BMT 63rd Street Line

Not to be confused with IND 63rd Street Line.

63rd Street Line
Legend IND Queens Boulevard Line BMT Astoria Line 21st Street – Queensbridge 63rd Street Tunnel Roosevelt Island Roosevelt Island Tramway 63rd Street Tunnel Second Avenue Subway (future) Lexington Avenue – 63rd Street IRT Lexington Avenue Line IND Sixth Avenue Line BMT Broadway Line

The BMT 63rd Street Line is a rapid transit line of the BMT division of the New York City Subway system. This short line connects the express tracks of the BMT Broadway Line from 57th Street – Seventh Avenue to Lexington Avenue – 63rd Street, where it stub-ends. Two diamond crossovers are located just west of the station on both levels to enable trains to switch between this line and the IND 63rd Street Line, where the F train currently runs.

The line is being continued east towards Second Avenue. It will turn north to connect with the under construction IND Second Avenue Line tracks.

Past service

The BMT 63rd Street line opened on October 29, 1989. It was built for future service options, including a connection to the Second Avenue Subway for service from the Upper East Side to Lower Manhattan.

From May to November 1995, the north side of the Manhattan Bridge was closed for reconstruction and the Q train was routed via Broadway at this time. It used the BMT 63rd Street Line to connect to the IND 63rd Street Line and serve Lexington Avenue, Roosevelt Island, and 21st Street – Queensbridge stations.

During reconstruction on the IND side from February 1998 to May 1999, 63rd Street Shuttle trains operated via this line between 21st Street – Queensbridge and 57th Street – Seventh Avenue, later running further to 34th Street – Herald Square.

Current service

The BMT 63rd Street line is not currently used for regular service, except for detours due to construction or emergencies. The tracks are coded as BMT chaining, tracks G3 and G4 to distinguish them from the pre-existing G1 and G2 tracks associated with the 60th Street Tunnel and Astoria Line.

Planned service

Workers celebrate after the IND Second Avenue Line Tunnel Boring Machine reaches the BMT 63rd Street Line.

MTA plans to extend the Q service under Central Park and eastward to the stop at Lexington Avenue – 63rd Street before turning north at Second Avenue to merge with the under construction Second Avenue Subway. This will create direct service between the Upper East Side and the existing BMT Broadway Line.

The double-decked Lexington Avenue – 63rd Street station will allow cross-platform interchange between the two 63rd Street lines. It is being renovated to remove the walls on the platforms and open a new entrance on the Third Avenue side of the station. East-bound trains to Queens (and later Upper Manhattan) use the lower level; south-bound trains to Midtown and Lower Manhattan use the upper level.

The tunnel boring machine being used to create the Second Avenue Line, broke through the wall into the lower level of the BMT 63rd Street Line on September 22, 2011.

Station listing

Station service legend
	Stops all times
	Stops all times except late nights
	Stops weekdays only
	Stops rush hours in the peak direction only
	Station closed
Time period details

	Station	Services	Opened	Transfers & Notes
Merges with the IND Second Avenue Line (under construction)
	Lexington Avenue – 63rd Street	no regular service	October 29, 1989	The side of the station dedicated to the BMT 63rd Street Line is incomplete. It is under construction and scheduled to open in the late 2010s with Phase 1 the Second Avenue Subway. F  (IND 63rd Street Line) MetroCard transfer to IRT Lexington Avenue Line (4  5  6  <6>) at 59th Street MetroCard transfer to BMT Broadway Line (N  Q  R ) at Lexington Avenue / 59th Street
connecting tracks to IND 63rd Street Line (No Regular service)
Merges with BMT Broadway Line express tracks (no regular service)

External links

• NYCsubway.org - IND 6th Ave/63rd St Line