63rd Street Shuttle

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The 63rd Street Shuttle was the name given to four shuttle trains that served the 63rd Street Lines of the New York City Subway during various times from 1997 to 2001, and again from 2023 to 2024.

Sixth Avenue[edit]

Orange bullet for the Sixth Avenue/63rd Street Shuttle

Three of the shuttles ran along the IND Sixth Avenue Line.

The first shuttle, designated with an orange S, began in August 1997. It ran late nights only from 21st Street–Queensbridge to Second Avenue via the IND 63rd Street Line and IND Sixth Avenue Line making local stops. Prior to that, F and Q trains[a] served the IND 63rd Street Line during late nights. This service was suspended in February 1998 when construction suspended service between the 63rd Street Line and the Sixth Avenue Line, but it resumed in May 1999 when the construction was completed. It was discontinued in 2000 when preparation for full-time service on the IND 63rd Street Connector began.

The second shuttle, also with an orange bullet, began on July 22, 2001, due to the closure of the north tracks on the Manhattan Bridge. It ran between 21st Street–Queensbridge and Broadway–Lafayette Street, running an almost identical route to the first. Unlike the first shuttle, this shuttle ran at all times, replacing the B and Q trains which previously served the IND 63rd Street Line during daytime hours. On December 16, 2001, the 63rd Street connector to the IND Queens Boulevard Line opened and the F train was rerouted to serve the IND 63rd Street Line at all times, permanently replacing this shuttle.[1] At the same time, the Grand Street Shuttle was lengthened to West Fourth Street–Washington Square.

The third shuttle ran from August 28, 2023,[2] until March 29, 2024.[3][4] F trains were rerouted via the 53rd Street Tunnel between Queens and Manhattan, and weekday M trains were truncated to 57th Street in Manhattan, due to track replacement and other repairs in the 63rd Street Tunnel. The shuttle used to run every 20 minutes between Lexington Avenue-63rd Street and 21st Street-Queensbridge, stopping at Roosevelt Island, at all times except late nights. Shuttle buses used to run between Queens Plaza and 21st Street–Queensbridge during the day and between Queens Plaza and Roosevelt Island at night.[5][2]

Broadway[edit]

Yellow bullet for the Broadway/63rd Street Shuttle

This service, designated with a yellow S, ran at all times during reconstruction of the IND 63rd Street Line between February 22, 1998, and May 22, 1999. Originally running between 21st Street–Queensbridge and 57th Street–Seventh Avenue on the BMT Broadway Line via the BMT 63rd Street Line, it was extended to 34th Street–Herald Square on weekdays starting April 6, 1998, skipping 49th Street. The shuttle stopped at the downtown platform at 34th Street.[6] During this time, B and Q trains terminated at 57th Street–Sixth Avenue, which was closed late nights, while the late night Sixth Avenue shuttle was suspended. Once work was completed, the Broadway shuttle was discontinued, the late night Sixth Avenue shuttle was restored, and B and Q trains returned to 21st Street–Queensbridge.

Final route[edit]

63rd Street Line
Stops all times 21st Street–Queensbridge Disabled access
Manhattan
Stops all times Roosevelt Island Disabled access Roosevelt Island Tramway
Stops all times Lexington Avenue–63rd Street Disabled access
Sixth Avenue Line
Stops all times 57th Street
Stops all times 47th–50th Streets–Rockefeller Center Disabled access B Stops weekdays during the day D Stops all times F Stops all times
Stops all times 42nd Street–Bryant Park Elevator access to mezzanine only B Stops weekdays during the day D Stops all times F Stops all times 7 all times <7> rush hours until 9:30 p.m., peak direction​ (IRT Flushing Line at Fifth Avenue)
Stops all times 34th Street–Herald Square Disabled access B Stops weekdays during the day D Stops all times F Stops all times

N all times ​Q all times ​R all except late nights ​W weekdays only <Q>Stops weekdays during the day (BMT Broadway Line)

Note: Diamond Q express discontinued in February 2004
Stops all times 23rd Street F Stops all times
Stops all times 14th Street F Stops all times

1 all times ​2 all times ​3 all times 9 Stops rush hours only (IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line at 14th Street) L all times (BMT Canarsie Line at Sixth Avenue)

Note: 9 train discontinued in May 2005
Stops all times West Fourth Street–Washington Square Disabled access F Stops all times

A all times ​C all except late nights ​E all times (IND Eighth Avenue Line)

Stops all times Broadway–Lafayette Street Disabled access F Stops all times

6 all times <6> weekdays until 8:45 p.m., peak direction​ (IRT Lexington Avenue Line at Bleecker Street; transfer to downtown trains only)

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Between 1989 and 1993, a special daily late night F/Q combination service operated, in which 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. The special F/Q service was designated as F starting in April 1993.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Kennedy, Randy (May 25, 2001). "Panel Approves New V Train but Shortens G Line to Make Room". The New York Times. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
  2. ^ a b "F, M changes start Monday: What to know about the subway interruptions lasting until 2024". NBC New York. August 25, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  3. ^ "Subway and rail service changes: March 29-April 1". MTA. March 29, 2024. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  4. ^ "F, M service returning to full service in Manhattan and Queens: What to know". NBC New York. March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  5. ^ "Service changes on the F and M lines starting August 28". MTA. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  6. ^ "Starting April 6, shuttle service from 21st St./Queensbridge will be extended to 42nd St. and 34th St". mta.nyc.ny.us. April 1998. Archived from the original on August 19, 2000. Retrieved June 3, 2018.

External links[edit]

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