New York Rapid Transit Railroad

With 34 lines, 24 services and more than 4 million daily riders, New York City currently has one of the most extensive and heavily used subway systems in the country.  Thanks to the New York subway system, citizens can travel between the five boroughs with ease, but prior to the 20th century this was not the case.

On this day, March 24th, in 1900, ground was broken on New York’s Interborough Rapid Transit Railroad (IRT).  The IRT was the original New York City subway line and was completed in 1904. The IRT consisted of four lines between the Brooklyn Bridge – City Hall and 96th Street.  The IRT expanded in subsequent years and maintained ridership levels until being acquired by New York City in 1940.

The original IRT lines are still in operation and are identified as the numbered lines in the current subway system.  Upon being incorporated into the New York City Transit Authority, the IRT tunnels became known as the “A Division.”  The IRT’s small tunnels and sharp curves prevented the line from connecting to the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company (BRT) and Independent Subway System (IND) lines that were also owned by the city in 1940.