Aqueduct Racetrack (IND Rockaway Line)
Encyclopedia
Aqueduct Racetrack is a station
on the IND Rockaway Line
of the New York City Subway
. Located on the west side of Aqueduct Racetrack
in Ozone Park, Queens
, it is served by northbound A
trains but is open only on racing days from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
This embankment station, opened on June 28, 1956, has four tracks with only the two outer ones in revenue service. Unusually, it has only one platform
, located on the northbound side, with one exit leading directly to Aqueduct Racetrack. Thus, it can only be served by northbound trains. While the station is advertised as "open on racing days," some trains stop here regardless of the time of day, but this does not guarantee an exit from the station.
This station has three High Entrance/Exit Turnstiles (HEETs), but no token booth or MetroCard Vending Machines. Although MetroCards can be purchased at any subway station in the system, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority
considers the station to be linked with Aqueduct – North Conduit Avenue located approximately 1500 feet (457.2 m) to the south, which has a full time token booth. The southbound platform of that station has an exit-only and passageway leading to Aqueduct Racetrack on the north end.
From 1959 until 1981, extra fare trains called the "Daily Double Special" and "Aqueduct Special" ran nonstop from the lower level of the 42nd Street – Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan and crossed over to the northbound platform to discharge passengers at the racetrack. The special train services were replaced in 1978 by the JFK Express
, which ran until 1990 and also stopped at this station on racing days.
Since the station has no access to the residential neighborhood to the west, it solely serves the racetrack. Thus, it is the least-used station in the New York City Subway. 29,644 passengers used it in 2010.
Metro station
A metro station or subway station is a railway station for a rapid transit system, often known by names such as "metro", "underground" and "subway". It is often underground or elevated. At crossings of metro lines, they are multi-level....
on the IND Rockaway Line
IND Rockaway Line
The IND Rockaway Line is a rapid transit line of the IND Division of the New York City Subway. It branches from the IND Fulton Street Line at Rockaway Boulevard, extending over the Jamaica Bay, into the Rockaways.-History:...
of the New York City Subway
New York City Subway
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
. Located on the west side of Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Its racing meets usually are from late October/early November through April.-History:...
in Ozone Park, Queens
Ozone Park, Queens
Ozone Park is a working class neighborhood located in the southwestern section of the New York City borough of Queens bordering Woodhaven, Richmond Hill, South Ozone Park, Howard Beach, and City Line, Brooklyn....
, it is served by northbound A
A (New York City Subway service)
The A Eighth Avenue Express is a rapid transit service of the New York City Subway. Its route bullet is colored blue on route signs, station signs, and the official subway map since it runs on the IND Eighth Avenue Line in Manhattan....
trains but is open only on racing days from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
This embankment station, opened on June 28, 1956, has four tracks with only the two outer ones in revenue service. Unusually, it has only one platform
Side platform
A Side platform is a platform positioned to the side of a pair of tracks at a railway station, a tram stop or a transitway. A pair of side platforms are often provided on a dual track line with a single side platform being sufficient for a single track line...
, located on the northbound side, with one exit leading directly to Aqueduct Racetrack. Thus, it can only be served by northbound trains. While the station is advertised as "open on racing days," some trains stop here regardless of the time of day, but this does not guarantee an exit from the station.
This station has three High Entrance/Exit Turnstiles (HEETs), but no token booth or MetroCard Vending Machines. Although MetroCards can be purchased at any subway station in the system, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York)
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York is a public benefit corporation responsible for public transportation in the U.S...
considers the station to be linked with Aqueduct – North Conduit Avenue located approximately 1500 feet (457.2 m) to the south, which has a full time token booth. The southbound platform of that station has an exit-only and passageway leading to Aqueduct Racetrack on the north end.
From 1959 until 1981, extra fare trains called the "Daily Double Special" and "Aqueduct Special" ran nonstop from the lower level of the 42nd Street – Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan and crossed over to the northbound platform to discharge passengers at the racetrack. The special train services were replaced in 1978 by the JFK Express
JFK Express
The JFK Express, advertised as The Train to The Plane, was a premium-fare service of the New York City Subway, connecting midtown Manhattan to John F. Kennedy International Airport.-Fares and Rolling Stock:...
, which ran until 1990 and also stopped at this station on racing days.
Since the station has no access to the residential neighborhood to the west, it solely serves the racetrack. Thus, it is the least-used station in the New York City Subway. 29,644 passengers used it in 2010.
External links
- Station Reporter — A Rockaway
- The Subway Nut — Aqueduct Racetrack Pictures