on the subway VS in the subway (2025)

AmE "on the subway": "on the subway train" (because we say "on the train").
AmE "in the subway": I don't know if this is possible; we need the view of an AE speaker.
BrE "in the subway": In some sort of pedestrian underpass, possibly one that goes under a road.
"By" indicates means of transport: "by bus", "by car", "by train", etc.

I think on the subway means on the train, whereas you would not usually say in the subway, in the subway station but on the subway, on the train. I go to work by subway, this is correct.

sound shift, Liliana thanks for dropping by!
Now I think we can leave out 'by', because everything's pretty straightforward with it.
Where are you? - I'm on the subway/on the bus/on the car/on the plain headed to my office.
Am I right to preposition 'on' to all of those nouns?
Thanks!

Almost!
"On the subway", "on the bus" and "on the plane".
"In the car".

Onboard a ship, in a boat, on a ferry.

Hmmmm ...... (Thinks) ..... "In the cable-car". "On the cable-car" is dangerous and impossible for all except James Bond and people like that, because it means "on the outside" . I agree with what Liliana has just posted, except that I write "on board a ship" rather than "onboard a ship".

Ok, thanks mates! I guess I'll just remember the pairs "preposition+noun" without tying them to any rule .
Best of luck!

Here in New York, we do use "in the subway" to mean within that underground system (in a station, or in a passageway between stations). If we're aboard a train, we say "on the subway".

In a helicopter, I think. In a chopper, which is the same, I think. Onboard an aircraft.

Yes, I know, Parla, we say in the subway meaning the subway station, but I was not sure whether this was really correct or people just make a shortcut from in the subway station. Could it be used in writing as well? The lawyer was in the subway when he was attacked by a man with a 15 inch knife.

I agree with Liliana (and Parla).

Thank you. I thought in the subway may be sometimes unclear.

Given the above posts can we infer that when a person refers to a means of transport, he uses the preposition 'on', like I'm on the subway meaning I'm using subway to get home.
But when he wants to indicate the exact place where he is he might use the preposition 'in' like I'm in the subway meaning I'm in the subway station.
Is this logic feasible?

I am on the subway means I am on the subway train not in the subway station or any other place in the subway, simply on the train. Inside the train.

LilianaB, thank you! So what preposition would you choose to tell somebody that you are somewhere (without indicating where exactly on the subway train or in the subway station) underground?

Can you tell me what situation you have in mind. Do you want to meet somebody there? Do you want to tell them that it is noisy, for example where you are, and then you want to explain that you are in the subway( while talking on the phone) Do you want to let somebody know that you are on your way home? If you want to let somebody know that you are in the subway and you want to meet them somewhere, you have to tell them exactly where you are. If you want to let them know that you are on your way home you have to tell them I am on the subway, but if you are just waiting for a train, you can tell them I am on the subway platform waiting for a train, or I am at the subway station waiting for a train.

If you want to say that you are inside the cab of a lorry, can you say 'I am on the lorry, guys!'

That would be "in", like a car. You get in cars and trucks and get on buses and planes and boats and trains.