newyork.localmean.com/express-train

Express train

ex-PRESS train

Local meaning

A subway train that skips selected local stations to serve a smaller set of major stops more quickly.

Express trains use express tracks or express stopping patterns on parts of the system. A train may run express only in one borough, direction, or time period, and weekend work can change which stations it bypasses.

Example in context

  1. “The express skips our stop, so get off and take the local.”

How it is used

Official and everyday New York transit language, with route-specific meaning.

Tone

neutral, practical

Setting

subway directions, commuting, service changes

Regional scope

Official and everyday New York transit language, with route-specific meaning.

Watch for

Express does not mean nonstop, and a normal express route can run local during construction or late-night service.

Spelling and scope

Official and everyday New York transit language, with route-specific meaning.

Search forms
express train meaning nycnew york subway expressexpress vs local train

LocalMean keeps common search spellings discoverable without claiming that every borough, community, or generation uses one written form.

Frequently asked questions

Does an express train skip every small station?

It skips selected local stops on parts of its route, but exact patterns depend on the line and current service.

Can an express train run local?

Yes. Construction, late-night schedules, or disruptions can temporarily change its stopping pattern.

Read next

All words →

Evidence and further reading

These sources support the regional association, dictionary sense, or broader spread. The entry remains open to correction from New York speakers and qualified reviewers.