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J-Z (New York City Subway service)
Encyclopedia
The J Nassau Street Local and Z Nassau Street Express (earlier Jamaica Express) are two rapid transit
services of the B Division of the New York City Subway
. They are colored brown, since they use the BMT Nassau Street Line
in Lower Manhattan
.
The J runs at all times, while the Z operates only during rush hours in the peak direction; both services use the entire BMT Archer Avenue Line and BMT Jamaica Line
from Jamaica Center – Parsons/Archer in Jamaica, Queens
over the Williamsburg Bridge
to Lower Manhattan. Rush hour service in the peak direction is express west of Myrtle Avenue
, and the J and Z form a skip-stop
pair east of Myrtle Avenue. During weekdays, the J and Z run to the southernmost station on the Nassau Street Line, Broad Street
, but the J is cut back on weekends to Chambers Street. Thus, Broad Street and Fulton Street are the only two stations that are not served full-time
.
west to Broadway Ferry in Williamsburg
. It was then a two-track line, with a single local service between the two ends, and a second east of Gates Avenue
, where the Lexington Avenue Elevated
merged. This second service later became the 12, and was eliminated in 1950 with the abandonment of the Lexington Avenue el.
The second major service on the Broadway Elevated ran between Canarsie
and Williamsburg via the BMT Canarsie Line
, started on July 30, 1906, when the Broadway and Canarsie tracks were connected at East New York. As part of the Dual Contracts, an extension from Cypress Hills east to Jamaica
was completed on July 3, 1918, a third express track was added west of East New York, and express trains began running in 1922.
The Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit Corporation numbered its services in 1924, and the Canarsie and Jamaica services became 14 and 15. Both ran express during rush hours in the peak direction west of East New York, and additional 14 trains, between Eastern Parkway or Atlantic Avenue
on the Canarsie Line and Manhattan provided rush-hour local service on Broadway. When the 14th Street–Eastern Line and Canarsie Line were connected on July 14, 1928, the old Canarsie Line service was renamed the Broadway (Brooklyn) Line, providing only weekday local service over the Broadway Elevated west of Eastern Parkway. The Atlantic Avenue
trips remained, and rush-hour trains continued to serve Rockaway Parkway (Canarsie), though they did not use the Broadway express tracks. The 14 was later cut back to only rush-hour service.
On the Manhattan end, the first extension was made on September 16, 1908, when the Williamsburg Bridge subway tracks opened. Broadway and Canarsie trains were extended to the new Essex Street terminal, and further to Chambers Street when the line was extended on August 4, 1913. When the BMT Nassau Street Line
was completed on May 30, 1931, the 15 was extended to Broad Street
, and the 14 was truncated to Canal Street. Some 14 trains began terminating at Crescent Street
on the Jamaica Line in 1956.
Inbound rush hour skip-stop
service between Jamaica and East New York was implemented on June 18, 1959. Express 15 trains served "A" stations, while the morning 14 became the Jamaica Local, running between Jamaica and Canal Street, and stopped at stations marked "B". These stations were as follows:
Letters were assigned to most BMT services in the early 1960s. The 15 became the J (express) and JJ (local), and the 14 became the KK.
opened on November 26, 1967, many services were changed. The two local services - the JJ (non-rush hours) and KK (rush hours) - were combined as the JJ, but without any major routing changes. Thus non-rush hour JJ trains ran between Jamaica and Broad Street, while morning rush hour JJ trains ran to Canal Street, and afternoon rush hour JJ trains ran between Canal Street and Atlantic Avenue or Crescent Street. The rush-hour express J was combined with the weekday Brighton Local via tunnel to form the weekday QJ, running between Jamaica and Brighton Beach
via the Jamaica Line (express during rush hours in the peak direction), BMT Nassau Street Line
, Montague Street Tunnel
, and BMT Brighton Line
(local). Finally, the was a special peak-direction rush-hour service, running fully local on the Jamaica Line, Nassau Street Line, Montague Street Tunnel, and BMT Fourth Avenue Line
to 95th Street in Fort Hamilton
. This was an extension of a former rush-hour service, and thus ran towards Jamaica in the morning and towards Fort Hamilton in the afternoon.
The next change was made on July 1, 1968, when the Chrystie Street Connection tracks to the Williamsburg Bridge opened. The Jamaica Line portion of the rush-hour JJ was modified to become a new rush-hour KK, running between Jamaica (peak direction) or Eastern Parkway (both directions) and the new 57th Street
station on the IND Sixth Avenue Line
in Manhattan. The was eliminated, being cut back to an RR variant, and the off-hour JJ was relabeled QJ (but not extended to Brighton Beach). At the same time, the existing skip-stop service was extended to afternoon Jamaica-bound trains, with those QJ trains running express west of Eastern Parkway and service "A" stations east to Jamaica, and those KK trains serving "B" stations. Less than two months later, on August 18, the QJ was extended to Coney Island – Stillwell Avenue.
These new services were slowly eliminated in the 1970s due to financial problems. First, on January 2, 1973, the QJ was cut back full-time to Broad Street and renamed the J; the was extended to Coney Island in its place. At the same time, the KK was cut back to Eastern Parkway and renamed the K, and both skip-stop patterns were carried out by alternate J trains. But that was not enough; the K was discontinued on August 30, 1976, eliminating the J skip-stop and express service east of Myrtle Avenue
. (One-way express service remained west of Myrtle Avenue, since the M was switched to the local tracks at that time.)
The following table summarizes the changes that were made between 1959 and 1976.
The J was truncated to Queens Boulevard
just after midnight on September 11, 1977, and to 121st Street
on April 15, 1985, concurrent with the cutting-back of the Jamaica Line. The BMT Archer Avenue Line (subway section in Jamaica, Queens
) opened on December 11, 1988, extending the line back east from 121st Street, and the present J/Z skip-stop pattern was implemented.
In 1990, weekend service terminated at Canal Street, but was then extended back to Chambers Street in 1994.
From April 30 to September 1, 1999, the Williamsburg Bridge
was closed for reconstruction. J trains ran only between Jamaica Center – Parsons Archer and Myrtle Avenue. J/Z skip-stop service was in both directions between Jamaica Center and Eastern Parkway-Broadway Junction.
After September 11, 2001, service was suspended. J trains were extended beyond Broad Street via the Montague Street Tunnel
to replace the to Bay Ridge – 95th Street at all times except late nights, when it only ran to Broad Street and a shuttle ran in Brooklyn between 95th and 36th Streets
. J/Z skip-stop service was suspended. Normal service on all three trains was restored on October 28.
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
services of the B Division of the New York City Subway
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...
. They are colored brown, since they use the BMT Nassau Street Line
BMT Nassau Street Line
The BMT Nassau Street Line is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway system in Manhattan. It is served by the and trains which are colored brown on maps and signage...
in Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan is the southernmost part of the island of Manhattan, the main island and center of business and government of the City of New York...
.
The J runs at all times, while the Z operates only during rush hours in the peak direction; both services use the entire BMT Archer Avenue Line and BMT Jamaica Line
BMT Jamaica Line
The Jamaica Line is an elevated rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway, in Brooklyn and Queens, New York City, United States. It runs from the Williamsburg Bridge southeast over Broadway to East New York, Brooklyn, and then east over Fulton Street and Jamaica Avenue to...
from Jamaica Center – Parsons/Archer in Jamaica, Queens
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"...
over the Williamsburg Bridge
Williamsburg Bridge
The Williamsburg Bridge is a suspension bridge in New York City across the East River connecting the Lower East Side of Manhattan at Delancey Street with the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn at Broadway near the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway...
to Lower Manhattan. Rush hour service in the peak direction is express west of Myrtle Avenue
Myrtle Avenue (BMT Jamaica Line)
Myrtle Avenue is a two-level express station on the BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway...
, and the J and Z form a skip-stop
Skip-stop
Skip-stop is a public transit service pattern which reduces travel times and increases capacity by not having all vehicles make all designated stops along a route. Skip-stops are used in both rail transit and bus transit operations.-Rail operation:...
pair east of Myrtle Avenue. During weekdays, the J and Z run to the southernmost station on the Nassau Street Line, Broad Street
Broad Street (BMT Nassau Street Line)
Broad Street is a station on the BMT Nassau Street Line of the New York City Subway located at the intersection of Broad and Wall Streets in the Financial District of Manhattan....
, but the J is cut back on weekends to Chambers Street. Thus, Broad Street and Fulton Street are the only two stations that are not served full-time
24/7
24/7 is an abbreviation which stands for "24 hours a day, 7 days a week", usually referring to a business or service available at all times without interruption...
.
History
Before the Chrystie Street Connection
The Jamaica Line – then known as the Broadway Elevated – was one of the original elevated lines in Brooklyn, completed in 1893 from Cypress HillsCypress Hills (BMT Jamaica Line)
Cypress Hills is a skip-stop station on the BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway, located on Jamaica Avenue in the Cypress Hills neighborhood of northeastern Brooklyn. It is served by the J train at all times. The Z train bypasses when it operates.This is the northernmost station in...
west to Broadway Ferry in Williamsburg
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Williamsburg is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, bordering Greenpoint to the north, Bedford-Stuyvesant to the south, Bushwick to the east and the East River to the west. The neighborhood is part of Brooklyn Community Board 1. The neighborhood is served by the NYPD's 90th ...
. It was then a two-track line, with a single local service between the two ends, and a second east of Gates Avenue
Gates Avenue (BMT Jamaica Line)
Gates Avenue is a skip-stop station on the elevated BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway, located at the intersection of Gates Avenue and Broadway in Bushwick, Brooklyn...
, where the Lexington Avenue Elevated
BMT Lexington Avenue Line
The Lexington Avenue Elevated was the first standard elevated railway in Brooklyn, New York, operated in its later days by the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company, the Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation, and then the City of New York.The original line, as it existed at the end of 1885, traveled...
merged. This second service later became the 12, and was eliminated in 1950 with the abandonment of the Lexington Avenue el.
The second major service on the Broadway Elevated ran between Canarsie
Canarsie, Brooklyn
Canarsie is a neighborhood in the southeastern portion of the borough of Brooklyn, in New York City, United States. The area is part of Brooklyn Community Board 18....
and Williamsburg via the BMT Canarsie Line
BMT Canarsie Line
The Canarsie Line is a rapid transit line of the BMT Division of the New York City Subway system, named after its terminus in the Canarsie neighborhood of Brooklyn...
, started on July 30, 1906, when the Broadway and Canarsie tracks were connected at East New York. As part of the Dual Contracts, an extension from Cypress Hills east 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"...
was completed on July 3, 1918, a third express track was added west of East New York, and express trains began running in 1922.
The Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit Corporation numbered its services in 1924, and the Canarsie and Jamaica services became 14 and 15. Both ran express during rush hours in the peak direction west of East New York, and additional 14 trains, between Eastern Parkway or Atlantic Avenue
Atlantic Avenue (BMT Canarsie Line)
Atlantic Avenue is a rapid transit station on the BMT Canarsie Line, a part of the New York City Subway system. Built in 1916, it was reconfigured in 2002–04. This station is a good example of the Dual Contracts architecture. Much of the period woodwork and ironwork is intact. The fare control...
on the Canarsie Line and Manhattan provided rush-hour local service on Broadway. When the 14th Street–Eastern Line and Canarsie Line were connected on July 14, 1928, the old Canarsie Line service was renamed the Broadway (Brooklyn) Line, providing only weekday local service over the Broadway Elevated west of Eastern Parkway. The Atlantic Avenue
Atlantic Avenue (BMT Canarsie Line)
Atlantic Avenue is a rapid transit station on the BMT Canarsie Line, a part of the New York City Subway system. Built in 1916, it was reconfigured in 2002–04. This station is a good example of the Dual Contracts architecture. Much of the period woodwork and ironwork is intact. The fare control...
trips remained, and rush-hour trains continued to serve Rockaway Parkway (Canarsie), though they did not use the Broadway express tracks. The 14 was later cut back to only rush-hour service.
On the Manhattan end, the first extension was made on September 16, 1908, when the Williamsburg Bridge subway tracks opened. Broadway and Canarsie trains were extended to the new Essex Street terminal, and further to Chambers Street when the line was extended on August 4, 1913. When the BMT Nassau Street Line
BMT Nassau Street Line
The BMT Nassau Street Line is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway system in Manhattan. It is served by the and trains which are colored brown on maps and signage...
was completed on May 30, 1931, the 15 was extended to Broad Street
Broad Street (BMT Nassau Street Line)
Broad Street is a station on the BMT Nassau Street Line of the New York City Subway located at the intersection of Broad and Wall Streets in the Financial District of Manhattan....
, and the 14 was truncated to Canal Street. Some 14 trains began terminating at Crescent Street
Crescent Street (BMT Jamaica Line)
Crescent Street is a skip-stop station on the BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Crescent and Fulton Streets in Brooklyn, it is served by the J train at all times, and the Z train during rush hours in the peak direction. It has two tracks and one island...
on the Jamaica Line in 1956.
Skip-stop
Skip-stop is a public transit service pattern which reduces travel times and increases capacity by not having all vehicles make all designated stops along a route. Skip-stops are used in both rail transit and bus transit operations.-Rail operation:...
service between Jamaica and East New York was implemented on June 18, 1959. Express 15 trains served "A" stations, while the morning 14 became the Jamaica Local, running between Jamaica and Canal Street, and stopped at stations marked "B". These stations were as follows:
- All trains: 168th Street168th Street (BMT Jamaica Line)168th Street was a station on the demolished section of the BMT Jamaica Line. It had 2 tracks and 1 island platform This station was built as part of the Dual Contracts. It opened December 12, 1916, seventeen years after the closing of Canal Street Station along the Atlantic Avenue Rapid Transit...
• Sutphin BoulevardSutphin Boulevard (BMT Jamaica Line)Sutphin Boulevard was a station on the demolished section of the BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway. It had 2 tracks and 2 side platforms, with space for a 3rd track in the center. This station was built as part of the Dual Contracts. It opened December 12, 1916, and closed on September...
• 75th Street – Elderts Lane • Broadway Junction - "A" stations: 168th Street168th Street (BMT Jamaica Line)168th Street was a station on the demolished section of the BMT Jamaica Line. It had 2 tracks and 1 island platform This station was built as part of the Dual Contracts. It opened December 12, 1916, seventeen years after the closing of Canal Street Station along the Atlantic Avenue Rapid Transit...
• Sutphin BoulevardSutphin Boulevard (BMT Jamaica Line)Sutphin Boulevard was a station on the demolished section of the BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway. It had 2 tracks and 2 side platforms, with space for a 3rd track in the center. This station was built as part of the Dual Contracts. It opened December 12, 1916, and closed on September...
• 121st Street121st Street (BMT Jamaica Line)121st Street is a skip-stop station on the elevated BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of 121st Street and Jamaica Avenue in Queens, it is served by the Z train during rush hours in the peak direction, and by the J train at all other times.The station has two...
• 111th Street111th Street (BMT Jamaica Line)111th Street is a skip-stop station on the BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of 111th Street and Jamaica Avenue in Richmond Hill, Queens, it is served at all times by the J train. The Z train bypasses the station when it operates.This elevated station, opened...
• Woodhaven BoulevardWoodhaven Boulevard (BMT Jamaica Line)Woodhaven Boulevard is a skip-stop station on the BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway, located in Woodhaven, Queens. It is served by J train at all times and the Z train during rush hours in the peak direction....
• 85th Street – Forest Parkway • 75th Street – Elderts Lane • Crescent StreetCrescent Street (BMT Jamaica Line)Crescent Street is a skip-stop station on the BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Crescent and Fulton Streets in Brooklyn, it is served by the J train at all times, and the Z train during rush hours in the peak direction. It has two tracks and one island...
• Cleveland StreetCleveland Street (BMT Jamaica Line)Cleveland Street is a rehabilitated skip-stop station on the BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway in Brooklyn. The J train serves this station at all times, while the Z train bypasses when it operates. The small mezzanine is at the south end on platform level. It has wooden floors and walls...
• Broadway Junction - "B" stations: 168th Street168th Street (BMT Jamaica Line)168th Street was a station on the demolished section of the BMT Jamaica Line. It had 2 tracks and 1 island platform This station was built as part of the Dual Contracts. It opened December 12, 1916, seventeen years after the closing of Canal Street Station along the Atlantic Avenue Rapid Transit...
• 160th Street160th Street (BMT Jamaica Line)160th Street was a station on the demolished section of the BMT Jamaica Line. It had 3 tracks and 2 side platforms. This station was built as part of the Dual Contracts. It opened December 12, 1916, and closed on September 10, 1977. The next stop to the north was 168th Street. The next stop to the...
• Sutphin BoulevardSutphin Boulevard (BMT Jamaica Line)Sutphin Boulevard was a station on the demolished section of the BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway. It had 2 tracks and 2 side platforms, with space for a 3rd track in the center. This station was built as part of the Dual Contracts. It opened December 12, 1916, and closed on September...
• Queens BoulevardQueens Boulevard (BMT Jamaica Line)Queens Boulevard was a station on the demolished section of the BMT Jamaica Line. It had 2 tracks and 2 side platforms, with space for a 3rd track in the center. This station was built as part of the Dual Contracts. It opened December 12, 1916. The next stop to the north was Sutphin Boulevard. The...
• Metropolitan AvenueMetropolitan Avenue (BMT Jamaica Line)Metropolitan Avenue was a station on the demolished section of the BMT Jamaica Line. It had 2 tracks and 2 side platforms, with space for a 3rd track in the center. This station was built as part of the Dual Contracts. It opened December 12, 1916, and closed on April 15, 1985. The next stop to the...
• 104th Street104th Street (BMT Jamaica Line)104th Street is a skip-stop station on the BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway, located on Jamaica Avenue between 102nd and 104th Streets. The south exit at 102nd Street is closed, but the mezzanine and the stairs to the street and platforms are still present...
• 75th Street – Elderts Lane • Cypress HillsCypress Hills (BMT Jamaica Line)Cypress Hills is a skip-stop station on the BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway, located on Jamaica Avenue in the Cypress Hills neighborhood of northeastern Brooklyn. It is served by the J train at all times. The Z train bypasses when it operates.This is the northernmost station in...
• Norwood AvenueNorwood Avenue (BMT Jamaica Line)Norwood Avenue is a skip-stop station on the BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Norwood Avenue and Fulton Street in Cypress Hills, Brooklyn, it is served by the Z train during rush hours in peak direction and the J at all other times.This elevated station,...
• Van Siclen AvenueVan Siclen Avenue (BMT Jamaica Line)Van Siclen Avenue is a skip-stop station on the BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Fulton Street and Van Siclen Avenue in Brooklyn, it is served by the Z train during rush hours in the peak direction, and by the J train other times.This station was...
• Alabama AvenueAlabama Avenue (BMT Jamaica Line)Alabama Avenue is a skip-stop station on the BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Alabama Avenue and Fulton Street in East New York, Brooklyn, it is served by the J train at all times while the Z train bypasses it when it operates.This elevated station,...
• Broadway Junction
Letters were assigned to most BMT services in the early 1960s. The 15 became the J (express) and JJ (local), and the 14 became the KK.
Chrystie Street Connection to 1976
When the Chrystie Street ConnectionChrystie Street Connection
The Chrystie Street Connection is a major connecting line of the New York City Subway, and is one of the few connections between lines of the BMT and IND divisions...
opened on November 26, 1967, many services were changed. The two local services - the JJ (non-rush hours) and KK (rush hours) - were combined as the JJ, but without any major routing changes. Thus non-rush hour JJ trains ran between Jamaica and Broad Street, while morning rush hour JJ trains ran to Canal Street, and afternoon rush hour JJ trains ran between Canal Street and Atlantic Avenue or Crescent Street. The rush-hour express J was combined with the weekday Brighton Local via tunnel to form the weekday QJ, running between Jamaica and Brighton Beach
Brighton Beach (BMT Brighton Line)
Brighton Beach is an express/terminal station on the BMT Brighton Line of the New York City Subway. It is located over Brighton Beach Avenue at Brighton Sixth Street in the community of Brighton Beach on Coney Island in Brooklyn.- Description:...
via the Jamaica Line (express during rush hours in the peak direction), BMT Nassau Street Line
BMT Nassau Street Line
The BMT Nassau Street Line is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway system in Manhattan. It is served by the and trains which are colored brown on maps and signage...
, Montague Street Tunnel
Montague Street Tunnel
The Montague Street Tunnel carries the trains of the New York City Subway under the East River between the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. It opened to revenue service on Sunday, August 1, 1920 at 2 am with a holiday schedule, the same day as the 60th Street Tunnel. Regular service began...
, and BMT Brighton Line
BMT Brighton Line
The BMT Brighton Line is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway in Brooklyn, New York City, United States. Local service is provided at all times by the Q train. The Q is joined by the B express train on weekdays...
(local). Finally, the was a special peak-direction rush-hour service, running fully local on the Jamaica Line, Nassau Street Line, Montague Street Tunnel, and BMT Fourth Avenue Line
BMT Fourth Avenue Line
The Fourth Avenue Line is a rapid transit line of the BMT division of the New York City Subway, mainly running under Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn. Fourth Avenue never had a streetcar line or elevated railway due to the provisions of the assessment charged to neighboring property owners when the street...
to 95th Street in Fort Hamilton
Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn
Fort Hamilton is a neighborhood in the far southwestern corner of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. It is located south of, and often considered part of, Bay Ridge. The area stretches from 86th Street as its northern border to 101st Street/the Narrows at the south; it is bounded by New York...
. This was an extension of a former rush-hour service, and thus ran towards Jamaica in the morning and towards Fort Hamilton in the afternoon.
The next change was made on July 1, 1968, when the Chrystie Street Connection tracks to the Williamsburg Bridge opened. The Jamaica Line portion of the rush-hour JJ was modified to become a new rush-hour KK, running between Jamaica (peak direction) or Eastern Parkway (both directions) and the new 57th Street
57th Street (IND Sixth Avenue Line)
57th Street is a station on the IND Sixth Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of 57th Street and Sixth Avenue in Manhattan, it is served by the F train at all times...
station on 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...
in Manhattan. The was eliminated, being cut back to an RR variant, and the off-hour JJ was relabeled QJ (but not extended to Brighton Beach). At the same time, the existing skip-stop service was extended to afternoon Jamaica-bound trains, with those QJ trains running express west of Eastern Parkway and service "A" stations east to Jamaica, and those KK trains serving "B" stations. Less than two months later, on August 18, the QJ was extended to Coney Island – Stillwell Avenue.
These new services were slowly eliminated in the 1970s due to financial problems. First, on January 2, 1973, the QJ was cut back full-time to Broad Street and renamed the J; the was extended to Coney Island in its place. At the same time, the KK was cut back to Eastern Parkway and renamed the K, and both skip-stop patterns were carried out by alternate J trains. But that was not enough; the K was discontinued on August 30, 1976, eliminating the J skip-stop and express service east of Myrtle Avenue
Myrtle Avenue (BMT Jamaica Line)
Myrtle Avenue is a two-level express station on the BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway...
. (One-way express service remained west of Myrtle Avenue, since the M was switched to the local tracks at that time.)
The following table summarizes the changes that were made between 1959 and 1976.
| Morning rush-hour local | Morning rush-hour express | Afternoon rush-hour local | Afternoon rush-hour express | Other local | Other service | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959–67 | 14/KK 168th Street - Canal Street, "B" stops inbound | 15/J 168th Street - Broad Street, "A" stops inbound | 14/KK Crescent Street, Atlantic Avenue, or Rockaway Parkway - Canal Street | 15/J 168th Street - Broad Street | 15/JJ 168th Street - Broad Street | |
| 1967–68 | JJ 168th Street - Canal Street, "B" stops inbound | QJ 168th Street - Brighton Beach, "A" stops inbound | JJ Crescent Street or Atlantic Avenue - Canal Street | QJ 168th Street - Brighton Beach | JJ 168th Street - Broad Street QJ 168th Street - Brighton Beach, middays and early evenings |
RJ 168th Street - Brooklyn, rush hour non-peak direction only |
| 1968–1973 | KK 168th Street - 57th Street, "B" stops inbound | QJ 168th Street - Brooklyn, "A" stops inbound | KK 168th Street - 57th Street, "B" stops outbound | QJ 168th Street - Brooklyn, "A" stops outbound | QJ 168th Street - Broad Street or Brooklyn | |
| 1973–1976 | K Eastern Parkway - 57th Street | J 168th Street - Broad Street, two inbound patterns, one for "A" stops and one for "B" stops | K Eastern Parkway - 57th Street | J 168th Street - Broad Street, two outbound patterns, one for "A" stops and one for "B" stops | J 168th Street - Broad Street |
1976 to present
Queens Boulevard (BMT Jamaica Line)
Queens Boulevard was a station on the demolished section of the BMT Jamaica Line. It had 2 tracks and 2 side platforms, with space for a 3rd track in the center. This station was built as part of the Dual Contracts. It opened December 12, 1916. The next stop to the north was Sutphin Boulevard. The...
just after midnight on September 11, 1977, and to 121st Street
121st Street (BMT Jamaica Line)
121st Street is a skip-stop station on the elevated BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of 121st Street and Jamaica Avenue in Queens, it is served by the Z train during rush hours in the peak direction, and by the J train at all other times.The station has two...
on April 15, 1985, concurrent with the cutting-back of the Jamaica Line. The BMT Archer Avenue Line (subway section in Jamaica, Queens
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"...
) opened on December 11, 1988, extending the line back east from 121st Street, and the present J/Z skip-stop pattern was implemented.
In 1990, weekend service terminated at Canal Street, but was then extended back to Chambers Street in 1994.
From April 30 to September 1, 1999, the Williamsburg Bridge
Williamsburg Bridge
The Williamsburg Bridge is a suspension bridge in New York City across the East River connecting the Lower East Side of Manhattan at Delancey Street with the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn at Broadway near the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway...
was closed for reconstruction. J trains ran only between Jamaica Center – Parsons Archer and Myrtle Avenue. J/Z skip-stop service was in both directions between Jamaica Center and Eastern Parkway-Broadway Junction.
After September 11, 2001, service was suspended. J trains were extended beyond Broad Street via the Montague Street Tunnel
Montague Street Tunnel
The Montague Street Tunnel carries the trains of the New York City Subway under the East River between the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. It opened to revenue service on Sunday, August 1, 1920 at 2 am with a holiday schedule, the same day as the 60th Street Tunnel. Regular service began...
to replace the to Bay Ridge – 95th Street at all times except late nights, when it only ran to Broad Street and a shuttle ran in Brooklyn between 95th and 36th Streets
36th Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)
36th Street is an express station on the BMT Fourth Avenue Line of the New York City Subway, located at 36th Street and Fourth Avenue in Sunset Park, Brooklyn....
. J/Z skip-stop service was suspended. Normal service on all three trains was restored on October 28.
Service pattern
The following table shows the lines used by the J and Z services, with shaded boxes indicating the route at the specified times:| Line | From | To | Tracks | Times | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||||||
| week days |
even- ings |
week- ends |
rush peak |
rush peak |
||||
| BMT Archer Avenue Line Archer Avenue Line -BMT Archer Avenue Line :-IND Archer Avenue Line :-References:... |
Jamaica Center | Sutphin Boulevard | all | |||||
| BMT Jamaica Line BMT Jamaica Line The Jamaica Line is an elevated rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway, in Brooklyn and Queens, New York City, United States. It runs from the Williamsburg Bridge southeast over Broadway to East New York, Brooklyn, and then east over Fulton Street and Jamaica Avenue to... |
121st Street 121st Street (BMT Jamaica Line) 121st Street is a skip-stop station on the elevated BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of 121st Street and Jamaica Avenue in Queens, it is served by the Z train during rush hours in the peak direction, and by the J train at all other times.The station has two... |
Myrtle Avenue Myrtle Avenue (BMT Jamaica Line) Myrtle Avenue is a two-level express station on the BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway... |
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| BMT Jamaica Line BMT Jamaica Line The Jamaica Line is an elevated rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway, in Brooklyn and Queens, New York City, United States. It runs from the Williamsburg Bridge southeast over Broadway to East New York, Brooklyn, and then east over Fulton Street and Jamaica Avenue to... |
Myrtle Avenue Myrtle Avenue (BMT Jamaica Line) Myrtle Avenue is a two-level express station on the BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway... |
Marcy Avenue Marcy Avenue (BMT Jamaica Line) Marcy Avenue is a station on the BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Marcy Avenue and Broadway in Brooklyn, it is served by the J train at all times, the M train on weekdays, and the Z train during rush hours in the peak direction.- History :Marcy Avenue... |
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| Williamsburg Bridge Williamsburg Bridge The Williamsburg Bridge is a suspension bridge in New York City across the East River connecting the Lower East Side of Manhattan at Delancey Street with the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn at Broadway near the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway... |
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| BMT Nassau Street Line BMT Nassau Street Line The BMT Nassau Street Line is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway system in Manhattan. It is served by the and trains which are colored brown on maps and signage... |
Essex Street | Chambers Street | ||||||
| Chambers Street | Broad Street Broad Street (BMT Nassau Street Line) Broad Street is a station on the BMT Nassau Street Line of the New York City Subway located at the intersection of Broad and Wall Streets in the Financial District of Manhattan.... |
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Stations
For a more detailed station listing, see the articles on the lines listed above.| |
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| 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.... |
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| Jamaica Center – Parsons / Archer | |||||
| Sutphin Boulevard – Archer Avenue – JFK Airport | AirTrain JFK AirTrain JFK AirTrain JFK is a 3-line, -long people mover system and elevated railway in New York City providing service to John F. Kennedy International Airport... LIRR Long Island Rail Road The Long Island Rail Road or LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of Long Island, New York. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving about 81.5 million passengers each year. Established in 1834 and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US... at Jamaica Jamaica (LIRR station) Jamaica is a major hub station of the Long Island Rail Road, and is located in Jamaica, Queens, New York City. It is the largest transit hub on Long Island and is one of the busiest railroad stations in the country with over 200,000 daily passengers... |
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| 121st Street 121st Street (BMT Jamaica Line) 121st Street is a skip-stop station on the elevated BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of 121st Street and Jamaica Avenue in Queens, it is served by the Z train during rush hours in the peak direction, and by the J train at all other times.The station has two... |
Q10 bus to JFK Int'l Airport John F. Kennedy International Airport John F. Kennedy International Airport is an international airport located in the borough of Queens in New York City, about southeast of Lower Manhattan. It is the busiest international air passenger gateway to the United States, handling more international traffic than any other airport in North... |
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| 111th Street 111th Street (BMT Jamaica Line) 111th Street is a skip-stop station on the BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of 111th Street and Jamaica Avenue in Richmond Hill, Queens, it is served at all times by the J train. The Z train bypasses the station when it operates.This elevated station, opened... |
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| 104th Street 104th Street (BMT Jamaica Line) 104th Street is a skip-stop station on the BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway, located on Jamaica Avenue between 102nd and 104th Streets. The south exit at 102nd Street is closed, but the mezzanine and the stairs to the street and platforms are still present... |
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| Woodhaven Boulevard Woodhaven Boulevard (BMT Jamaica Line) Woodhaven Boulevard is a skip-stop station on the BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway, located in Woodhaven, Queens. It is served by J train at all times and the Z train during rush hours in the peak direction.... |
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| 75th Street – Elderts Lane | |||||
| Brooklyn Brooklyn Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated... |
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| Cypress Hills Cypress Hills (BMT Jamaica Line) Cypress Hills is a skip-stop station on the BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway, located on Jamaica Avenue in the Cypress Hills neighborhood of northeastern Brooklyn. It is served by the J train at all times. The Z train bypasses when it operates.This is the northernmost station in... |
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| Crescent Street Crescent Street (BMT Jamaica Line) Crescent Street is a skip-stop station on the BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Crescent and Fulton Streets in Brooklyn, it is served by the J train at all times, and the Z train during rush hours in the peak direction. It has two tracks and one island... |
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| Norwood Avenue Norwood Avenue (BMT Jamaica Line) Norwood Avenue is a skip-stop station on the BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Norwood Avenue and Fulton Street in Cypress Hills, Brooklyn, it is served by the Z train during rush hours in peak direction and the J at all other times.This elevated station,... |
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| Cleveland Street Cleveland Street (BMT Jamaica Line) Cleveland Street is a rehabilitated skip-stop station on the BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway in Brooklyn. The J train serves this station at all times, while the Z train bypasses when it operates. The small mezzanine is at the south end on platform level. It has wooden floors and walls... |
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| Van Siclen Avenue Van Siclen Avenue (BMT Jamaica Line) Van Siclen Avenue is a skip-stop station on the BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Fulton Street and Van Siclen Avenue in Brooklyn, it is served by the Z train during rush hours in the peak direction, and by the J train other times.This station was... |
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| Alabama Avenue Alabama Avenue (BMT Jamaica Line) Alabama Avenue is a skip-stop station on the BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Alabama Avenue and Fulton Street in East New York, Brooklyn, it is served by the J train at all times while the Z train bypasses it when it operates.This elevated station,... |
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| Broadway Junction | (IND Fulton Street Line IND Fulton Street Line The IND Fulton Street Line is a rapid transit line of the IND Division of the New York City Subway, extending from the Cranberry Street Tunnel under the East River through all of central Brooklyn to a terminus in Ozone Park, Queens. The IND Rockaway Line branches from it. It forms part of the A... ) (BMT Canarsie Line BMT Canarsie Line The Canarsie Line is a rapid transit line of the BMT Division of the New York City Subway system, named after its terminus in the Canarsie neighborhood of Brooklyn... ) |
LIRR Long Island Rail Road The Long Island Rail Road or LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of Long Island, New York. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving about 81.5 million passengers each year. Established in 1834 and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US... Atlantic Branch at East New York East New York (LIRR station) East New York is a station on the Long Island Rail Road's Atlantic Branch in East New York, Brooklyn, where that branch passes through the historic Jamaica Pass. It is located at ground level, in the median of Atlantic Avenue, and underneath the elevated main lanes of Atlantic Avenue, with one side... . Northern terminal for some rush hour trains |
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| Chauncey Street Chauncey Street (BMT Jamaica Line) Chauncey Street is a renovated skip-stop station on the BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Chauncey Street and Broadway in Brooklyn, it is served by the Z train during rush hours in the peak direction and the J train at all other times... |
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| Halsey Street Halsey Street (BMT Jamaica Line) Halsey Street is a skip-stop station on the BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway. It is served at all times by the J train. The Z train bypasses this station when it operates... |
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| Gates Avenue Gates Avenue (BMT Jamaica Line) Gates Avenue is a skip-stop station on the elevated BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway, located at the intersection of Gates Avenue and Broadway in Bushwick, Brooklyn... |
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| Kosciuszko Street Kosciuszko Street (BMT Jamaica Line) Kosciuszko Street is a skip-stop station on the BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway. It is served at all times by the J train. The Z train bypasses this station when it operates... |
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| Myrtle Avenue Myrtle Avenue (BMT Jamaica Line) Myrtle Avenue is a two-level express station on the BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway... |
B15 bus to JFK Airport John F. Kennedy International Airport John F. Kennedy International Airport is an international airport located in the borough of Queens in New York City, about southeast of Lower Manhattan. It is the busiest international air passenger gateway to the United States, handling more international traffic than any other airport in North... |
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| Flushing Avenue Flushing Avenue (BMT Jamaica Line) Flushing Avenue is a local station on the BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Flushing Avenue and Broadway in Brooklyn, it is served by the J train at all times except rush hours and middays in the peak direction and the M at all times except weekends and... |
B15 bus to JFK Airport John F. Kennedy International Airport John F. Kennedy International Airport is an international airport located in the borough of Queens in New York City, about southeast of Lower Manhattan. It is the busiest international air passenger gateway to the United States, handling more international traffic than any other airport in North... |
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| Lorimer Street Lorimer Street (BMT Jamaica Line) Lorimer Street is a local station on the BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Lorimer Street and Broadway in Brooklyn, it is served by the J train at all times except weekdays in the peak direction and the M at all times except late nights and weekends... |
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| Hewes Street Hewes Street (BMT Jamaica Line) Hewes Street is a local station on the BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Hewes Street and Broadway in Brooklyn, it is served by the J train at all times except weekdays in peak direction and the M train weekdays... |
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| Marcy Avenue Marcy Avenue (BMT Jamaica Line) Marcy Avenue is a station on the BMT Jamaica Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Marcy Avenue and Broadway in Brooklyn, it is served by the J train at all times, the M train on weekdays, and the Z train during rush hours in the peak direction.- History :Marcy Avenue... |
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| 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... |
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| Essex Street | (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... at Delancey Street) |
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| Bowery Bowery (BMT Nassau Street Line) Bowery is a station on the BMT Nassau Street Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of the Bowery and Delancey Street in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, it is served by the J train at all times and the Z train during rush hours in peak direction.Construction of this... |
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| Canal Street | (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... ) (BMT Broadway Line BMT Broadway Line The BMT Broadway Line is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway in Manhattan, New York City, United States. , it is served by three services, all colored yellow: the on the express tracks and the on the local tracks... ) |
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| Chambers Street | (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 Brooklyn Bridge – City Hall) |
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| Fulton Street | (IRT Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line) (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... ) (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... ) |
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| Broad Street Broad Street (BMT Nassau Street Line) Broad Street is a station on the BMT Nassau Street Line of the New York City Subway located at the intersection of Broad and Wall Streets in the Financial District of Manhattan.... |
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External links
- MTA NYC Transit – J Nassau Street Express
- MTA NYC Transit – Z Nassau Street Express – Effective June 26, 2011