Q (New York City Subway service)

Rapid transit service

"Broadway Express" and "Q Train" redirect here. For the other service referred to as "Broadway Express", see N (New York City Subway service). For the album by J. J. Johnson, see Broadway Express (album). For the rolling stock in use by MTR, see MTR Urban Lines Vision Train.

New York City Subway service

Second Avenue/Broadway Express/Brighton Local

A Manhattan-bound Q train of R46 cars leaving Parkside Avenue station.

Northern end| 96th Street
Southern end| Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue
Stations| 29
34 (late night service)
Rolling stock| R46
R68
R68A[1][2]
(Rolling stock assignments subject to change)
Depot| Coney Island Yard
Started service| 1878; 147 years ago (1878) (predecessor, along with current Franklin Avenue Shuttle)
August 1, 1920; 104 years ago (1920-08-01) (current Q service)

Route map

Legend

|  |  |

|  |  Q ( N R rush hours)

|
|
|
|

|  |

|  |

planned Second Avenue Subway

|  |

|  | 96th Street
|  |

|  | 86th Street
|  |

|  | 72nd Street
|  |

|  |

planned Second Avenue Subway

|  |

|  |

trains continue to Queens

|  |

|  | Lexington Avenue–63rd Street
|  |

|  |
|  |

|  |

trains continue south

|  |

|  |

​​ trains continue to Queens

|  |

|  |
|  |

|  | 57th Street–Seventh Avenue
|  |

|  |

| switches to local tracks

during late nights

|  |

|  | 49th Street

| northbound

only

|  |

|  | Times Square–42nd Street
|  |

|  |
|  |

|  | 34th Street–Herald Square
|  |

|  | 28th Street
|  |

|  | 23rd Street
|  |

|  | 14th Street–Union Square
|  |

|  | Eighth Street–New York University
|  |

|  | Prince Street
|  |

|  |

| switches to local tracks

during late nights

|  |

|  | Canal Street
|  |

|  |

​ trains continue north

|  |

|  |

trains continue south

|  |

|  |

| Manhattan

Brooklyn

|  |

|  |

| trains via

Montague Street

|  |

|  | ~~Myrtle Avenue~~
|  |

|  | DeKalb Avenue
|  |

|  |
|  |

|  |
|  |

|  |

​​​​ | trains

continue south

|  |

|  | Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center
|  |

|  | Seventh Avenue
|  |

|  |

trains continue north

|  |

|  | Prospect Park S
|  |

|  |
|  |

|  | Parkside Avenue
|  |

|  | Church Avenue
|  |

|  | Beverley Road
|  |

|  | Cortelyou Road
|  |

|  | Newkirk Plaza
|  |

|  | Avenue H
|  |

|  | Avenue J
|  |

|  | Avenue M
|  |

|  | Kings Highway
|  |

|  | Avenue U
|  |

|  | Neck Road
|  |

|  | Sheepshead Bay
|  |

|  | Brighton Beach B
|  |

|  | Ocean Parkway
|  |

|  |

trains continue north

|  |

|  |

​ trains continue north

|  |

|  |

trains continue north

|  |

|  | West Eighth Street–NY Aquarium
|  |

|  | Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue
|  |

|  |  Q

D F <F> N

|  |  |  |  |  |

Legend

* * *

|  |

|  | Lines used by the
|  |

|  | Other services sharing tracks with the
|  |

|  | Unused lines, connections, or service patterns
|  |

|  | Termini of services

* * *

|  |

|  | Cross-platform interchange

* * *

|  |

|  | Platforms on different levels
|  |  |  |  |  |

This diagram:

* view
* talk
* edit

The Q Second Avenue/Broadway Express/Brighton Local[3] is a rapid transit service in the B Division of the New York City Subway. Its route emblem, or "bullet", is colored yellow since it is a part of the BMT Broadway Line in Manhattan.

The Q operates 24 hours daily between 96th Street on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Stillwell Avenue in Coney Island, Brooklyn. Daytime service makes express stops in Manhattan (between 57th Street–Seventh Avenue and Canal Street) and all stops in Brooklyn; overnight service makes all stops along the full route.[3]

The Q was originally the Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit Corporation (BMT)'s 1 service; beginning in 1920, it ran along the Brighton Line in Brooklyn and Broadway Line in Manhattan. In the past, the Q has run many different service patterns in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens, both local and express, including QB service on the Manhattan Bridge and QT service via the Montague Street Tunnel. From 1988 to 2001, Q service ran along the IND Sixth Avenue Line in Manhattan, with a bullet colored orange. The Q also ran in Queens at various points, including along the BMT Astoria Line to Astoria–Ditmars Boulevard on weekdays from 2010 to 2016, along the IND Queens Boulevard Line to Forest Hills–71st Avenue during temporary post-9/11 service reroutes, and along the IND 63rd Street Line to 21st Street–Queensbridge until 2001. There was also a <Q> variant from 2001 to 2004, which ran express on the Brighton Line and terminated at Brighton Beach due to construction on the north side of the Manhattan Bridge. On January 1, 2017, the Q was rerouted along the Second Avenue Subway.

## History

[edit]

### 1878–1920: Original railroad

[edit]

The predecessor to the subway service known as the Q today was the Brooklyn, Flatbush and Coney Island Railway. On July 2, 1878, this steam railroad began operations on what would become the BMT Brighton Line, from Prospect Park to the Brighton Beach Hotel in Brighton Beach, which opened at the same time. The Brighton Beach Hotel was located on Coney Island by the Atlantic Ocean at the foot of modern-day Coney Island Avenue. Passengers could make connections with the horsecars of the Brooklyn City Railroad at the Prospect Park terminal.[4][5]: 9

On August 19, 1878, service was extended north from Prospect Park along what is today the BMT Franklin Avenue Line used by the Franklin Avenue Shuttle, to Atlantic Avenue west of Franklin Avenue, a location known as Bedford station on what is today the Atlantic Branch of the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR).[5]: 11 A physical connection existed between the Brighton, Flatbush and Coney Island Railway and the LIRR. By mutual agreement trains of the Brooklyn, Flatbush and Coney Island Railway ran on LIRR trackage west to its terminal at Flatbush Avenue and Atlantic Avenue, providing a connection to Downtown Brooklyn and ferries to Manhattan. LIRR trains also operated to Brighton Beach from Flatbush Avenue and from its own terminal in Long Island City, with ferry access to Midtown Manhattan. Initially, service operated during the summer season only. At the end of the 1882 summer season, the LIRR abrogated its agreement allowing Brighton Line trains to access its Flatbush Avenue terminal and beginning with the 1883 summer season, only Brooklyn, Flatbush and Coney Island trains operated between Bedford Terminal and Brighton Beach.

In 1896, a short elevated extension of the Brighton Beach Line (since reorganized as the Brooklyn & Brighton Beach Railroad) opened to the corner of Franklin Avenue and Fulton Street in the north. This extension connected to the Fulton Street Line of the Kings County Elevated Railroad, allowing rapid transit trains on Fulton Street to operate along the Brighton Line. These trains ran from Brighton Beach, up the Franklin Avenue and Fulton Street lines to the Brooklyn side of the Brooklyn Bridge, where walking or transferring to a cable car service connection over the bridge allowed access to New York City Hall at Park Row in Manhattan. In 1900, elevated trains were through-routed to Park Row without need to change trains.[6]: 279 By 1903, a surface extension of the Brighton Beach Line on what is now Brighton Beach Avenue permitted through service from Park Row, Manhattan west to Culver Depot at Surf Avenue near West 8th Street, much nearer to the growing amusement center known then as West Brighton and now as Coney Island.[5]: 21

In 1908, a massive grade crossing elimination project was completed with a 4-track line from south of Church Avenue station to Neptune Avenue near the Coney Island Creek, permitting true local and express service, as pioneered on the New York City Subway that opened in 1904.[5]: 22 The Brighton Beach line was also converted to electrified third rail. Brighton Beach local and express service was extended to a new West End terminal at Stillwell and Surf Avenues, the location of the Coney Island terminal for the BMT Southern Division, in May 1919.[7]

### 1920–1950: Subway service begins

[edit]

Original 1 designation for BMT Brighton Line service

On August 1, 1920, subway service on the BMT Brighton Line, then owned by the Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation (BMT), officially began with the openings of a two-track underground subway between Prospect Park and DeKalb Avenue and the Montague Street Tunnel between Brooklyn and Manhattan.[6]: 285

In 1921, PM rush hour express service was extended from Kings Highway to Brighton Beach. In 1923, Brighton express service operated via the Montague Tunnel and ran local on the Broadway Line. The BMT held a vote to see which route riders preferred on August 30, 1923. Passengers voted to have Brighton expresses run from Brighton Beach to Times Square via the Manhattan Bridge and the express tracks on the Broadway Line. This change took effect on about October 1, 1923. This subway service was labeled 1 by the BMT starting in 1924, with the remnant service to Franklin Avenue becoming the 7. 1 Brighton Express service operated during rush hours and Saturday afternoons. During the evening rush hour and on Saturday afternoons, trains skipped Canal Street.[8]

The span of express service was extended by 90 minutes until 8:27 p.m. leaving Times Square in 1929. Express service began operating between the AM rush hour and noon on Saturday mornings in April 1930. Express service began operating middays on May 30, 1931, replacing short-line local service. In September 1937, Brighton express service ran between Brighton Beach and Times Square rush hours, middays, and early evenings weekdays and Saturdays.

During the 1930s, limited morning rush hour service ran via the south side tracks of the Manhattan Bridge and the Nassau Street Loop to Chambers Street on the BMT Nassau Street Line. On June 29, 1950, trains began running there during the evening rush as well.

On October 17, 1949, the IRT Astoria Line in Queens, up to this point operated by the Interborough Rapid Transit (IRT), was converted to BMT operation. 1 Local trains were extended via the 60th Street Tunnel and the BMT Astoria Line to Astoria–Ditmars Boulevard during weekday rush hours, and on Saturday mornings and early afternoons. Number 2 Fourth Avenue Local trains also ran here at all times.[9]

### 1950s

[edit]

On April 27, 1950, 1 Local trains were extended to Astoria–Ditmars Boulevard during middays.[9] On June 26, 1952, 1 Express trains were extended from Times Square to 57th Street–Seventh Avenue on weekdays after the morning rush hour, running local north of 34th Street. On June 28, 1952, special service from Brighton Beach to the Nassau Street Line was discontinued on Saturdays, and Saturday express service was extended to 57th Street.[10][8]

The 60th Street Tunnel Connection opened on December 1, 1955, connecting the Broadway Line to the IND Queens Boulevard Line. 1 Local trains were rerouted to this new connector to Forest Hills–71st Avenue in Forest Hills, Queens between 6:30 a.m. and 8:20 p.m. They were replaced on the BMT Astoria Line by 1 Express trains on weekdays.[11] On May 4, 1957, 1 Express trains running started running to Ditmars Boulevard on Saturdays as well,[9] but made local stops in Manhattan[8] as the local trains in Brooklyn now ran to Chambers Street via the BMT Nassau Street Line. The final portion of the Broadway Line's express tracks, between Times Square–42nd Street and 57th Street–Seventh Avenue, was placed in service on May 2, 1957. 1 Brighton Express trains ran local in Manhattan on Saturdays while Brighton Locals ran express here during evenings and on Sundays. This lasted only until the next service change. On October 24, 1957, Brighton Local trains ran via the Manhattan Bridge and local in Manhattan, all day on Sundays as well as evenings and midnight hours. Brighton Express 1 service on weekdays began using the express tracks between Times Square–42nd Street and 57th Street–Seventh Avenue.

A December 1957 strike shut down much of the BMT Division. Brighton Local 1 trains ran in two sections, from Coney Island via tunnel to 57th Street-Seventh Avenue and from Whitehall Street to Jamaica–179th Street on the IND Queens Boulevard Line. Due to the differing unions predominating on the various divisions, the IND was completely knocked out of service, while the IRT ran virtually normal service. The BMT was about half affected, with makeshift service patterns being set up for the duration of the strike.

On May 28, 1959, 1 Brighton Express trains midday on weekdays were cut back to 57th Street–Seventh Avenue and made local stops in Brooklyn midday. Multiple trains entered service at Queensboro Plaza in the evening rush hour.[8] Nassau Specials returned, running via the Montague Street tunnel during the morning rush and via the Manhattan Bridge during the evening rush. As part of the same service change, Brighton Local trains, beginning on June 6, ran to Franklin Avenue via the route of the 7 Shuttle on Saturdays. This was not seasonal and ran the entire day, being quite distinct from the Sunday service which still operated.

### 1960–1987: Lettered variants and Chrystie Street Connection

[edit]

R27/R32 rollsigns for the Q, QB and QT

On November 15, 1960, with the arrival of the R27 subway cars, 1 service on the Brighton Line was relabeled. Brighton Express service was designated as Q, Brighton Local via the Montague St Tunnel as QT, and Brighton Local via the Manhattan Bridge as QB. Single letters were used to refer to express lines and double letters for local lines, a practice that began thirty years earlier with the Independent Subway System (IND), however, no QQ designation was ever used. Despite these new designations, subway communications continued to refer to the services as "Brighton Local" and "Brighton Express".

Effective January 1, 1961, Q Brighton Express service was cut back from Ditmars Boulevard to 57th Street–Seventh Avenue on weekdays, with trains skipping 49th Street.[8] Saturday daytime service continued to run to Ditmars Boulevard.[12] QT service ran to Ditmars Boulevard on weekdays; on Saturdays, it ran via the Franklin Avenue Line to Franklin Avenue in Brooklyn instead. The QB provided off-peak service between Coney Island and Astoria, via Brighton Local and the Manhattan Bridge. Sunday service between Franklin Avenue and Brighton Beach was discontinued on this date, with Sunday service now provided solely by the Franklin Avenue Shuttle (SS, formerly 7) between Prospect Park and Fulton Street.

Service between Brighton Beach and Franklin Avenue was merged into the Franklin Avenue Shuttle service on October 14, 1961, and all non-shuttle service between was discontinued in February 1963. The Fourth Avenue Local (RR) now provided Broadway Line service along the Queens Boulevard line on weekdays, and the West End Express (T) was extended from 57th Street to Ditmars Boulevard during rush hours. This service change essentially swapped the northern terminals of the Brighton Local and RR, and between the Brighton Express and T. Prior to this both Brighton Line–Broadway services had operated via the 60th Street Tunnel to Queens. By having the Brighton Express Q terminate at 57th Street, this change served to keep one Brighton Line service unaffected in the event of a massive delay in the 60th Street Tunnel.[12]

On April 21, 1962, Saturday express Q service was discontinued, and replaced by QB service.[13] All Saturday trains on the Brighton Line began running local, doubling the frequency of service and providing a one-seat ride to Manhattan for riders at local stations. With the arrival of new subway cars to the line, which provided improved running times, trains making local stops between Brighton Beach and Prospect Park did so in only 1.5 minutes longer than existing express service.[14]

From February 10 to November 2, 1964, the Brighton Express tracks were closed to permit platform extension work at Newkirk Avenue. Skip-stop service was instituted along the Brighton Line. Brighton Express service, which made A stops, ran express from Brighton Beach to Kings Highway, and then stopped at Avenue J, Newkirk Avenue, Cortelyou Road, Beverley Road, Church Avenue, Parkside Avenue, and Prospect Park.[8]

1967–1979 bullet

On November 26, 1967, the Chrystie Street Connection opened, connecting the Brighton Line in Brooklyn to the IND Sixth Avenue Line in Manhattan via the Manhattan Bridge. The bridge's south side tracks, which formerly connected to the BMT Nassau Street Line, were now connected to the Broadway Line express tracks instead. The bridge's north side tracks, which formerly connected to the Broadway Line, now connected to the Sixth Avenue Line express tracks. Originally, the D running via Sixth Avenue Express, and the QJ running via Nassau Street and the Montague Street Tunnel, were to replace all three Q services on the Brighton Line. The Q and QT went out of existence completely, but due to riders' opposition to the expected loss of all Broadway Line service, some QB trains were retained, now running rush hours only in the peak direction between Coney Island and 57th Street via Brighton Local, the Manhattan Bridge, and Broadway Express in Manhattan. The color scheme introduced for subway lines that day included a red QB bullet. A short-lived NX service also provided rush-hour service between Brighton Beach and Coney Island and the Broadway Line, running via the BMT Sea Beach Line to Manhattan. This service was discontinued on April 15, 1968, after less than five months.[15] The RR replaced Q, QB and QT service to Astoria–Ditmars Boulevard.[9]

On August 19, 1968, one AM rush hour QB train began running to Ditmars Boulevard. From January 2, 1973, no QB trains ran in service to Ditmars Boulevard, though two trains ran light to Ditmars Boulevard from 57th Street in the AM rush, and one train ran light to 57th Street in the PM rush. On January 19, 1976, morning rush hour QB trains began running in service to Ditmars Boulevard, and most evening rush hour trains entered service at Queensboro Plaza, with only one evening rush hour train running from Coney Island to 57th Street. All but the first QB morning QB trip, which entered RR service, were cut back from Ditmars Boulevard to 57th Street on August 30, 1976. Evening rush hour trains only ran in service between Coney Island and 57th Street. The last PM rush hour QB train started at Ditmars Boulevard, having previously made a trip in RR service. The first two morning rush hour QB trains ran to Ditmars Boulevard as of May 7, 1978, returning in service as RR trains to 36th Street. The last two evening rush hour QB trains entered service at Ditmars Boulevard, with the final trip having previously made an RR trip from 36th Street.[16][9]

In 1979, the MTA released a revised coloring scheme for subway routes based on trunk line; the QB service was assigned the color sunflower yellow, with black text, because it used the BMT Broadway Line in Manhattan. It now used a diamond-shaped bullet because it ran rush hours only.[17][18] On May 5, 1985, the double-letter naming scheme for local services was dropped; the QB was renamed the Q the next day.[19]

1979–1985 bullet

Starting on April 26, 1986, the Brighton Line's local tracks underwent reconstruction between Prospect Park and Newkirk Avenue, requiring the suspension of express service; at the same time, reconstruction of the Manhattan Bridge started, which would disrupt subway service until 2004. QB service was discontinued.[9] From April 28, 1986 to May 23, 1987, one AM rush hour train from Brighton Beach was extended beyond its normal terminal at 57th Street/Seventh Avenue and terminated at Forest Hills – 71st Avenue.[20]

The bridge's north side tracks (leading to the Sixth Avenue Line) closed. The Q now ran rush hours between 57th Street–Seventh Avenue and Brighton Beach, using a yellow diamond bullet. Because the Manhattan Bridge's north side tracks closed, the D and Q ran on the bridge's south side tracks, both running via Broadway Express to 57th Street–Seventh Avenue. To substitute for the suspended Brighton Line express service, the Q ran skip-stop service with the D between Newkirk Avenue and Sheepshead Bay. D trains served Neck Road, Avenue M and Avenue H; the Q skipped those stops, serving Avenue U and Avenue J, while both lines served Kings Highway.[21] By 1987, as reconstruction on the Brighton Line progressed, the weekday skip-stop pattern expanded to Prospect Park, with D trains serving Beverley Road while Q trains served Cortelyou Road and Parkside Avenue, with Church Avenue as a mutual station.[22]

### 1988–2004: Manhattan Bridge reconstruction

[edit]

Bullet used on maps in 1988–2001 when the Q ran on the Sixth Avenue Line

#### 1988–2001: Sixth Avenue service

[edit]

A Westinghouse R68 northbound Q train leaving Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue

On December 11, 1988, the Bridge's north side tracks reopened and the south side tracks closed, and the reconstruction project on the Brighton Line ended. The Q became the weekday Brighton Express to Brighton Beach and was rerouted via the north side of the bridge and the IND Sixth Avenue Line to 57th Street–Sixth Avenue, Midtown Manhattan. Because it ran on the Sixth Avenue Line in Manhattan, the route now used an orange bullet on maps. One AM rush hour train from Brighton Beach terminated at 168th Street in Manhattan instead of 21st Street; this trip last ran on September 28, 1990.[8]

A Kawasaki R68A northbound Q train leaving Sheepshead Bay

On October 29, 1989, the IND 63rd Street Line opened and the B, Q, and JFK Express were extended to 21st Street–Queensbridge in Long Island City. Weekday evening service terminated at Broadway–Lafayette Street in Manhattan instead of Brooklyn; these trains relayed at Second Avenue in order to change direction. A special combined F–Q service ran during late nights; in the northbound direction, F trains would operate along its normal route from Coney Island to 47th–50th Streets–Rockefeller Center, then turn into a Q and operate to 21st Street–Queensbridge; in the southbound direction, Q trains would operate from 21st Street to 47th–50th Streets, then turn into an F train and operate along its normal route to Coney Island.[23] The weekday evening shuttle was replaced by the B on September 30, 1990. The F replaced the late night shuttle in April 1993.[24]

In January 1991, a reduction of service along the Central Park West corridor to remove excess capacity was proposed. Initially, Q service would operate between 207th Street and Brighton Beach during weekday rush hours and middays, making express stops along its entire route. The service plan was later amended to eliminate the Q designation and replace it with an orange A, assuming the same service pattern that was proposed for the Q. This service change would have been implemented in October 1991, pending approval from the MTA board.[25]

On February 6, 1995, Q trains began running local south of Kings Highway due to rehabilitation work on the Brighton Line.[8] On April 30, 1995, the north side of the Manhattan Bridge closed during middays and weekends, in addition to the already-closed south side. During these hours, D service was cut below 34th Street–Herald Square. In its place, the Q ran between Coney Island and 21st Street–Queensbridge, via Brighton Local, the Montague Street Tunnel, Broadway Express (switching between the local and express tracks at Canal Street) and the BMT 63rd Street Line. Rush hour and evening service was unchanged. On May 1, Q expresses only operated during rush hours and early evening. Normal service resumed on November 12, 1995,[26] including the restoration of Q express service between Kings Highway and Brighton Beach.[27][8]

On February 22, 1998, construction on the IND 63rd Street Line cut B and Q service back to 57th Street–Sixth Avenue. Service on the 63rd Street Line was replaced by a shuttle to the BMT Broadway Line at 57th Street–Seventh Avenue. Normal service resumed on May 22, 1999.[28]

#### 2001–2004: Brighton express variant

[edit]

Bullet used 1985–1988 for rush hour service, and 2001–2004 for express service

On July 22, 2001, the Manhattan Bridge's north side tracks closed and the south side tracks reopened. There were now two Q services, colored yellow as they now ran via Broadway. In Brooklyn, the circle Q (Q local) replaced the D as the full-time Brighton Local to Stillwell Avenue while the <Q> (Q express or Q diamond) replaced the Sixth Avenue Q as the weekday-only Brighton Express to Brighton Beach. Both Qs used the south side of the Manhattan Bridge to travel into Manhattan and then ran to 57th Street–Seventh Avenue via Broadway Express.[29] Service on the IND 63rd Street Line was replaced by a shuttle, which would be permanently replaced by the F in December 2001 once the 63rd Street's connection to the IND Queens Boulevard Line opened.

After the September 11, 2001 attacks, Q service was initially extended beyond 57th Street–Seventh Avenue and originated and terminated at 21st Street–Queensbridge via 63rd Street, but was cut back to its original terminal by the evening of September 12th. On September 17, Q service was once again extended beyond 57th Street, this time originating and terminating at Forest Hills–71st Avenue via 60th Street to replace the R, and made all stops in Queens, Manhattan and Brooklyn; overnight service short turned at 57th Street and did not operate to or from 71st Avenue. <Q> Brighton Express service continued to operate its normal service pattern.[30][31] Normal Q service was restored on October 28.[32] On September 8, 2002, Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue (the Q's southern terminal) was closed for reconstruction and the Q local terminated at Brighton Beach. During this time, service at stations between Brighton Beach and Stillwell Avenue was replaced by an extension of the B68 bus. Q service to Stillwell Avenue resumed on May 23, 2004.[33][34]

From April 27[35] to November 2, 2003, the south side of the Manhattan Bridge was closed on weekends and Q service was rerouted via the Montague Street Tunnel.

On February 22, 2004, reconstruction of the Manhattan Bridge was completed and the north side tracks reopened. The <Q> express was discontinued and replaced with the B in Brooklyn and N in Manhattan to combine two weekday-only lines. The Q local remained unchanged.[36][37][38]

### 2005–present: Extensions to Astoria and Second Avenue

[edit]

Map of the full Second Avenue Subway (SAS), showing the planned uptown portion of the Q route, which currently terminates at 96th Street

On June 28, 2010, the Q was extended from 57th Street–Seventh Avenue to Astoria–Ditmars Boulevard via the 60th Street Tunnel and BMT Astoria Line on weekdays, stopping at 49th Street.[39] The extended Q replaced the W, which was discontinued due to budget shortfalls.[40][41]

On December 7, 2014, late night Q service began operating local in Manhattan between 57th Street and Canal Street in order to decrease waiting time at the local stations.[42][43]

On November 7, 2016, weekday Q service was cut back from Astoria to 57th Street–Seventh Avenue, skipping 49th Street, to provide a seamless transition for the opening of the Second Avenue Subway.[44][45] Service to Astoria and the 49th Street station was replaced by the restored W service.[46][47]

On January 1, 2017, the first phase of the Second Avenue Subway opened; the Q was extended from 57th Street–Seventh Avenue to 96th Street via the BMT 63rd Street Line and the IND Second Avenue Line. This extension serves Lexington Avenue–63rd Street station with a cross-platform transfer to the IND 63rd Street Line (served by the F and <F> train) before serving new stations under Second Avenue at 72nd Street, 86th Street, and 96th Street, where it originates/terminates.[48] The inaugural train on the Second Avenue Line ran on December 31, 2016, with passenger service beginning the next day. From January 1 to 9, 2017, service between 57th Street and 96th Street ran only from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., with late-night service terminating at 57th Street; late night service to 96th Street began on January 9.[49][50]

Effective June 30, 2024, one evening PM train started terminating at Brighton Beach.[51][52]

### Future

[edit]

The second phase of the Second Avenue Line will extend the Q to a new northern terminal at Harlem–125th Street, with planned stops at 116th Street and 106th Street. At the Harlem–125th Street terminus, there will be a transfer to the existing 125th Street station on the IRT Lexington Avenue Line and a connection to Harlem–125th Street station on Metro-North Railroad. This will provide residents of East Harlem with direct subway service to the Upper East Side, western Midtown, Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn, and offer connections to 4, ​5, ​6, and <6> trains and Metro-North from the Bronx, the northern suburbs of New York City, and southern Connecticut.[53] An extension of the Second Avenue Line further west under 125th Street has been proposed, with transfers to other routes, although this extension has not been funded or approved.[54][55]

## Route

[edit]

### Service pattern

[edit]

The following table shows the lines used by the Q, with shaded boxes indicating the route at the specified times:[56][57][58][59]

Line  | From  | To  | Tracks  | Times

|
|
|
|

all
ex.
nights  | late
nights
IND Second Avenue Line | 96th Street | 72nd Street | all  |  |
BMT 63rd Street Line (full line)  | Lexington Avenue–63rd Street | all
BMT Broadway Line | 57th Street–Seventh Avenue | Canal Street | express
local  |  |
Manhattan Bridge | south  |
BMT Brighton Line (full line)  | DeKalb Avenue | Prospect Park | all
Parkside Avenue | Ocean Parkway | local
West Eighth Street–New York Aquarium | Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue | all

### Stations

[edit]

For a more detailed station listing, see the articles on the lines listed above.[3]

Station service legend

| Stops 24 hours a day
| Stops every day during daytime hours only
| Stops every day during overnight hours only
| Stops during weekday daytime hours only
| Stops during weekday rush hours in the peak direction only
| Stops rush hours only (limited service)
Time period details
| Station is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act
↑ | Station is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act
in the indicated direction only

| Elevator access to mezzanine only

| Stations  |  | Subway transfers  | Connections and notes

|
|
|
|

Manhattan
Second Avenue Line
| 96th Street |  | N ​ | M15 Select Bus Service
| 86th Street |  | N ​​R | M15 Select Bus Service
M86 Select Bus Service
| 72nd Street |  | N ​​R | M15 Select Bus Service
63rd Street Line
| Lexington Avenue–63rd Street |  | F <F> ​ N ​​R
Out-of-system transfers with MetroCard/OMNY:
4 ​5 ​6 <6> (IRT Lexington Avenue Line at 59th Street)
N ​R ​W (BMT Broadway Line at Lexington Avenue–59th Street)  |
Broadway Line
| 57th Street–Seventh Avenue |  | N ​​R ​W |
| 49th Street |  ↑  | N | Station is ADA-accessible in the northbound direction only
| Times Square–42nd Street |  | N ​​R ​W
1 ​2 ​3 (IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line)
7 <7> ​ (IRT Flushing Line)
A ​C ​E (IND Eighth Avenue Line at 42nd Street–Port Authority Bus Terminal)
S (42nd Street Shuttle)
B ​D ​F <F> ​M (IND Sixth Avenue Line at 42nd Street–Bryant Park, daytime only)  | Port Authority Bus Terminal
M34A Select Bus Service
| 34th Street–Herald Square |  | N ​​R ​W
B ​D ​F <F> ​M (IND Sixth Avenue Line)  | M34 / M34A Select Bus Service
PATH at 33rd Street
Amtrak, LIRR, NJ Transit at Pennsylvania Station
| 28th Street |  | N |
| 23rd Street |  | N | M23 Select Bus Service
| 14th Street–Union Square |  | N ​​R ​W
L (BMT Canarsie Line)
4 ​5 ​6 <6> (IRT Lexington Avenue Line)  | M14A / M14D Select Bus Service
| Eighth Street–New York University |  | N |
| Prince Street |  | N |
Manhattan Bridge branch
| Canal Street |  | N ​​R ​W
4 ​6 <6> (IRT Lexington Avenue Line)
J ​Z (BMT Nassau Street Line)  | Stops on the lower level.
Brooklyn
Brighton Line
| DeKalb Avenue |  | B ​D ​N ​​R ​W |
| Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center |  | B
D ​N ​R ​W (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)
2 ​3 ​4 ​5 (IRT Eastern Parkway Line)  | LIRR Atlantic Branch at Atlantic Terminal
| Seventh Avenue |  | B |
| Prospect Park |  | B
S (BMT Franklin Avenue Line)  |
| Parkside Avenue |  |  |
| Church Avenue |  | B |
| Beverley Road |  |  |
| Cortelyou Road |  |  |
| Newkirk Plaza |  | B |
| Avenue H |  |  |
| Avenue J |  |  |
| Avenue M |  |  |
| Kings Highway |  | B | B82 Select Bus Service
| Avenue U |  |  |
| Neck Road |  |  |
| Sheepshead Bay |  | B |
| Brighton Beach |  | B | Southern terminal for one weekday evening train[a]
| Ocean Parkway |  |  |
| West Eighth Street–New York Aquarium |  | F <F> ​ (IND Culver Line)  |
| Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue |  | N
D (BMT West End Line)
F <F> ​ (IND Culver Line)  |

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ One southbound Q train terminates at this station during weekday evenings only

## References

[edit]

1. ^ 'Subdivision 'B' Car Assignment Effective December 19, 2021'. New York City Transit, Operations Planning. December 17, 2021.
2. ^ "Subdivision 'B' Car Assignments: Cars Required November 1, 2021" (PDF). The Bulletin. 64 (12). Electric Railroaders' Association: 3. December 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
3. ^ a b c "Q Subway Timetable, Effective June 30, 2024". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
4. ^ Linder, Marc; Zacharias, Lawrence S. (December 1, 1999). Of Cabbages and Kings County: Agriculture and the Formation of Modern Brooklyn. University of Iowa Press. p. 144\. ISBN 9780877457145.
5. ^ a b c d Cudahy, Brian J. (January 1, 1999). The Malbone Street Wreck. Fordham University Press. ISBN 9780823219322.
6. ^ a b Derrick, Peter (April 1, 2002). Tunneling to the Future: The Story of the Great Subway Expansion That Saved New York. NYU Press. ISBN 9780814719541.
7. ^ Cudahy, Brian J. (January 1, 1995). Under the Sidewalks of New York: The Story of the Greatest Subway System in the World. Fordham University Press. pp. 73. ISBN 9780823216185. "brighton line brooklyn."
8. ^ a b c d e f g h i Linder, Bernard (May 2003). "Brighton Line Schedule Changes" (PDF). The New York Division Bulletin. 46 (5). Electric Railroaders' Association: 2–4.
9. ^ a b c d e f Linder, Bernard (June 2005). "Astoria Line" (PDF). New York Division Bulletin. 48 (6). Electric Railroaders' Association: 2–4.
10. ^ "Notice To Passengers". Flickr. New York City Board of Transportation. 1952. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
11. ^ "New December 1 Schedules". Flickr. New York City Transit Authority. 1955. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
12. ^ a b "BMT Riders: Changes In Routes! January 1". Flickr.com. New York City Transit Authority. January 1961. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
13. ^ "New York City Transit Authority Service Notes" (PDF). New York Division Bulletin. 5 (2). Electric Railroaders' Association: 2. May 1962.
14. ^ "For Immediate Release Sunday, April 19, 1962 #258" (PDF). New York City Transit Authority. April 19, 1962. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
15. ^ "The NX Joins the N..." thejoekorner.com. New York City Transit Authority. April 1968. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
16. ^ Linder, Bernard (April 2003). "Brighton Line Schedule Changes" (PDF). New York Division Bulletin. 46 (4). Electric Railroaders' Association: 2–3.
17. ^ Hogarty, Dave (August 3, 2007). "Michael Hertz, Designer of the NYC Subway Map". Gothamist. Archived from the original on August 18, 2009. Retrieved July 4, 2009.
18. ^ Grynbaum, Michael M. (May 10, 2010). "Take the Tomato 2 Stops to the Sunflower". The New York Times. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
19. ^ "Hey, What's a "K" Train?". Flickr.com. New York City Transit Authority. 1985. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
20. ^ Bernard Linder (April 2001). "Sea Beach Line Schedule Changes" (PDF). The Bulletin. 44 (4). Electric Railroaders' Association, Incorporated: 2. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
21. ^ "Brighton Line Riders: Your Guide To Service Changes On The D Q M During Rehabilitation Work April 26 Through October 26, 1986". thejoekorner.com. New York City Transit Authority. 1986. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
22. ^ "May 24, 1987 New York City Subway Map". stewartmader.com. New York City Transit Authority. May 24, 1987. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
23. ^ "October 1989 Map". Flickr. New York City Transit Authority. October 1989. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
24. ^ "Service Changes September 30, 1990" (PDF). subwaynut.com. New York City Transit Authority. September 30, 1990. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 26, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
25. ^ "1991 Service Capacity Plan" (PDF). New York City Transit Authority. January 4, 1991. pp. 197–198. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
26. ^ Ronald Sullivan (March 26, 1995). "Bridge Repairs to Disrupt Off-Peak Subway Service". The New York Times. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
27. ^ "It's Not the Dodgers, But on November 13, Express Service Returns to Brooklyn's Brighton Line". New York Daily News. November 13, 1995. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
28. ^ "63rd Street Shuttle Timetable". thejoekorner.com. New York City Transit Authority. February 1998. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
29. ^ "Q Train Timetable" (PDF). mta.info. Fall 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 3, 2003. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
30. ^ "World Trade Center Destroyed" (PDF). The Bulletin. 44 (10). Electric Railroaders' Association: 2–3\. October 2001. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
31. ^ "New IRT and BMT Schedules" (PDF). The Bulletin. 44 (12). Electric Railroaders' Association: 15. December 2001. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
32. ^ "New IRT and BMT Schedules" (PDF). The Bulletin. 44 (12). Electric Railroaders' Association: 16. December 2001. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
33. ^ Chan, Sewell (May 28, 2005). "And Now for the Good News From the Subway System". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 15, 2016.
34. ^ "New York City Transit — History and Chronology". mta.info. Retrieved August 15, 2016. "The newly renovated Stillwell Avenue Terminal reopens and train service returns to Coney Island after a 21-month hiatus during construction"
35. ^ "New BMT-IND Schedules" (PDF). The New York Division Bulletin. 46 (7). Electric Railroaders' Association: 20. July 2003.
36. ^ "B D M N Q R W Weekday Service Manhattan Bridge Map" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. February 2004. Archived from the original on February 5, 2004. Retrieved September 18, 2016.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
37. ^ "MTA NYC Transit Manhattan Bridge Information". February 5, 2004. Archived from the original on February 5, 2004. Retrieved September 18, 2016.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
38. ^ Son, Hugh (February 15, 2004). "ABC's of Subway Swap Manhattan Bridge Fix Changes 7 Lines". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on February 26, 2018. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
39. ^ "Major Subway Changes Set for Monday". mta.info. June 24, 2010. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
40. ^ Grynbaum, Michael M. (September 13, 2017). "Next Stop on the W Train: History". City Room. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
41. ^ "Evaluation of 2010 Service Reductions" (PDF). mta.info. New York City Transit. September 23, 2011. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
42. ^ "A Look Inside MTA New York City Transit's Sign Shop". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. October 17, 2014. Archived from the original on August 30, 2016. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
43. ^ Donohue, Pete (April 24, 2014). "Q Train Will Make More Local Stops Come December". New York Daily News. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
44. ^ Rivoli, Dan (November 7, 2016). "W train returns Monday after removed from subway tracks in 2010". New York Daily News. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
45. ^ "Revised Broadway Service". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
46. ^ Martinez, Jose (February 20, 2016). "MTA Confirms W Train Is Coming Back". TWC News. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
47. ^ "MTA Advances Work On Second Avenue Subway Service". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. February 19, 2016. Archived from the original on February 22, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
48. ^ Slotnik, Daniel E.; Wolfe, Jonathan; Fitzsimmons, Emma G.; Palmer, Emily; Remnick, Noah (January 1, 2017). "Opening of Second Avenue Subway: Updates". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
49. ^ "Second Avenue Subway to Open On-Time". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. December 19, 2016. Archived from the original on December 21, 2016. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
50. ^ "Q Service Operates Between Stillwell Av and 57 St-7 Av Late Nights, 10 PM to 6 AM, Until Monday, Jan 9". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. January 2017. Archived from the original on January 9, 2017. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
51. ^ "MTA Q subway timetable Effective December 17, 2023". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. December 17, 2023. Archived from the original on March 18, 2024. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
52. ^ "MTA Q subway timetable Effective June 30, 2024". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. December 15, 2024. Archived from the original on July 2, 2024. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
53. ^ "CM-1190 Consultant Design Services for Phase 2 of the Second Avenue Subway Project" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
54. ^ Campbell, Jon; Nessen, Stephen (January 9, 2024). "Gov. Hochul wants to extend 2nd Ave. subway to West Harlem". Gothamist. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
55. ^ Rahmanan, Anna (January 11, 2024). "The Second Avenue Subway Might Extend Even Further into Harlem". Time Out New York. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
56. ^ "Subway Service Guide" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2025. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
57. ^ "86 St – OpenMobilityData". transitfeeds.com. July 19, 2021. Archived from the original on July 19, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
58. ^ "86 St – OpenMobilityData". transitfeeds.com. July 19, 2021. Archived from the original on July 19, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
59. ^ "7:36 AM – 8:40 AM 96 St – OpenMobilityData". transitfeeds.com. July 19, 2021. Archived from the original on July 19, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2021.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Q (New York City Subway service).

* MTA NYC Transit – Q Broadway Express
* MTA Subway Time—Q Train
* "Q Subway Timetable, Effective June 30, 2024". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved May 29, 2025.

* v
* t
* e

New York City Subway

Current
services|

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

|  Shuttles|

42nd Street
Franklin Avenue
Rockaway Park

|

Planned|

Defunct
services|

| 1985–present|

*   *   *   *   *

|

Pre-1985|

* 8
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* AA
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* GG
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* JJ
* K (Jamaica)
* KK
* LL
* MJ
* NX
* QB
* QJ
* QT
* RJ
* RR
* T
* TT

Shuttles|

Bowling Green
Broadway/63rd Street
Culver
Grand Street
Nassau Street
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Sixth Avenue/63rd Street

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Notable crashes|

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Strikes|

* 1966
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disruptions|

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incidents|

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Infrastructure|

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Other rapid
transit in NYC|

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| Historical|

* Beach Pneumatic Transit
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