IND Queens Boulevard Line
Encyclopedia
The Queens Boulevard Line is a fully underground line of the B Division of the New York City Subway
in Manhattan
and Queens
, New York City
, United States
. The line provides crosstown service across Manhattan
under 53rd Street
and east through Queens to Jamaica
. The two-track section in Manhattan is also known as the 53rd Street Line.
, a flying junction
joins the two-track Archer Avenue Line
to the local and express tracks. Soon after, the line turns west under Queens Boulevard
.
East of Kew Gardens – Union Turnpike, another flying junction ties the eastward tracks to Jamaica Yard. The other side of the wye curves west to become a lower level of the subway just west of Kew Gardens – Union Turnpike. After passing through 75th Avenue
, those tracks join the local and express tracks at another flying junction.
From here, the line runs under Queens Boulevard until it turns north onto Broadway after Grand Avenue – Newtown. Near Jackson Heights – Roosevelt Avenue, an abandoned trackless tunnel for the IND Second System
branches off into an unused upper part of the station which is used for storage. At the intersection of Broadway and Northern Boulevard
, the express tracks turn west under Northern Boulevard. The local tracks take a longer route, remaining under Broadway, then turning south onto Steinway Street and west again onto Northern Boulevard, where they rejoin the express tracks. This is only one of two areas in the subway where the express tracks diverge from the local tracks (the other being the IND Culver Line
between Seventh Avenue
and Church Avenue
.
As the line leaves 36th Street
, the two-track IND 63rd Street Line
splits from both sets of tracks at a flying junction, running to Manhattan under 41st Avenue. The Queens Boulevard Line continues under Northern Boulevard to Queens Plaza
before line splitting into three parts at another flying junction. The express tracks continue towards Manhattan under 44th Drive, while the local tracks split two ways, with the 60th Street Tunnel Connection turning northwest and the IND Crosstown Line
(no regular service) remaining under Jackson Avenue (Northern Boulevard south of Queens Plaza). From this point on, the Queens Boulevard Line has only two tracks.
The line continues west through the 53rd Street Tunnel
under the East River
into Manhattan. After Lexington Avenue – 53rd Street, the westbound tracks rise above the eastbound tracks. A flying junction after Fifth Avenue / 53rd Street, ties the westbound tracks into the southbound local tracks of the IND Sixth Avenue Line
, which begin here as a merge of these connection tracks and the IND 63rd Street Line
. At that junction, the Sixth Avenue express tracks turns west under 53rd Street, just to the south of the Queens Boulevard Line. The two lines share platforms at Seventh Avenue
, but no connecting tracks are present.
Then the Queens Boulevard Line turns south below the IND Eighth Avenue Line
with separate lower-level platforms at 50th Street
. Then the tracks split to join the local and express tracks of the Eighth Avenue Line north of 42nd Street – Port Authority Bus Terminal. At that station, a special lower platform, currently undergoing demolition, formerly served a single southbound track from the Queens Boulevard Line, merging with both southbound tracks of the Eighth Avenue Line south of that station.
and Forest Hills – 71st Avenue is served by four services: the , , , and . The M operates via Sixth Avenue and 53rd Street to Queens Plaza
before making local stops to Forest Hills – 71st Avenue on weekdays. The R enters Queens Boulevard from 60th Street before also making local stops to Forest Hills – 71st Avenue at all times except late nights. The F train joins the IND Queens Boulevard Line from the 63rd Street Tunnel and runs express to Forest Hills – 71st Avenue before making local stops to Jamaica – 179th Street at all times. The E train runs from Eighth Avenue and 53rd Street to Queens Boulevard before making express stops along the entire line and entering the IND Archer Avenue Line. Weekdays from 8:45 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. and at all times on weekends, it runs local east of Forest Hills – 71st Avenue. During late night hours, it makes local stops along the entire line.
* southbound only
New York City Subway
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
and Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The line provides crosstown service across Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
under 53rd Street
53rd Street (Manhattan)
53rd Street is a midtown cross street in the New York City borough of Manhattan, that contains buildings such as the Citicorp Building. It is 1.83 miles long. The street runs westbound from Sutton Place across most of the island's width, ending at DeWitt Clinton Park at Eleventh Avenue...
and east through Queens to Jamaica
Jamaica, Queens
Jamaica is a neighborhood in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York, United States. It was settled under Dutch rule in 1656 in New Netherland as Rustdorp. Under British rule, the Village of Jamaica became the center of the "Town of Jamaica"...
. The two-track section in Manhattan is also known as the 53rd Street Line.
Description
The Queens Boulevard Line begins at Jamaica – 179th Street as a four-track subway under Hillside Avenue. Just after curving north under the Van Wyck ExpresswayInterstate 678
Interstate 678 is a north–south auxiliary Interstate Highway that extends for through two boroughs of New York City. The route begins at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Jamaica Bay and travels north through Queens and across the East River to the Bronx, where it ends at...
, a flying junction
Flying junction
A flying junction or flyover is a railway junction at which one or more diverging or converging tracks in a multiple-track route cross other tracks on the route by bridge to avoid conflict with other train movements. A more technical term is "grade-separated junction"...
joins the two-track Archer Avenue Line
Archer Avenue Line
-BMT Archer Avenue Line :-IND Archer Avenue Line :-References:...
to the local and express tracks. Soon after, the line turns west under Queens Boulevard
Queens Boulevard
Queens Boulevard is a major thoroughfare in the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Queens connecting communities from Midtown Manhattan to Jamaica...
.
East of Kew Gardens – Union Turnpike, another flying junction ties the eastward tracks to Jamaica Yard. The other side of the wye curves west to become a lower level of the subway just west of Kew Gardens – Union Turnpike. After passing through 75th Avenue
75th Avenue (IND Queens Boulevard Line)
75th Avenue is a local station on the IND Queens Boulevard Line of the New York City Subway in Forest Hills, Queens...
, those tracks join the local and express tracks at another flying junction.
From here, the line runs under Queens Boulevard until it turns north onto Broadway after Grand Avenue – Newtown. Near Jackson Heights – Roosevelt Avenue, an abandoned trackless tunnel for the IND Second System
IND Second System
Before unification in 1940, the City of New York made plans for expanding the Subway system. The first one, conceived in 1929, was to be part of the city-operated Independent Subway System . By 1939, with unification planned, all three systems were included...
branches off into an unused upper part of the station which is used for storage. At the intersection of Broadway and Northern Boulevard
New York State Route 25A
New York State Route 25A is a state highway on Long Island in New York in the United States. It serves as the main east–west route for most of the North Shore of Long Island, running from the Queens Midtown Tunnel in the New York City borough of Queens at its western terminus to...
, the express tracks turn west under Northern Boulevard. The local tracks take a longer route, remaining under Broadway, then turning south onto Steinway Street and west again onto Northern Boulevard, where they rejoin the express tracks. This is only one of two areas in the subway where the express tracks diverge from the local tracks (the other being the IND Culver Line
IND Culver Line
The IND Culver Line is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway, extending from Downtown Brooklyn south to Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City, United States...
between Seventh Avenue
Seventh Avenue (IND Culver Line)
Seventh Avenue, occasionally referred to as Seventh Avenue – Park Slope, is an express station on the IND Culver Line of the New York City Subway, located at Seventh Avenue and Ninth Street in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn...
and Church Avenue
Church Avenue (IND Culver Line)
Church Avenue is an express station on the IND Culver Line of the New York City Subway. Located at Church and McDonald Avenues in Kensington, Brooklyn, it is served by the F and G trains at all times, the latter of which terminates here....
.
As the line leaves 36th Street
36th Street (IND Queens Boulevard Line)
36th Street is a local station on the IND Queens Boulevard Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of 36th Street and Northern Boulevard in Queens, it is served by the R train at all times except late nights, when the E train replaces it, and the M train weekdays.This...
, the two-track IND 63rd Street Line
IND 63rd Street Line
The IND 63rd Street Line is a rapid transit line of the IND division of the New York City Subway system. It runs from the IND Sixth Avenue Line at 57th Street east under 63rd Street and the East River through the 63rd Street Tunnel to the IND Queens Boulevard Line in Queens...
splits from both sets of tracks at a flying junction, running to Manhattan under 41st Avenue. The Queens Boulevard Line continues under Northern Boulevard to Queens Plaza
Queens Plaza (IND Queens Boulevard Line)
Queens Plaza is an express station on the IND Queens Boulevard Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the large Queens Plaza interchange, it is served by the E train at all times, by the R train at all times except late nights, and by the M train on weekdays except late nights.While situated...
before line splitting into three parts at another flying junction. The express tracks continue towards Manhattan under 44th Drive, while the local tracks split two ways, with the 60th Street Tunnel Connection turning northwest and the IND Crosstown Line
IND Crosstown Line
-External links:*...
(no regular service) remaining under Jackson Avenue (Northern Boulevard south of Queens Plaza). From this point on, the Queens Boulevard Line has only two tracks.
The line continues west through the 53rd Street Tunnel
53rd Street Tunnel
The 53rd Street Tunnel carries the IND Queens Boulevard Line of the New York City Subway under the East River and Roosevelt Island between Manhattan and Queens, New York City....
under the East River
East River
The East River is a tidal strait in New York City. It connects Upper New York Bay on its south end to Long Island Sound on its north end. It separates Long Island from the island of Manhattan and the Bronx on the North American mainland...
into Manhattan. After Lexington Avenue – 53rd Street, the westbound tracks rise above the eastbound tracks. A flying junction after Fifth Avenue / 53rd Street, ties the westbound tracks into the southbound local tracks of the IND Sixth Avenue Line
IND Sixth Avenue Line
The Sixth Avenue Line is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway in the United States. It runs mainly under Sixth Avenue in Manhattan, and continues south through the Rutgers Street Tunnel to Brooklyn...
, which begin here as a merge of these connection tracks and the IND 63rd Street Line
IND 63rd Street Line
The IND 63rd Street Line is a rapid transit line of the IND division of the New York City Subway system. It runs from the IND Sixth Avenue Line at 57th Street east under 63rd Street and the East River through the 63rd Street Tunnel to the IND Queens Boulevard Line in Queens...
. At that junction, the Sixth Avenue express tracks turns west under 53rd Street, just to the south of the Queens Boulevard Line. The two lines share platforms at Seventh Avenue
Seventh Avenue (IND Queens Boulevard Line)
Seventh Avenue is a station on the IND Queens Boulevard Line and the IND Sixth Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Seventh Avenue and 53rd Street in Manhattan, it is served by the D and E trains at all times, and the B train weekdays...
, but no connecting tracks are present.
Then the Queens Boulevard Line turns south below the IND Eighth Avenue Line
IND Eighth Avenue Line
The Eighth Avenue Line is a rapid transit line in New York City, United States, and is part of the B Division of the New York City Subway...
with separate lower-level platforms at 50th Street
50th Street (IND Eighth Avenue Line)
50th Street is a local station on the IND Eighth Avenue Line and IND Queens Boulevard Line of the New York City Subway, located at 50th Street and Eighth Avenue in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan.- Station layout :...
. Then the tracks split to join the local and express tracks of the Eighth Avenue Line north of 42nd Street – Port Authority Bus Terminal. At that station, a special lower platform, currently undergoing demolition, formerly served a single southbound track from the Queens Boulevard Line, merging with both southbound tracks of the Eighth Avenue Line south of that station.
Services
During daytime hours, the portion of the line between 36th Street36th Street (IND Queens Boulevard Line)
36th Street is a local station on the IND Queens Boulevard Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of 36th Street and Northern Boulevard in Queens, it is served by the R train at all times except late nights, when the E train replaces it, and the M train weekdays.This...
and Forest Hills – 71st Avenue is served by four services: the , , , and . The M operates via Sixth Avenue and 53rd Street to Queens Plaza
Queens Plaza (IND Queens Boulevard Line)
Queens Plaza is an express station on the IND Queens Boulevard Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the large Queens Plaza interchange, it is served by the E train at all times, by the R train at all times except late nights, and by the M train on weekdays except late nights.While situated...
before making local stops to Forest Hills – 71st Avenue on weekdays. The R enters Queens Boulevard from 60th Street before also making local stops to Forest Hills – 71st Avenue at all times except late nights. The F train joins the IND Queens Boulevard Line from the 63rd Street Tunnel and runs express to Forest Hills – 71st Avenue before making local stops to Jamaica – 179th Street at all times. The E train runs from Eighth Avenue and 53rd Street to Queens Boulevard before making express stops along the entire line and entering the IND Archer Avenue Line. Weekdays from 8:45 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. and at all times on weekends, it runs local east of Forest Hills – 71st Avenue. During late night hours, it makes local stops along the entire line.
Station listing
| Station | Tracks | Services | Opened | Transfers and notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jamaica – 179th Street | all | December 10, 1950 | |||
| 169th Street 169th Street (IND Queens Boulevard Line) 169th Street is a local station on the IND Queens Boulevard Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of 169th Street and Hillside Avenue in Queens, it is served by the F train at all times. This is the closest subway station to the 165th Street Bus Terminal.This station has... |
local | April 24, 1937 | |||
| Parsons Boulevard Parsons Boulevard (IND Queens Boulevard Line) Parsons Boulevard is an express station on the IND Queens Boulevard Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Parsons Boulevard and Hillside Avenue in Queens, it is served by F train at all times... |
all | April 24, 1937 | |||
| Sutphin Boulevard Sutphin Boulevard (IND Queens Boulevard Line) Sutphin Boulevard is a local station on the IND Queens Boulevard Line of the New York City Subway. Located at Sutphin Boulevard and Hillside Avenue in Jamaica, Queens, it is served by the F train at all times.... |
local | April 24, 1937 | |||
| IND Archer Avenue Line merges | |||||
| Briarwood – Van Wyck Boulevard | local | April 24, 1937 | |||
| connecting tracks to Jamaica Yard | |||||
| Kew Gardens – Union Turnpike | all | December 31, 1936 | |||
| 75th Avenue 75th Avenue (IND Queens Boulevard Line) 75th Avenue is a local station on the IND Queens Boulevard Line of the New York City Subway in Forest Hills, Queens... |
local | December 31, 1936 | |||
| connecting tracks to Jamaica Yard; former connection to IND World's Fair Line IND World's Fair Line The World's Fair Railroad was a branch of Independent Subway System of New York City, now the IND division of the New York City Subway, serving the 1939 New York World's Fair... |
|||||
| Forest Hills – 71st Avenue | all | December 31, 1936 | |||
| 67th Avenue 67th Avenue (IND Queens Boulevard Line) 67th Avenue is a local station on the IND Queens Boulevard Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of 67th Avenue and Queens Boulevard in Forest Hills, Queens, it is served by the R train at all times except late nights, when the E train replaces it as the local along Queens... |
local | December 31, 1936 | |||
| 63rd Drive – Rego Park | local | December 31, 1936 | |||
| Woodhaven Boulevard Woodhaven Boulevard (IND Queens Boulevard Line) Woodhaven Boulevard is a local station on the IND Queens Boulevard Line of the New York City Subway. It is served by the R train at all times except late nights, when the E train replaces it as the local along Queens Boulevard... |
local | December 31, 1936 | |||
| Grand Avenue – Newtown | local | December 31, 1936 | |||
| Elmhurst Avenue Elmhurst Avenue (IND Queens Boulevard Line) Elmhurst Avenue is a local station on the IND Queens Boulevard Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Elmhurst Avenue and Broadway in Elmhurst, Queens, it is served by the R train at all times except late nights, when the E train replaces it as the local along Queens... |
local | December 31, 1936 | |||
| Jackson Heights – Roosevelt Avenue | all | August 19, 1933 | IRT Flushing Line IRT Flushing Line The Flushing Line is a rapid transit route of the New York City Subway system, operated as part of the IRT Division and designated the 7 route... at 74th Street – Broadway |
||
| 65th Street 65th Street (IND Queens Boulevard Line) 65th Street is a local station on the IND Queens Boulevard Line of the New York City Subway, located at the intersection of 65th Street and Broadway in Queens. It is served by the R train at all times except late nights, when the E train replaces it... |
local | August 19, 1933 | |||
| express tracks diverge | |||||
| Northern Boulevard Northern Boulevard (IND Queens Boulevard Line) Northern Boulevard is a local station on the IND Queens Boulevard Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Northern Boulevard and Broadway, it is served by the R train at all times except late nights, when the E train replaces it, and the M train weekdays... |
local | August 19, 1933 | |||
| 46th Street 46th Street (IND Queens Boulevard Line) 46th Street is a local station on the IND Queens Boulevard Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of 46th Street and Broadway in Astoria, Queens, it is served by the R train at all times except late nights, the M train weekdays and the E train late nights.This underground... |
local | August 19, 1933 | |||
| Steinway Street Steinway Street (IND Queens Boulevard Line) Steinway Street is a local station on the IND Queens Boulevard Line of the New York City Subway. It is served by the R train at all times except late nights, when the E train replaces it, and the M train weekdays.... |
local | August 19, 1933 | |||
| express tracks rejoin | |||||
| 36th Street 36th Street (IND Queens Boulevard Line) 36th Street is a local station on the IND Queens Boulevard Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of 36th Street and Northern Boulevard in Queens, it is served by the R train at all times except late nights, when the E train replaces it, and the M train weekdays.This... |
local | August 19, 1933 | |||
| IND 63rd Street Line IND 63rd Street Line The IND 63rd Street Line is a rapid transit line of the IND division of the New York City Subway system. It runs from the IND Sixth Avenue Line at 57th Street east under 63rd Street and the East River through the 63rd Street Tunnel to the IND Queens Boulevard Line in Queens... splits |
|||||
| Queens Plaza Queens Plaza (IND Queens Boulevard Line) Queens Plaza is an express station on the IND Queens Boulevard Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the large Queens Plaza interchange, it is served by the E train at all times, by the R train at all times except late nights, and by the M train on weekdays except late nights.While situated... |
all | August 19, 1933 | |||
| local tracks split to IND Crosstown Line IND Crosstown Line -External links:*... and 60th Street Tunnel Connection |
|||||
| Court Square – 23rd Street | express | August 28, 1939 | IND Crosstown Line IND Crosstown Line -External links:*... IRT Flushing Line IRT Flushing Line The Flushing Line is a rapid transit route of the New York City Subway system, operated as part of the IRT Division and designated the 7 route... |
||
| Lexington Avenue – 53rd Street | express | August 19, 1933 | IRT Lexington Avenue Line IRT Lexington Avenue Line The Lexington Avenue Line is one of the lines of the IRT division of the New York City Subway, stretching from Downtown Brooklyn or Lower Manhattan north to 125th Street in East Harlem. The portion in Lower and Midtown Manhattan was part of the first subway line in New York... at 51st Street |
||
| Fifth Avenue / 53rd Street | express | August 19, 1933 | |||
| connection to IND Sixth Avenue Line IND Sixth Avenue Line The Sixth Avenue Line is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway in the United States. It runs mainly under Sixth Avenue in Manhattan, and continues south through the Rutgers Street Tunnel to Brooklyn... splits |
|||||
| Seventh Avenue Seventh Avenue (IND Queens Boulevard Line) Seventh Avenue is a station on the IND Queens Boulevard Line and the IND Sixth Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Seventh Avenue and 53rd Street in Manhattan, it is served by the D and E trains at all times, and the B train weekdays... |
express | August 19, 1933 | IND Sixth Avenue Line IND Sixth Avenue Line The Sixth Avenue Line is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway in the United States. It runs mainly under Sixth Avenue in Manhattan, and continues south through the Rutgers Street Tunnel to Brooklyn... |
||
| * | 50th Street | express | August 19, 1933 | IND Eighth Avenue Line IND Eighth Avenue Line The Eighth Avenue Line is a rapid transit line in New York City, United States, and is part of the B Division of the New York City Subway... (transfer in same direction only) |
|
| merges with IND Eighth Avenue Line IND Eighth Avenue Line The Eighth Avenue Line is a rapid transit line in New York City, United States, and is part of the B Division of the New York City Subway... |
|||||
* southbound only