other issue. I end up just making it or being late. So I tried getting on much earlier, but it seemed the earlier I got on, the later the train was. I can get on a train at 7:50 and still be late for work thanks to the 6. And then on some days I can leave around 8:10 and be about 5 minutes early. How does this work again? It was reliable for 15 years before this in the mornings, so what gives, MTA? What’s going on?
The evening rush used to be a bit of a respite from this, but now that’s getting worse, too. So you’re screwed both ways.
Add in to this the fact that it’s crowded beyond anything and what you have is a cattle car.
The only positive about the 6 is that it’s faster than the 4 and 5. That’s pretty crappy since those are meant to be express trains. During rush hours, stay off those two. You’re better off on the 6. At the very least till 14^th Street, but even more so all the way to Brooklyn Bridge.
How bad is that???
I was going to give this 2 stars, but after typing all this and thinking about the wreck that is the 6, I’m changing it to 1 star.

Consistent train and a great route… Easy to navigate. Not the cleanest, but which subway really is :). This can be a super busy route so «get skinny» but overall consistent running about every few minutes.

Tends to be semi-​clean and semi-​crowded. Might be a local but I honestly do not mind this one at all

Definitely a consistent train, runs practically every three minutes during peak hours. Still gets crazy crowded during rush hour. Runs ²⁴⁄₇ and straight down the east side.
The six is pretty much the only reasonable means of public transport to the UES. Really convenient to GC, Union Square, East Village and Chinatown as well. The longest I’ve ever had to wait was 13 minutes when I just missed the train by moments and it was in the middle of the night. If you have a reason to head up to the Bronx, it runs all the way up the East side of the Bronx as well.
The 6 stops at some smelly stations and occasionally passengers too, but the trains are some of the newest and usually cleanest. You get an occasional homeless beggar or musician/​dancer/​performer but I feel like they are much more common on the west side trains.
Crazy packed at rush hour times so be prepared to stand sandwiched between strangers. If you are agoraphobic, claustrophobic or can’t handle physical contact with strangers: avoid between the hours of 730am-​10am and 430p-​7p.

This train isn’t bad. When I come to NYC, I often stay in the upper east side. I’ve never had any delays on here, the trains are air conditioned, and there’s a timer in the stations to show when the next one is coming. The subway is not luxurious, but this isn’t a bad train at all. However… during rush hour, this is a sardine can. I’ve never witnessed anything totally heinous, besides a fight last summer over a bike.

I have been reduced to being intimately close with far too many strangers here. If you’d like someone pressed against your rear while someone else is uncomfortable squashed against your front, while all 3 of you are in awkward positions of trying to find a way of holding to anything so you won’t fall over this is definitely the place to be.
If your an actor who’s going for a roll as a sardine in a can this is the best place for you to practice!

Usually super crowded and if it’s a hot day, you have to watch out for people trying to solicit money taking over the area where you can feel some cold air. A total tourist fest so if you can get an express train instead, have at it.
The only upside is depending on time of day, the train may actually show up in a timely fashion.

I’m tempted to make a Pelham movie joke here. I really am. But I’ll try not to be too cliched.
Like I mentioned in my review of the 1 train (see here:
), the «Green-​line» is the East-side’s equivalent of the «Red-​line». They both use some of the MTA’s newer trains (speaking of… don’t forget your money maker – the «Blue-​line” – Mr. MTA), and they both remain relatively clean.
I’ve used this line, and this train in particular, all my life. Whether in my College commutes (23^rd Street, Baruch), or for prior jobs (Grand Central & Hunter College station stops). I would usually take the express ⁴⁄₅ trains to cut down on the commute times.
But, on days where it gets overly crowded (you know, when you have to let three or four express trains go by because you can’t get in), I’d just get off at Brooklyn Bridge and catch this train while it’s still empty and reduce my stress levels. My Pro-​Tip for today would be for you to do the same.
Speaking of Pro-​Tips, here’s another (free of charge): hold onto the poles/​railings when this train exits and enters 14 St & Grand Central (the same goes for the ⁴⁄₅).
One MAJOR plus for the 6 train is the Summer months. After waiting in the heat, when you walk into one of the 6 train’s car and feel that blast of cool air hit your face… you feel like signing «people all over the world, start a love train, a love train.»
Coors light anyone? ;-)

Here I am in Florida visiting with family this weekend and I am sitting here thinking about the 6 train. Why, you may ask? Because here you have to friggin drive everywhere. Nothing is close by. I actually enjoy just jumping on the subway and having it take me to wherever I want to go.
Number 6 — Swoosh — at 59^th street Bloomingdales and all the other stores in this area.
Swoosh — Grand Central.
Swoosh — 28^th street — entrance right near where I work.
Swoosh — 14^th street Union Square — the market and fun area
Swoosh — Spring Street — quick walk to Little Italy and lower eat side
Swoosh — 116^th street the Barrio
Swoosh — 86^th street — my hood.
You get my drift. Yes, sometimes it is slow, and can be very crowded during morning and evening commute times, but trains are fairly new and clean overall. Do I want to strangle the A-​Hole with his oversized backpack bashing into me in the morning? Sure, but it is something we learn to live with.
Now I have to go and drive 10 miles to the closest gym. Ugh. Miss my number 6 train.

I’m not a huge fan of the 6 train because it takes forever and it’s really narrow but last night it gave me a real WOAH COOL Reaction. Waiting at the 23^rd street stop at about 10:30pm, I was annoyed we had just missed a passing train. After a 9 minute wait the new train pulls up adorned with Target advertisements all over the inside and outside of the train. SO COOL! They’re advertising their new store opening on 116^th and Pleasant Ave. I’ve posted pics and you can watch a video of the train here:
2.5 stars.

Comes more freuqntly than the N (Never) or R (Rarely).
Goes straight up and down the East side.
Took it every day for years.

Number 6 Train, you truly move like a snail for local service when you’re fully functional, whilst other times you’re a dead train who belongs at West Side Yard. You’re able to move me from Chinatown’s Canal Street to Soho to Union Square to another location of my company in the Upper East Side. You do allievate crowding during rush hour from your brother trains 4 and 5.
Pity you for terminating at City Hall where riders need to connect with the Number 4 or 5 in order to transfer for the A, C, 2, 3, J, M at Broadway Nassau-​Fulton Street, which is a nusiance.

6 train, I am sorry I took you for granted. I spent so much time in your company for so many years, but realized how good you are only after I betrayed you for the A train. I am sorry, it wasn’t my choice: I would take you back without blinking.
I like your bright cars; your voice sounds soothing when you announce the next station. I like the pale blue color of your seats. I like the panel that shows the next stop, and the one that shows the route. I even like the way you smell!
We had some good time together, 6 train. You would take me downtown to go out, and then bring me back home late at night. You were reliable, weekdays and weekends were always the same for you. You weren’t fussy. You always delivered.