this site hasn't worked on my work computer right for months, whatever wa changed, thanks.

as far as transportation, specifically the 7 train, not sure i get it.  living at arris, i get on/off at court sq.  i typically ride 7am ish and 5:15ish m-f, i get a seat every morning and at least 4 times a week at grand central coming home.  i don't get it.  i sit in the 1st car going in and the last car coming back.  i don't see crowds at vernon getting on or off? what am i missing? coming from the ues, population density to the max, the 86th st and all others were so much worse.  vernon and hunters point, qb plaza, i would think could handle another few thousand riders a day, easily, maybe not as comfortably.  is it worse at 9am? i don't get it, the 7 train has been the most reliable train i've ever ridden.  lived in the bronx, then manhattan since 1985, ridden most every line.

I agree with avaday.  I've taken the 7 from Grand Central into LIC numerous times between 5pm and 7pm during the week, and I have never seen it too crowded or have any problems.  It is a long train and runs very frequently.  Now the E and V trains, especially going into Manhattan on weekday mornings, can be extremely crowded.

The evenings aren't the problem.  There are only 3 stops before it gets to Vernon-Jackson. 

It's the morning trains when it has to pass through some of the most densely populated areas in the tri-state region.  Flushing/Jackson Heights, etc.  By the time it reaches Vernon-Jackson, it's packed.  

And who goes to work at 7am?!?  I think only avaday and a few unlucky souls.    Most travel into the city (Midtown) at 8:15 to 9:30 am.  And *most* riders taking the #7 are Midtown bound.  Not all, but most. 

After 9:30 or so it settles down.  After 10am and you even might get a seat. 

   This is the excerpt from what I originally had wriiten:

   Those who take the # 7 train into Manhattan at Hunters Point, or Vernon-Jackson, should clock themselves from the time they lock their doors, 'til the time they get out of the Grand Central stop, to either leave the station, make their connection, or continue on.  Do it for a month, then average it out.  See how close it comes to all the realters' claims of 5 -10 minutes to midtown.

   I'll refine it by adding: those who get on at the Hunters Point or Vernon - Jackson stations and leave their residence between about 7:45 am - 9:15 am, which is the height of the crunch hour.  Also, keep track of the number of trains you have to let pass, because of overcrowding.

   Going into Manhattan during the morning rush is the main problem.  This is because of the bottleneck caused by both the express and local # 7 trains, merging onto the same track between the 33rd - Rawson station and Queensborough Plaza station.  In addition, the Hunters Point & Vernon - Jackson stops are the last stops before hitting the tunnel into Manhattan.  By this time, they are handling all of the Grand Central bound passengers, from all of the stations along the line, prior to getting here.  Those who get on at stations before these two, have it easier.  This is because the islanders coming off the LIRR, and those driving in, all crowd into the Hunters Point & Vernon - Jackson stations.   

   Leaving Manhattan (Grand Central) is different.  People do other things before going home (to include working late).  This spreads out the evening crunch hour load.  In addition, everything is reversed from the AM crunch.  Even so, getting on the # 7 at Grand Central, between about 4:30 - 5:30, can be an exercise in anxiety and many times, frustration.

   Eventually, with the increasing population having to use the same old system, people will have to leave, at ever earlier times, to make it to work on time.   

Charlie.          

I have always found morning rush hour to be more concentrated, be it cars or trains, no matter the city. Most people have a target arrival window and rarely do errands on the way to work. Evening rush is always more spread out, with a wide variety of ending times at work and plenty of things to do on the way home, including not going home and just going to bar/dinner/movie etc. I have seen packed trains go by more than a few times in the morning, but I've never been denied at Grand Central in the evening. I have indeed timed my journey a couple of times on my iPhone. Getting from my place at East Coast to the Subway is about 6-7 minutes, and if all goes well the wait for the 7 is less than 4 minutes. Then to Grand Central another 4 or 5. All told 10 to 16 minutes to Grand Central. Of course, nobody really works in Grand Central so for most people it's another 5 to 20 minutes to get to work I would imagine.