Subway Routes

[Acho]

Is there any way to "plan" routes on the subway (i.e. find out which lines to take to get from point A to point B) ? I've always wanted to take the subway to Playboy X Penthouse, for instance, as all I've ever taken is a taxi. 

[billiejoearmstrong8]

You can if you look at the subway route map. Whenever I've done it I've been struck by how similar it is to travelling by tube in London irl lol. But it's fairly simple, there's two different lines (one for outer Algonquin and Broker/Dukes, the other for inner Algonquin and Bohan) and you can change between them at Easton Station. Here's the map (you can also find this map on the station walls in game): https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/gtawiki/images/8/8f/LTA-GTAIV-SubwayMap2.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/1000?cb=20210729045810

 

So for Playboy's apartment you'd take the inner Algonquin/Bohan line to Frankfort Low/High station or the outer Algonquin/Broker/Dukes line to Vauxite station. 

Edited December 12, 2023 by billiejoearmstrong8

[44Orca]

I never found the subway ever helpful in GTA IV, only used them once or twice since the game came out. I love driving so not even taxis much. But will be something new to try.

I think the image might not be showing above since it's of the wiki but here's basically the map (this link works for me when removing the part after jpg):

https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/gtawiki/images/8/8f/LTA-GTAIV-SubwayMap2.jpg/

Edited December 23, 2023 by 44Orca

[billiejoearmstrong8]

On 12/16/2023 at 9:05 PM, 44Orca said:

I never found the subway ever helpful in GTA IV, only used them once or twice since the game came out. I love driving so not even taxis much. But will be something new to try.

I think the image might not be showing above since it's of the wiki but here's basically the map (this link works for me when removing the part after jpg):

https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/gtawiki/images/8/8f/LTA-GTAIV-SubwayMap2.jpg

Thanks for the better link!

 

It's a shame going to hang out with friends/girlfriends has a time limit, if it wasn't for that it would be a great time to use the subway to go and meet them. Not too many convenient times in missions either, but one time I always use it is in Wrong Is Right. After leaving ULP's office I pop down to Easton Station which is close by and take the train straight to Hove Beach to visit Minkov's house.

[44Orca]

Hmm weird, it appears bad quality again, ...it does appear fine to me. To make it higher quality just remove the part after jpg yourself, it seems even linking it doesn't work.

I question what's wrong with wiki links but anyways.

Edited December 23, 2023 by 44Orca

[Meesmoth]

On 12/12/2023 at 2:23 PM, Acho said:

Is there any way to "plan" routes on the subway (i.e. find out which lines to take to get from point A to point B) ? I've always wanted to take the subway to Playboy X Penthouse, for instance, as all I've ever taken is a taxi. 

It's entirely possible if you already know the map of the entire system and which stations are the closest to your point of interest. One little detail about GTA IV is that the majority of missions, restaurants, clothing shops, and safehouses are all located near a subway station, and they are always walking distance from them. Taking the subway is part of the New York City experience, along with taking a cab, so they nailed it in GTA IV as well, as their goal is to capture the NYC "feel" that they couldn't do in the 3D universe games.

 

Also for the subway map, here's a very high quality version that should be visible.

[kailomonkey]

On 12/23/2023 at 4:04 PM, billiejoearmstrong8 said:

...It's a shame going to hang out with friends/girlfriends has a time limit...

Yea I replayed the game a few years ago walking and taking public transport everywhere, living as Niko the tourist and spending time with friends. Only driving when I eventually took a mission and it gave me a car. I was surprised how many missions could be done by train as there's no time limits but once living in Bohan it became impossible to reach friends in Broker/Dukes on time by train as you have to go through Algonquin and change. I was also happy to find friends and girlfriends would come on the train with you on dates.

Another issue I found at least on PS3 is trains would sometimes never arrive when changing at Easton or Frankfurt Low/High.

Something annoying about the official map is Frankfort High and Low look attached to the J/A lines but they're not. They make good change points to the J/A lines but you have to walk to Vauxite or Vespucci Circus.

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Edited January 4, 2024 by kailomonkey

[kailomonkey]

I started a route planner attempt in a spreadsheet but it really needs some advanced tree node mathematics as it's often quicker to walk between 2 stations to change line; rather than ride round the whole system to make changes at Easton. For example I'd often walk between Frankfort High/Low and Vespucci Circus/Vauxite to reach stops in Broker/Outer Circle from Bohan/Inner Circle and vice versa. But there's plenty more opportunities to walk a couple blocks to change line.

Anyway here's how far I got, in case I never go any further with it. I didn't include a skip journey version yet (if you skip every journey it takes under 20 ingame minutes per stop). I also didn't fix where if you're starting at a change point, it can send you on a long ride before making the change. My initial plan was to also include walk times from various places (starting with friends, dates, activities) but again we come to the point a node system would be a lot easier. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/14IHELXEO2r5P-Cp6PNb1YGsXy5VnRDFuGhv23NbQyTE/edit?usp=sharing

Edited January 4, 2024 by kailomonkey