"The Knickerbocker Entrance"
On the morning of September 7th, 2021 the newly configured Times Square Shuttle platform opened to passengers for the time. One of the first shuttles to arrive from Grand Central is seen pulling up to it's station stop on the now shortened Track 1, next to the "secret" Knickerbocker Hotel entrance door, located on the original platform. This platform was repurposed as a new fare control area.
Opened in August of 1918, the 42nd Street Shuttle runs between Times Square & Grand Central on part of the original IRT subway which first opened in October of 1904. Many aspects of the original subway could still be seen, but work began on August 16th, 2019 to drastically revamp the Shuttle. The first phase of the work on the Times Square side involved turning the right of way of Track 3 into a huge island platform. The final phase of the project which began last month, called for shortening Track 1 and walling off the original Track 4 platform. The new shuttle configuration was opened at 6AM on September 7th, 2021 introducing 2 six-car trainsets instead of the original 3 smaller trainsets, increased capacity and ADA compliance.