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The New York City Subway system has 25 numbered or lettered route designations.

*The 1, C, G, L, M, R, and W trains are fully local, making all stops.

*The 2, 3, 4, 5, A, B, D, E, F, N, and Q trains have portions of express and local service.

*The J train normally serves all stops, but during rush hours, it is joined by the Z train in the peak direction. Both run skip-stop or express on different parts of their shared route.

*The 6 and 7 trains are fully local, but during rush hours, express variants of the routes, designated by diamond-shaped route markers, are operated alongside the locals.

*The letter S is used for three shuttle services: the Rockaway Park Shuttle, Franklin Avenue Shuttle, and 42nd Street Shuttle.

Due to the subway operating 24 hours a day, there are five different service patterns. These are rush hour, midday, evening, weekend, and night service patterns.

Time periods[]

The New York City Subway is one of the few subways worldwide operating 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. The schedule is divided into different periods of time, with each containing different operation patterns and train intervals.

The schedule is divided into different periods of time, with each containing different operation patterns and train intervals.

The MTA defines time periods as follows; these are used in articles (sometimes abbreviated by numbers in superscript or the symbol indicated):

  • 1) rush hours - 6:00 to 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday

1a) rush hours in the peak direction (toward Manhattan in the morning between 6:00 and 10:30 a.m., away from Manhattan between 3:30 and 8:00 p.m.), Monday through Friday

  • 2) middays - 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

2a) middays in the peak direction - 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

  • 3) evenings - 8:00 p.m. to 12 midnight, Monday through Friday

3a) early evenings - 8:00 to 10:00 p.m., Monday through Friday

3b) evenings in the peak direction - 8:00 to 10:00 p.m., Monday through Friday

  • 4) weekends - 6:00 a.m. to 12 midnight, Saturday or 8:00 a.m. to 12 midnight, Sunday
  • 5) overnights - 12 midnight to 6:00 a.m., Monday through Saturday or 12 midnight to 8:00 a.m., Sunday

Service listing[]

Lines with colors next to them are the primary trunk line of the corresponding service; they determine the color of the service bullets and diamonds, except shuttles which are dark gray.

Current services[]

  Route Line(s) North terminal South terminal
A Division (IRT)
1 Broadway – Seventh Avenue Local IRT Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line Van Cortlandt Park–242nd Street South Ferry
operates at all times, fully local, making all stops
2 Broadway – Seventh Avenue Express IRT White Plains Road Line, IRT Lenox Avenue Line, IRT Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line, Clark Street Tunnel, IRT Eastern Parkway Line, IRT Nostrand Avenue Line Wakefield–241st Street Flatbush Avenue–Brooklyn College
operates at all times, express on the IRT Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line in Manhattan, and local elsewhere
operates fully local at night
3 Broadway – Seventh Avenue Express IRT Lenox Avenue Line, IRT Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line, Clark Street Tunnel, IRT Eastern Parkway Line, IRT New Lots Line Harlem–148th Street Times Square–42nd Street (overnights)
New Lots Avenue
operates at all times, express on the IRT Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line in Manhattan and local elsewhere
short turns at Times Square – 42nd Street at night
4 Lexington Avenue Express IRT Jerome Avenue Line, IRT Lexington Avenue Line, Joralemon Street Tunnel, IRT Eastern Parkway Line, IRT New Lots Line Woodlawn Utica Avenue
New Lots Avenue (overnights and late evenings)
operates at all times; makes all stops on the IRT Jerome Avenue Line and express elsewhere
extended to New Lots Avenue and operates fully local at night
5 Lexington Avenue Express IRT Dyre Avenue Line, IRT White Plains Road Line, IRT Jerome Avenue Line, IRT Lexington Avenue Line, Joralemon Street Tunnel, IRT Eastern Parkway Line, IRT Nostrand Avenue Line Eastchester–Dyre Avenue
Nereid Avenue (limited rush hour trips)
Flatbush Avenue–Brooklyn College (weekdays)
Bowling Green (weekends)
East 180th Street (overnights)
operates the full route (Dyre Avenue to Flatbush Avenue) on weekdays
short turns at Bowling Green on weekends
normally express in Manhattan and on the IRT Eastern Parkway Line in Brooklyn
Express in the Bronx between East 180th Street and Third Avenue-149th Street on the peak direction during rush hours only
operates as a shuttle (Dyre Avenue to East 180th Street) at night
6 Lexington Avenue Local IRT Pelham Line, IRT Lexington Avenue Line Pelham Bay Park
Parkchester (rush hours and middays)
Brooklyn Bridge–City Hall
operates at all times, fully local
short turns at Parkchester when the <6> operates
<6> Lexington Avenue Local IRT Pelham Line, IRT Lexington Avenue Line Pelham Bay Park Brooklyn Bridge–City Hall
operates rush hours and middays only, in the peak direction
express on the IRT Pelham Line between Third Avenue – 138th Street and Parkchester and local elsewhere
7 Flushing Local IRT Flushing Line Flushing–Main Street 34th Street–Hudson Yards
operates at all times, fully local
<7> Flushing Express IRT Flushing Line Flushing–Main Street 34th Street–Hudson Yards
operates rush hours and evenings only, in the peak direction
express between Queensboro Plaza and Main Street
S 42nd Street Shuttle IRT 42nd Street Shuttle Times Square Grand Central
operates at all times except nights
B Division (IND/BMT)
A Eighth Avenue Express IND Eighth Avenue Line, Cranberry Street Tunnel, IND Fulton Street Line, IND Liberty Avenue Line, IND Rockaway Line 207th Street
Dyckman Street (limited peak direction rush hour trips)
Rockaway Boulevard (night-time Lefferts Boulevard Shuttle)
Lefferts Boulevard or
Far Rockaway–Mott Avenue
Rockaway Park–Beach 116th Street (limited peak direction rush hour trips)
operates at all times, normally express between 168th Street and Euclid Avenue and local elsewhere
operates fully local at night to/from Far Rockaway with shuttle service between Rockaway Boulevard and Lefferts Boulevard
B Sixth Avenue Express IND Grand Concourse Line, IND Eighth Avenue Line, IND Sixth Avenue Line, Chrystie Street Connection, Manhattan Bridge north tracks, BMT Brighton Line Bedford Park Boulevard Brighton Beach
operates only on weekdays except nights
runs express in Brooklyn and on the IND Sixth Avenue Line in Manhattan; local on Central Park West in Manhattan and in the Bronx
C Eighth Avenue Local IND Eighth Avenue Line, Cranberry Street Tunnel, IND Fulton Street Line 168th Street Euclid Avenue
operates fully local at all times except nights
D Sixth Avenue Express IND Grand Concourse Line, IND Eighth Avenue Line, IND Sixth Avenue Line, Chrystie Street Connection, Manhattan Bridge north tracks, BMT Fourth Avenue Line, BMT West End Line Norwood–205th Street Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue
operates at all times, fully local on the BMT West End Line in Brooklyn and express elsewhere
operates fully local in Brooklyn at night
operates fully local in the Bronx at night and on weekends
E Eighth Avenue Local IND Archer Avenue Line, IND Queens Boulevard Line, 53rd Street Tunnel, IND Eighth Avenue Line Jamaica Center World Trade Center
operates at all times, normally express on the IND Queens Boulevard Line in Queens and local elsewhere
operates fully local at night
F Sixth Avenue Local IND Queens Boulevard Line, IND 63rd Street Line, IND Sixth Avenue Line, Rutgers Street Tunnel, IND Culver Line 179th Street Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue
Kings Highway (alternate rush hour trips)
operates at all times
runs express in Queens between Forest Hills–71st Avenue and 21st Street–Queensbridge and local elsewhere
G Brooklyn–Queens Crosstown Local IND Crosstown Line, IND Culver Line Court Square Church Avenue
operates at all times
J Nassau Street Local BMT Archer Avenue Line, BMT Jamaica Line, Williamsburg Bridge, BMT Nassau Street Line Jamaica Center Broad Street
operates at all times, normally fully local
operates skip-stop east of Myrtle Avenue–Broadway and runs express west of that station with the Z train during rush hours in the peak direction
L 14th Street – Canarsie Local BMT Canarsie Line, 14th Street Tunnel Eighth Avenue Rockaway Parkway
operates at all times
M Sixth Avenue Local IND Queens Boulevard Line, 53rd Street Tunnel, IND Sixth Avenue Line, Chrystie Street Connection, BMT Nassau Street Line, Williamsburg Bridge, BMT Jamaica Line, BMT Myrtle Avenue Line Forest Hills–71st Avenue
Essex Street (weekends)
Myrtle Avenue–Broadway (overnights)
Middle Village–Metropolitan Avenue
Second Avenue (limited southbound A.M. rush hour trips)
operates the full route weekdays, fully local, making all stops
short turns at Essex Street from Metropolitan Avenue on weekends
short turns at Myrtle Avenue–Broadway at night
N Broadway Express BMT Astoria Line, 60th Street Tunnel, BMT Broadway Line, Manhattan Bridge south tracks, BMT Fourth Avenue Line, BMT Sea Beach Line
Montague Street Tunnel (nights)
Ditmars Boulevard Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue
operates at all times
express on the BMT Broadway Line between 57th Street – Seventh Avenue and Canal Street on weekdays, via the Manhattan Bridge, express on the BMT Fourth Avenue Line in Brooklyn at all times except nights, and local elsewhere
via the Montague Street Tunnel at night, fully local
local on the BMT Broadway Line between Lexington Avenue–59th Street and Canal Street on weekends
Q Broadway Express IND Second Avenue Line, BMT Broadway Line, Manhattan Bridge south tracks, BMT Brighton Line Third Avenue–149th Street Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue
operates at all times, normally express on the BMT Broadway Line in Manhattan via the Manhattan Bridge and local elsewhere
operates fully local at night via the Manhattan Bridge
R Broadway Local IND Queens Boulevard Line, 60th Street Tunnel Connection, 60th Street Tunnel, BMT Broadway Line, Montague Street Tunnel, BMT Fourth Avenue Line Forest Hills–71st Avenue
Whitehall Street (overnights)
Bay Ridge–95th Street
operates the full route at all times except nights, fully local
short turns at Whitehall Street from Brooklyn at night
S Franklin Avenue Shuttle BMT Franklin Avenue Line Fulton Street Prospect Park
operates at all times
S Rockaway Park Shuttle IND Rockaway Line
Rockaway Boulevard (summer weekend daytime extension) Broad Channel
Rockaway Park–Beach 116th Street
operates at all times
W Broadway Local BMT Astoria Line, 60th Street Tunnel, BMT Broadway Line Ditmars Boulevard Whitehall Street
operates only on weekdays except nights, fully local
Z Nassau Street Express Skip-stop clone of J service during rush hours in the peak direction only

IRT A Division services – 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 trains are all 10 cars – 510 foot long. The 42nd Street Shuttle as well as night-time 5 trains are all 5 cars – 255 foot long.

IND and BMT B Division services – A, B, C, D, E, F, N, Q, R, and W trains are all 10 cars if they are 60 foot units – 600 foot long; or 8 cars if they are using 75 foot units – also 600 foot long. J/Z, L and M trains are 8 cars of 60 foot units only – 480 foot long. However, weekend M trains are 4 cars of 60 foot units – 240 foot long trains. G trains and the Rockaway Park Shuttle are 4 cars of 75 foot units – 300 foot long. Rockaway Park Shuttle extends to 8 cars of 75 foot long units – 600 foot long only for weekend days in the summer. The Franklin Avenue Shuttle is 2 cars of 75 foot units – 150 foot long.

All of the three short shuttles provide One Person Train Operation at all times, except the Rockaway Park Shuttle for most of the day on weekends in the summer. Overnight 5 and weekend M trains also provide One Person Train Operation.

All lengths of each station platform in the New York City Subway system are equalized, except Bowling Green on the IRT Lexington Avenue Line in Manhattan, 42nd Street – Port Authority Bus Terminal on the IND Eighth Avenue Line in Manhattan, Kingston – Throop Avenues on the IND Fulton Street Line in Brooklyn, and Howard Beach – JFK Airport on the IND Rockaway Line in Queens.

Service variants[]

  • The 6 has a rush hour (1a) and midday (2a) diamond Bronx express service labeled <6>, in addition to 6 local service.
  • The 7 has a rush hour (1a), and evening (3c) diamond Queens express service labeled <7>, in addition to 7 local service.
  • The J and Z are identical routings, differing only by stations skipped during rush hours (1a).
  • The C and W are internally staffed and scheduled as part of the A and N respectively.

A number of services operate shorter routes during lower ridership hours, but these are neither signed differently nor counted as separate services. Special services caused by General Orders or track/signal maintenance & inspection almost night and weekend, are also not counted.

Variants unaccounted for by formal designations[]

Because of inconsistencies in usage there are, in practice, more distinctly identifiable services operating simultaneously than are represented by the color/letter/number designations:

  • The A has three physically separate southern terminals: full-time service operates to/from Far Rockaway, daytime alternate trips to/from Lefferts Boulevard, and five peak-direction rush hour trips operates to/from Rockaway Park.
  • Lefferts Boulevard is served at night by a shuttle.
  • Rockaway Park is served only in the peak direction during rush hours (and by the Rockaway Park Shuttle at all times).
  • Limited rush hour and late evening W trains are extended to/from Gravesend–86th Street.

Train frequency[]

My fantasy world's version[]

Trains per hour[]

My large scale model's version[]

Trains per hour[]

Trains per hour
Period 1 2 3 4 5 6 <6> 7 <7> 42nd Street Shuttle A B C D E F G J L M N Q R Franklin Avenue Shuttle Rockaway Park Shuttle W Z
Rush hours 20 10 10 15 15 15 15 15 15 12 10-15 10 6 10 15 15 9 6 20 10-12 7.5-10 10 10 6 4.5 7.5 6
Middays 10 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 12 N/A 12 9 6 6 6 9 9 6 6 12 6 6 9 6 6 4.5 6 N/A
Evenings 10 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 15 N/A 6-10 6-10 10 9 6 6 6 9 9 6 6 12 6 6 9 6 6 4.5 6 N/A
Weekends 7.5 7.5 5 7.5 5 7.5 N/A 15 N/A 10 7.5 N/A 5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 15 5 7.5 7.5 5 6 4 N/A N/A
Overnights 3 3 3 3 3 3 N/A 3 N/A N/A 3 N/A N/A 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 N/A N/A
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