Why is the C train shorter?

Ever squeezed onto a packed C train and wondered, "Why is this thing so short?!" I know I have. Plenty of times, honestly. It's like they took a regular train and chopped it in half. You're crammed in there like sardines, especially during rush hour. Isn't that the worst?

So, I did a little digging. Turns out, it's all about ridership. Apparently, the C line just doesn't have the passenger numbers to justify longer trains, at least that's what the MTA says. They have these "standards," you know? Makes sense, I guess, from a budget perspective. Why run a huge train if it's mostly empty, right? But still...

I remember taking the C back in, oh, maybe 2017? It seemed longer then, didn't it? Maybe I'm misremembering. Anyway, they started using these eight-car R179 trains back in 2018. Eight cars! It feels more like four sometimes. I mean, compared to some of the other lines, like the 4 or 5, which feel like they go on forever, the C is definitely the runt of the litter.