Flashback: The JFK Express

An express train that'll take you from Midtown to JFK Airport, with specially installed luggage racks and a conductor punching tickets, all for just $3.50? That would probably come in handy for many people today, but it no longer exists. CityRoom takes a nostalgic look back at the JFK Express, which operated from 1978 to 1990, running down Avenue of the Americas in eight stops, then non-stop to the airport.

So why did they kill the Express (which even came with a cute jingle, "Take the train to the plane")? Allegedly because there were too many complaints. Riders didn't like having to switch to a shuttle bus for the last stretch, and "everyday subway-goers had to be reminded not to step onto the specially marked express trains, which loaded at the regular subway platforms." So we'll have to settle for the train to the airtrain to the plane.

The MTA's Jeremy Soffin told the site, "There may not be sufficient demand to revive the JFK Express, but I can definitely see the "take the train to the plane" jingle making a comeback." (Old television ads can be seen after the jump).

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By Jen Carlson in Arts and Events on November 25, 2009 2:05 PM

Comments [rss]

Rebecca

"Here it for yourself..." Ugh.

Spirit of 76

That narration reminds me, when will City Hall finally get rid of "Avenue of the Americas"? That just doesn't roll off the tongue like "Sixth Avenue" does and with DOT no longer replacing the national emblem medallions, the reason it was renamed will be forgotten soon, if it hasn't been forgotten by almost everyone already.

Automocar

"Only $4 including shuttle bus!"

I love how they make that bus ride sound like an added bonus feature.

pinball29

I remember it well, the Train to the Plane. It was always empty tho. And seemed to take forever. But in the 70s this train was the gold standard, no graffiti, clean, it always looked so out of place pulling into West 4th St station.

schadenfreudian mensch

I'm not sure how true it was but I think I've read somewhere during it's run some people who lived near JFK just took this train to bypass the bad neighborhood stations.

nicemarmot

The real question is, was it better or worse than taking the LIRR to the Airtrain?

longacre

Certainly cheaper. But Airtrain is a major improvement over the shuttle buses that used to run around the airport.

spiritross

Can I take it to Aqueduct?

longacre

Only if you jump off from between cars.

Think2wice

That jingle was like a tongue-twister to me. I'd always screw up and say "Take the plane to the train...uh...wait-a-minute".

At 6 years old I thought the train went straight to JFK. Oh, naive little me.