Service History
The W was introduced on July 22, 2001 when the Manhattan Bridge north tracks were closed for reconstruction. The B had run full-time from Coney Island – Stillwell Avenue to Manhattan via the BMT West End Line and Manhattan Bridge north tracks onto the IND Sixth Avenue Line, but had to be split as a result of the reconstruction project. A similar split had been made from 1986 to 1988, when a part-time orange diamond B only ran north of 34th Street and a full-time (though only in Brooklyn at nights) "Yellow B" ran from Coney Island across the south side of the bridge and up the BMT Broadway Line into Queens. This old pattern was effectively restored in 2001, but instead of having two "B" services, the Brooklyn service became the W. This route began at Coney Island and ran up the West End Line (local), BMT Fourth Avenue Line (express), Manhattan Bridge south tracks, Broadway Line (express, switching to local for 49th Street), and BMT Astoria Line (express during rush hours in the peak direction) to Astoria – Ditmars Boulevard. Evening service ended at 57th Street in Manhattan (using the express tracks and bypassing 49th Street), late night service at 36th Street in Brooklyn, and weekend service at Atlantic Avenue – Pacific Street in Brooklyn.
After September 11, 2001, N service was suspended and W trains ran at all times between Ditmars Boulevard and Coney Island. It made all stops except in Brooklyn north of 36th Street. During late nights, it ran in two sections, between Ditmars Boulevard and 34th Street (skipping 49th Street northbound) and in Brooklyn between 36th Street and Coney Island. Normal service on both trains resumed on October 28.
The Astoria express service, being unpopular with residents, was discontinued on January 15, 2002. Around that time, evening service was extended from 57th Street to Astoria.
When Coney Island – Stillwell Avenue was closed for reconstruction, the W became a full-time Coney Island–Astoria service. Late night and weekend service was sent via the Montague Street Tunnel and the local tracks of the Fourth Avenue and Broadway Lines; the N ran only in Brooklyn at those times.
When all four tracks on the Manhattan Bridge were restored to service on February 22, 2004, the W was changed to its final service pattern, running weekdays only from 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. (7:00 to 21:30) as an entirely local service between Ditmars Boulevard and Whitehall Street – South Ferry, Lower Manhattan. The Brooklyn portion was replaced by the D, which was extended over the north side of the bridge and down the West End Line. The first three W trains of the day, however, entered service at 86th Street in Gravesend, Brooklyn and the last three trains of the night continued in service to Kings Highway. These trips ran local in Brooklyn via the Montague Street Tunnel, BMT Fourth Avenue and Sea Beach Lines.
On July 27, 2008, the W was extended to run until 11:00 p.m.
On March 24, 2010 the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced the elimination of the W due to financial shortfalls with the N and Q replacing it. The W service ceased operation on June 25, 2010, along with the V, with the last train bound for Astoria – Ditmars Boulevard leaving Whitehall Street – South Ferry at 10:50 p.m.
Read more about this topic: W (New York City Subway Service)
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