New York City's subway trains and stations have grown markedly dirtier in recent months -- just as the Transit Authority eliminated hundreds of cleaning positions in a round of budget-cutting, according to a report released yesterday.

During July, August and September, litter, graffiti and general grime were all worse than in the three previous months, according to a report card issued by the Transit Authority. It is based on the observations of a group of transit workers.

In June and July, the authority eliminated 208 subway car cleaning jobs, about 15 percent of the total car cleaning slots. It also cut 42 jobs cleaning stations.

They were among more than 1,500 jobs eliminated at the Transit Authority this year. Its parent, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, says the transit agency will have to cut 1,500 more jobs next year.