MTA – South Ferry Subway Station

This station has really been transformed since the Hurricane Sandy renovations. It’s clean, shiny, has plenty of Metrocard machines, and it has 4 or 5 different exits/​entrances. I rarely use the 1 (it’s sloooow) but when I do, I like the option of using this station since it’s so close to my office. The only thing I hate is how loud everything is. The air system is loud, the moving platforms are loud, and the train is loud when it makes the loop to head back uptown. Otherwise a convenient station.

Filthy environment but alas, those of us requiring public transportation are at the MTA mercy. Still reeling from the hurricane.

South ferry subway station always come on time. there’s never a wait… which I like… Station can be kinda dirty. but at least it’s afferent… There is no booth to talk to the mta… which is annoying… what if you have questions due to the trains or ferry… Few times I had questions but couldn’t find help… There’s a lot of locals here during the spring and fall… during the summer and winter sooo many tourist… they want to check out the statue of liberty and the ferry which is cool… There is no restrooms… some rain stations don’t have restrooms and this is one of them… After you get of this station… people tend to run for the ferry since the train is two mins apart from the ferry leavening… which is frustrating… Because if you miss the ferry there is this stupid half an hour wait or if its after two am an hour wait… so don’t miss it!

You better be on the first 5 cars! No, seriously, if you’re on the 1 train going towards South Ferry, you have to be on the first 5 cars or you won’t be getting off on South Ferry due to the curved nature of the platform.

This subway station is not as bad as some others I have experienced. But it get’s 2 stars for this reason, IT SMELLS REALLY, REALLY BAD!!! I know it is New York and this is just how it is, but seriously, why does this place smell so bad!!! I love taking the subway here, and most stations seem nice, but this one wasn’t so much due to the oder. I like most stations and trains. At least being here and taking the subway is better than being in LA stuck in traffic. So I feel lucky to have a good subway, but I just thing this stations smell needs to be taken care of ASAP.

It was great to see that this subway station re-​opened after Superstorm Sandy because it was probably the most heavily damaged train station in NYC. Located next to the Staten Island Ferry, this station services the N, R and 1 trains and is the first stop in Manhattan on R line. The entire southern tip of downtown NYC uses either this train station or the 4,5 Bowling Green station a few blocks away. However, post-​storm this station still shows signs of the damage it incurred from Sandy, such as missing concrete on the walls, the temporary closing of the 1 train platform and foul smells of ocean water in certain areas. It’s a rather nice station due to the renovations from the last few years, but with the storm passing thru, it looks like it’s been set back heavily.

Nice location, close to the ferries and the train as well.

This station still confuses me. Don’t get me wrong; it’s nicely remodeled, even if some of the platforms are quite narrow. But I always get turned around in here :-)

The old South Ferry Station had a very interesting design. It was a loop station. There are 2 loops actually. The outer loop was used by the (1) train and the inner loop is used to turn around weekend (5) train service. Did not make as loud of a sound as the (1) train did. When the (1) train entered and leaved, it made this loud, ear-​cracking noise and i loved it. Some people could not stand it. Not only that, you had to be in the first 5 cars out of 10 if you wanted to get off because the platform is only 300 feet long. Only 5 cars fit. Now, we have a New South Ferry Station. The old one is now abandoned, but the (5) train still uses the inner loop to turn around. The new station is very clean, has a full length straight platform with lots of artwork. There is a free transfer to the ®(W) trains at Whitehall Street. I still miss the old one though.

I miss going to the first 5 cars… the subway is okay I guess… a lot of autumn artwork all made my kids from what i have heard… but do we really need all this fancy stuff? stop worrying about how pretty the tiles are make us get to places faster…
Am i missing the right exit? Why do I feel like it takes forever to get to the ferry now? I hate getting out of the station to physically walk outside and run to the boat… it used to be so pleasant inside the terminal and without running…
I am in no shape to run up the 4 flights of steps to get to the end of the tunnel (outside). OK fine I am in shape to even run one flight sheeshh… but I refuse to take the escalator, I hate when 2 people block both sides, common sense people stay on one side so the rest of us non lazy asses can keep moving on up…
BTW no cameras allowed to take pictures in train stations… unles they only tell that to people who look funny, who knows anymore…

Oh, the novelty of not having to risk prosecution by going between the cars to get to the front five! You still have to be in the front of the train to exit near the Ferry Terminal, but whatever.
It would be nice if half the stairwells weren’t blocked by construction tape and buckets, herding the hordes of Staten Island folk into the depths like cattle. As it is, I’d rather be in Philadelphia.

The terminal is absolutely gorgeous. They put millions of dollars into this place because the first time they «finished,» they realized that the platform was too far away from the train — so they had to redo it!
It’s brand spanking new and it has a whole tree theme with branch metalwork, etc. etc. YAY! I’m inspired to kick the M15 to the curb and take the R/​W up to Canal Street to work from now on… fantastic.

Coming into South Ferry Station, you have to be in the first 5 train cars. I actually did not know this and they made no announcement so as the train approached South Ferry Station, we started running through the cars to the next cars and then we hit a dead end and then waited for the train to open and then ran to the first 5 cars from there. Instead of going through that stress, if you plan on going as far downtown as the Battery, make sure you’re in the first 5 cars to begin with. (Meaning first 5 cars facing downtown, not the first 5 cars you see when you descend the staircase to get on the train).