New York’s subway just had the busiest Sunday in its history.
As runners wound through all five boroughs for the NYC Marathon on November 1, a record 3.14 million people rode the subway, the governor’s office announced.
That’s the highest Sunday ridership in recorded MTA history.
It smashed last year’s Sunday record of 2.81 million by 11%, and it was 109% of pre-pandemic Sunday ridership.
And if all this has you curious about what’s actually down there, there’s a tour that takes you past the abandoned stations most riders never notice (more on that below).
6 November 2026 00:00 + more dates
200 Broadway
A record-breaking week underground
Marathon Sunday wasn’t the only big day!
The subway had its busiest stretch since the pandemic, thanks a bunch to having a full Halloweekend:
- Thursday, Oct. 29: 4.72 million riders, the highest single day since the pandemic
- Friday, Oct. 30: 4.51 million riders, a post-pandemic Friday record
- Saturday, Oct. 31: 3.59 million riders on Halloween, the busiest Saturday since 2016
- The full week: 29.35 million riders over seven days, another post-pandemic record
“When New York goes big, it goes by mass transit,” MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said.
From 28 stations to 472
The timing is pretty perfect, too.
The subway celebrated its 122nd birthday on October 27.
When it opened in 1904, the very first line ran just 9.1 miles, with 28 stations from City Hall to 145th Street in Harlem, according to History.com. More than 100,000 people paid the 5-cent fare that first evening.
Today, the system has 472 stations, and it carried more than 30 times that opening-night crowd on a single Sunday.
Plenty of that 122-year-old history is still hiding along the tracks, too, if you know where to look.
See the history hiding under your commute
That’s where a guide comes in.
Untapped New York runs an underground subway walking tour that shows you the parts of the system hiding in plain sight.
The tour starts at Chambers Street, often called the “Grand Central of Downtown,” and stops at Union Square to find a hidden art installation.
Then you hop on the 6 train for a ride past abandoned stations that still sit along the line. You can’t step inside them, but the view from the train is something else.
Along the way, your guide shares archival images from the subway’s earliest days, and earpieces make sure you catch every story.
Notable details
- Your ticket covers the guide, but you’ll need to tap OMNY or swipe a MetroCard to ride.
- Strollers and service animals are welcome, and the tour is suitable for all fitness levels.
- All sales are final, so double-check your date before booking.
🚇 Learn more about the walking tour and grab your tickets here!
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