7 (New York City Subway Service) - Fleet

Fleet

The 7 was the last stronghold for the "Redbird" subway cars. Until 2002, the entire fleet was dominated by the R33/R36 World's Fair cars. In 2001, with the arrival of the R142/R142A cars, the Transit Authority announced the retirement of all Redbird cars. From 2002-03, the Bombardier-built R62A cars formerly used on the 3 and 6 trains gradually replaced the R33/36 WF's cars on the 7. On November 3, 2003, the last Redbird train made its final trip on this line, making all stops between Times Square and the then-named Willets Point – Shea Stadium.

Several Redbird cars running on this train were decorated with Mets logos and colors during the 2000 Subway Series against the New York Yankees, as the Flushing line runs adjacent to Citi Field and the former location of Shea Stadium. Some R33/R36 WFs remain in Corona Yard, adjacent to Flushing Meadows Corona Park and Citi Field.

Currently, all of the R62As on the 7 have been upgraded with LED lighted signs to distinguish between express and local trains. These signs are located on the rollsigns that are found on the side of each car. The local is a green circle around the 7 service bullet while the express is a red diamond. Previously, the rollsigns showed either a 7 within a circle or a 7 within a diamond with the word "Express" underneath it.