F (New York City Subway service)
Northern end | Jamaica–179th Street |
---|---|
Southern end | Coney Island |
Stations | 45 |
Rolling stock | R160[1][2] (Rolling stock assignments subject to change) |
The F Sixth Avenue Local is a rapid transit service of the New York City Subway. It is colored orange on route signs, station signs, and the official subway map, since it runs on the IND Sixth Avenue Line through Manhattan.
The F service operates at all times, from 179th Street in Jamaica, Queens to Stillwell Avenue in Coney Island, Brooklyn, via Queens Boulevard, 63rd Street, Sixth Avenue, and the IND Culver Line making all local stops except for an express section in Queens between Forest Hills–71st Avenue and 21st Street–Queensbridge. The F is one of only four services that has an express section around the clock (the others being the D, Q, and 3).
There is community support for resuming express service along the Culver Line in Brooklyn, where existing express tracks have been unused since 1986.[3][4] The MTA has announced that the elevated Culver Viaduct will undergo extensive renovations from 2009–2012, after which "There will be no impediment to implementing the F express."[5]
The F route runs mostly R46s , but several R160A-2s and R160Bs as well.
History
- F service officially began on December 15, 1940 between Parsons Boulevard and Church Avenue via the Queens Boulevard, Sixth Avenue, and IND Culver Lines. It ran express in Queens and local in Manhattan and Brooklyn.
- During World War II, trains were extended to 169th Street during evenings, late nights, and Sunday mornings.
- On December 11, 1950, trains were extended to Jamaica–179th Street on evenings, nights, and Sunday mornings. Over the next year, service was gradually extended to serve that station at all times.
- On October 30, 1954, the connection between the IND Culver Line and BMT Culver Line was completed. Rush hour F trains terminated at Broadway-Lafayette Street to allow D trains to enter Brooklyn via the Rutgers Street Tunnel. On June 28, 1956, trains were extended to Lower East Side–Second Avenue.
- Beginning October 6, 1957, trains terminated at 34th Street–Herald Square evenings, nights and weekends.
- Beginning November 10, 1958, trains terminated at Broadway–Lafayette Street weekdays to allow construction for the IND Chrystie Street Connection.
- Beginning July 9, 1967, trains no longer ran express between Jamaica–179th Street and 71st–Continental Avenues.
- On November 26, 1967, the IND Chrystie Street Connection was completed. D trains were rerouted via this connection, over the north side of the Manhattan Bridge, and via the BMT Brighton Line in Brooklyn. F trains replaced them on the BMT Culver Line. There was rush hour express service between Jay Street–Borough Hall and Kings Highway. This was discontinued in the 1980s due to track work.
- On May 24, 1987, the N and R services switched terminals in Queens. As part of the reroute plan, F trains terminated at 57th Street/Sixth Avenue during late nights.
- On September 30, 1990, the R train was cut back from 179th Street to 71st Avenue, replaced by the F train.
- Later that year, late-night service was moved to 21st Street–Queensbridge to replace the Q shuttle.
- In May 1997, the F Train was taken out of the IND 63rd Street Line during late nights and was replaced by a shuttle. The F train now ran local to 179th Street.
- On December 16, 2001, the 63rd Street Connector opened, connecting the IND 63rd Street Line with the IND Queens Boulevard Line. In a controversial move, the local V train replaced the express F in the heavily-trafficked 53rd Street Tunnel between Manhattan and Queens, while the F was rerouted to the 63rd Street Tunnel. The F began making express stops in Queens between 71st Avenue and 21st Street–Queensbridge at all times.
- On September 8, 2002, Stillwell Avenue was closed for reconstruction. F service was cut back to Avenue X, and service to Stillwell Avenue was replaced by a shuttle bus. The F Train returned to Stillwell Avenue on May 23, 2004, upon completion of the construction work.
Gallery
-
An R46 F train at Herald Square, bound for Queens
Route
Following lines
The following lines are used by the F service:
Line | Tracks | Time |
---|---|---|
IND Queens Boulevard Line north of Forest Hills–71st Avenue | local | all times |
IND Queens Boulevard Line from Forest Hills–71st Avenue to 21st Street–Queensbridge | express | |
IND 63rd Street Line (full line) | N/A | |
IND Sixth Avenue Line from 47th–50th Streets–Rockefeller Center to Second Avenue | local | |
IND Sixth Avenue Line south of Second Avenue | N/A | |
IND Culver Line (full line) | local |
Stations
For a more detailed station listing, see the articles on the lines listed above.
Station service legend | |
---|---|
Stops all times | |
Stops all times except late nights | |
Stops late nights only | |
Stops late nights and weekends only | |
Stops weekdays during the day | |
Stops rush hours only | |
Stops rush hours in the peak direction only | |
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 |
References
- ^ 'Subdivision 'B' Car Assignment Effective December 19, 2021'. New York City Transit, Operations Planning. December 17, 2021.
- ^ "Subdivision 'B' Car Assignments: Cars Required November 1, 2021" (PDF). The Bulletin. 64 (12). Electric Railroaders' Association: 3. December 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
- ^ Cohen, Ariella (June 23, 2007). "Can I get an express, please". The Brooklyn Paper. Retrieved 2007-11-27.
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(help) - ^ "Who needs an F express?". The Brooklyn Paper. September 15, 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-27.
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(help) - ^ McLaughlin, Mike (November 24, 2007). "Fix for Fourth Avenue station looks F'ing great". The Brooklyn Paper. Retrieved 2007-11-27.
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