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 runs all at all times, operating from 179th Street in Jamaica, Queens to Stillwell Avenue in Coney Island, Brooklyn, making all local stops except for an express section in Queens between Forest Hills–71st Avenue and 21st Street–Queensbridge. There is community support for resuming express service along the Culver Line in Brooklyn, where existing express tracks have been unused since the 1980s.[1][2] 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."[3] The F fleet consists of R46s and several R32s. The F train uses the following lines:
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 Houston 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 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.
An R32 F train entering the Avenue P subway station.
Coney Island-bound F train of R46s at Smith-9th Streets
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.
Stations
For a more detailed station listing, see the articles on the lines listed above.
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