63rd Street Shuttle
The 63rd Street Shuttle was the name given to three shuttle trains that served the 63rd Street Lines of the New York City Subway during various times from 1997 to 2001.
Sixth Avenue
Two 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[lower-alpha 1] 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.
Broadway
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.[2] 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.
Notes
- 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
- 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.
- "Starting April 6, shuttle service form 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
- S Train Special Shuttle, MTA service notice, 1998
- Manhattan Bridge Service Changes, MTA service notice, 2001