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IRT Lexington Avenue Line closed Not Applicable terminal October 27 , 1904 December 31 , 1945 City Hall is the original southern terminal of the first line of the New York City Subway , built for Interborough Rapid Transit (IRT) and named the Manhattan Main Line , and now part of the Lexington Avenue Line . It was removed from passenger service on December 31 , 1945 . Opened on October 27 , 1904 , this station underneath the public area in front of City Hall was designed to be the showpiece of the new subway. The station is unusually elegant in Architectural Style , and is unique among the original IRT stations. The platform and mezzanine feature Guastavino Tile , Skylight s, colored glass tilework and brass Chandelier s. HISTORY area]] City Hall station was in use for passengers until December 31 , 1945 . Increased ridership of the subway led to longer trains and thus longer platforms in the 1940s and early 1950s . The new, longer trains had center doors, and due to City Hall's tight curve, it became dangerous to open them because the doors were too far from the platform edge. A similar situation exists at South Ferry and 14th Street-Union Square , where movable platform extensions fill the gap. The city, which controlled the subway, decided to abandon the station in favor of Brooklyn Bridge station (now called Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall), which was located a short walk away at the opposite end of City Hall Park . City Hall station was never an important station in terms of passenger use, even when it was open, since only local trains stopped at it, and only to turn around. Brooklyn Bridge station served both local and express trains, including trains to Brooklyn, and the Brooklyn Bridge Streetcar Terminal and Park Row station on the elevated lines were above for easy transfers. At night, the station was closed, and local trains continued to the loop at South Ferry . TRACK CONFIGURATION North of City Hall, the Lexington Avenue Line carries four tracks; only two tracks continue south. The local (outside) track on each side ends at a Balloon Loop beneath the express tracks; City Hall station is located on the west side of the loop. The southbound local track continues south next to the express tracks, and splits into two storage tracks and passes over the loop before ending. CURRENT STATUS City Hall Station is removed from passenger service, but the track loop through it is still used to turn local trains on the Lexington Avenue Line ( service). It has always been unclear as to whether passengers should be allowed to remain on trains as they run through the loop. In 2006 , an internal memo stated that passengers were allowed to stay on trains around the loop. {Link without Title} The general policy is that passengers leave the train if asked by staff. In April 1995 , Federal Grant money was sought to reopen the station as a branch of the New York Transit Museum , which occasionally ran tours of the station. In late 1998 , due to perceived security risks in the area around City Hall, the plans and tours were cancelled, and passengers were prohibited from riding around the loop. On the surface, all that can be seen is a concrete slab inset with glass tiles, the skylights for the platform below. This patch of concrete is in the middle of a grove of Dogwood s in front of City Hall, close to Broadway . For the 2004 Centennial Celebration, one of the street entrances was restored, and the station was opened for tourists for the duration of the celebration. Otherwise, the station is now used as an emergency exit. POPULAR CULTURE Despite being fairly obscure in the operation of the modern New York Subway System, the IRT City Hall station has amassed a few inspirations and cameo appearances within popular culture. The references vary from replica sets to direct artistic inspiration. Film
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