As New Yorkers step out to ring in 2026 together, no one wants a late-night celebration derailed by a delayed train. But if you’re relying on the subway, some lines are more likely than others to slow you down.
Here’s a look at the subway lines and trains most likely to delay your New Year’s trip, New York post reported.
For the second straight year, the B train has taken the dubious title of New York City’s tardiest subway line — as it arrived late as much as 26% of the time, according to a Post analysis of MTA data.
The poor performance actually marked a slight improvement for the troubled B line — as in 2024 it took the least on time crown with a dismal 65.1% rate of being late. That was worse than the low it hit in 2019 of 65.4 percent.
This past year the B maintained an improved average on-time rate of 78.5%, with service dipping to its worst in July at 74.1%.
The B is one of over a dozen trains that had on-time — or within five minutes of its scheduled arrival — averages of 85% or less this year.
The train — which is best known as one of the main ways to get to Yankee Stadium — starts in the Bronx and heads through Manhattan into Brooklyn, with one end in Brighton Beach.
Among the issues that caused the line to be so delayed is that it frequently shares tracks with other trains, especially in Manhattan, and can slow to a crawl at major intersections, Streetsblog reported. It also has antiquated signals for much of its length.
While a dozen lines in total had on-time averages below 85 percent, the MTA cast this year’s numbers as an improvement over the past.
In a December year-end report, New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow praised the transit system’s “good momentum over the past few months,” delivering an overall 84.4% on-time average in November — the “best November in modern history outside of the pandemic era.”
September’s 85% on-time average similarly broke records, as well as August’s 85.1% average that marked the “best August in a decade.”
Crichlow also noted that, since implementing subway timetable changes in November, the B train’s on-time averages jumped to 80.7% in the same month.
“Similar updates on the C produced a 9-point improvement from October, and the line’s best non-COVID monthly performance,” Crichlow said.
“Our shift toward data-driven operations and more advanced analytics also extends to stronger scheduling practices. Each schedule update is an opportunity to surgically pinpoint bottlenecks across the system and implement changes that improve the rider experience.”
The most punctual train overall this year was the L, the data show.
The system’s failing, old-time signals plague many lines, and the B is just one of over a dozen trains that had on-time averages of 85% or less this year.
The D, Q, M and F trains followed suit, with 12-month on-time averages standing at 79.4%, 79.7%, 80.4% and 81.5%, respectively.
The G, J/Z, R, N, A, C and 2 trains were marginally better, but all still maintained lower than 85% on-time rates.
And to the MTA, “on-time” is even all that on time, as a train only as to be with-in five minutes of its scheduled time to be considered on schedule.
The most punctual train overall this year was the L, arriving on-time roughly 90.3% of the time in 2025, the data show, followed by the 7 (89.8%), 6 (89.6%) and 1 (89%) lines.
Save for the 42nd Street and Franklin Avenue shuttle trains, the L was the only train this year to crack above 90% arrival rates.
The L’s service is one of nine trains that dipped in on-time arrival rates compared to 2024 – alongside all three of the system’s shuttles and the 7, J/Z, G, M and Q trains.
Of the bunch, the Rockaway shuttle train and the M and G lines faltered the most year-over-year, with arrival rates plummeting 7.4%, 6.4% and 6.3%, respectively.
Crowd of people waiting on the platform at the Jay St-Metro Tech subway station.
Systemwide, delays were down 3.2% since last year and 4.9% since 2019 – with the biggest improvements being seen in the C, 2 and B trains.
Those lines saw on-time arrival averages increase 15.5%, 14.4% and 13.4% since 2024.
Still, the MTA could be doing more to target known delay-causing issues — such as planned work, police and medical issues — to further improve performance, according to a scathing September report from State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.
Systemwide, delays were down 3.2% since last year and 4.9% since 2019 – with the biggest improvements being seen in the C, 2 and B trains.
“Targeting problem areas like signals and issues with subway cars that add to delays can improve straphangers experience and boost ridership,” DiNapoli wrote, noting that subway car problems are the “fastest-rising” cause of major incidents.
“Working with the Police Department, Fire Department, and Homeless Services can also help reduce incidents that cause delays,” the comptroller added.
“Above all, the MTA should be clear and open about the work it is prioritizing to reduce delays and how those actions will benefit the public.”
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