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NYC Subway History & Fun Facts Quiz

All aboard! Come embark on this quiz all about the New York City subway transit system.

A multiple-choice quiz by Yanks2003. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
Yanks2003

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
425,399

Updated
Sep 10 26

# Qns
10

Difficulty
New Game

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
22

Last 3 plays: Guest 73 (9/10), marianjoy (10/10), mjgrimsey (2/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Let us start at the very beginning. In what year did the NYC Subway open? Hint

1884

1904

1774

1954

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Question 2 of 10

2. If you were to take a subway ride in its inaugural year how much would you pay for the fare? Hint

5 cents

25 cents

Nothing it was free!

1 dollar

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Question 3 of 10

3. Upon opening, how many stops did the original subway system have?

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which of these original stops listed is no longer in use today? Hint

42nd Street (Grand Central)

59th Street (Columbus Circle)

Times Square

City Hall

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Question 5 of 10

5. The subway system does not run after midnight.

True

False

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Question 6 of 10

6. NYC is made up of 5 boroughs. Which of the boroughs has no direct access to the main NYC subway system? Hint

Brooklyn

Queens

Staten Island

The Bronx

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Question 7 of 10

7. Subway tokens were introduced in 1953 and discontinued in 2003. Which of the following became the only way to pay your fare for a train ride? Hint

Use of currency coins at turnstiles

MetroCard

Paper tickets

The subway became free once tokens were phased out

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Question 8 of 10

8. The MTA stopped selling MetroCards at the end of 2025 as it phased them out in favor of this contactless payment system.

Answer: (4 letter abbreviation)

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which agency is responsible for the operation of the NYC subway? Hint

NYC Department of Transportation (DOT)

New York City Police Dept (NYPD)

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)

Port Authority Police Department (PAPD)

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Question 10 of 10

10. Old retired subway cars were dumped in the sea to create artificial reefs.

True

False

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Let us start at the very beginning. In what year did the NYC Subway open?

Answer: 1904

It opened October 27, 1904, to be exact, and it is one of the world's oldest subway systems. To this day, it has the most stations of any rapid transit system in the world.

2. If you were to take a subway ride in its inaugural year how much would you pay for the fare?

Answer: 5 cents

It only cost a nickel to ride for the first 44 years. The fare doubled to 10 cents in 1948. In 2026, the fare for the train was $3.00.

3. Upon opening, how many stops did the original subway system have?

Answer: 28

Out of the original 28 stops all but 4 are still in use today. As of September 2026, there are 472 individual stations.

4. Which of these original stops listed is no longer in use today?

Answer: City Hall

The City Hall station permanently closed on December 31, 1945, because its sharply curved platform could not easily be lengthened to accommodate longer subway trains. You can still visit the original station and see its beautiful vaulted tile ceilings and leaded skylights by booking a tour or simply staying on the downtown 6 train after its final stop as it loops back uptown.

5. The subway system does not run after midnight.

Answer: False

The MTA operates the trains 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, between midnight and 6:00am the trains run less frequently.

6. NYC is made up of 5 boroughs. Which of the boroughs has no direct access to the main NYC subway system?

Answer: Staten Island

Staten Island is served by the Staten Island Railway (SIR), and there is no direct rail connection to the island of Manhattan. The SIR will take you to the St. George Ferry Terminal, where you can take the Staten Island Ferry to Manhattan.

7. Subway tokens were introduced in 1953 and discontinued in 2003. Which of the following became the only way to pay your fare for a train ride?

Answer: MetroCard

Although the MetroCard had officially been in use since 1994, it became the standard way to pay in 2003 when the MTA stopped selling and accepting tokens. Token styles changed throughout the years, including a special one minted in 1979 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the subway system.

8. The MTA stopped selling MetroCards at the end of 2025 as it phased them out in favor of this contactless payment system.

Answer: OMNY

OMNY stands for "One Metro New York" and is a tap-and-pay system used on the subway and city buses. Physical OMNY cards are also available for purchase.

9. Which agency is responsible for the operation of the NYC subway?

Answer: Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)

The MTA is a state-chartered public benefit corporation and operates North America's largest transportation network. It also operates seven toll bridges and two tunnels around NYC.

10. Old retired subway cars were dumped in the sea to create artificial reefs.

Answer: True

Between 2001 and 2010, over 2,500 subway cars were cleaned and sunk into the Atlantic Ocean to create artificial reefs. These reefs are used as marine habitats and to boost recreational fishing in numerous states along the East Coast.

Source: Author Yanks2003

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stedman before going online.
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