The N line ranks 16th out of the 19 subway lines rated by the Straphangers Campaign. Its line rating worsened from 80¢ in our 1999 report to 70¢ this year. Our ranking is based on the MTA New York City Transit data below:
The N line is scheduled to come less often than most lines... You have the least chance of getting a seat on the N.
% of passengers with seats at most crowded point during rush hour
scheduled minutes between weekday trains as of December 1999
but arrives with better-than-average regularity.
% of trains arriving at regular intervals
(without gaps in service or train bunching)
between 6 am and 9 pm
 The N is the cleanest line in the system.
% of trains with "no or light interior dirtiness"
(as defined by NYC Transit)
The N breaks down more often than the average line. The N performs both above and below average on in-car announcements.
% of trains with correct announcements
(as defined by NYC Transit)
average miles traveled between delays caused by mechanical failures, 1999
The NYPIRG Straphangers Campaign Line Ratings are based on a formula that gives the most weight to the amount of scheduled service, followed by other performance measures. Under this formula, a line would be rated $1.50 if on average its 1999 scores forthe measurements above matched a baseline standard defined by the 1996 scores released in our first State of the Subways report. This year, the highest Line Rating goes to the 7, which scored $1.05. The worst line is the 5, at 60¢.
For more information, call NYPIRG Straphangers Campaign at (212)349-6460 or visit our website at www.straphangers.org.

Suggestions? Complaints? Call the N line superintendent at (718) 521-7036.