R (New York City Subway service)

History

Early history

The current R service is the successor to the original route 2 of the Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit Corporation. When 2 service began on January 15, 1916, it ran between Chambers Street on the BMT Nassau Street Line and 86th Street on the BMT Fourth Avenue Line, using the Manhattan Bridge to cross the East River, and running via Fourth Avenue local. Service on the BMT Broadway Line, which at the time ran only between Whitehall Street–South Ferry and Times Square–42nd Street, began exactly two years later on January 15, 1918. On July 10, 1919, service was extended to 57th Street–Seventh Avenue with the opening of that station.

The Montague Street Tunnel and the 60th Street Tunnel both opened on August 1, 1920. At that time, the 2 service was rerouted from the Manhattan Bridge to the Montague Street Tunnel, running local from Queensboro Plaza in Queens to 86th Street–Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn. The Bay Ridge–95th Street station opened on October 31, 1925, and became the service's new southern terminus. During this time, rush-hour specials to Chambers Street were sporadically added and removed, eventually becoming an addition to the line. At one time, including during 1931, additional midday service operated local between 57th Street and Whitehall Street–South Ferry. The 2 also used the Nassau Street Loop during rush hours, entering Manhattan via the Manhattan Bridge or Montague Street Tunnel and leaving via the other.

On October 17, 1949, the platform edges on the BMT Astoria Line had been shaved back to accommodate the larger BMT trains, and the BMT's Astoria Shuttle was replaced with service from the 2 Fourth Avenue Line operating from Astoria–Ditmars Boulevard in Astoria, Queens to Bay Ridge–95th Street in Brooklyn at all times. On June 29, 1950, special rush hour trains began running between Bay Ridge–95th Street and Chambers Street via the south side of the Manhattan Bridge and/or the Montague Street Tunnel. The special rush hour trains were discontinued two years later. On June 28, 1952, special service from 95th Street to the Nassau Street Line was discontinued on Saturdays.

1960s–1970s changes

In the winter of 1960–61, letter designations started to appear on the route with the introduction of the R27s, which featured it on roll signs. The route was labeled the RR "Fourth Avenue Local via Tunnel". This was in accordance with the Independent Subway System's lettering system, which gave double letters to local trains and single letters to express trains. On January 1, 1961, the RR's northern terminus was relocated to its current location at Forest Hills–71st Avenue, via the BMT 60th Street Tunnel Connection, also known as the "11th Street Cut", and the IND Queens Boulevard Line. Night and weekend RR trains still terminated at 57th Street in Manhattan. Evening rush hour Fourth Avenue–Nassau trains went back to the routing that was used prior to 1959, in which trains ran from Broad Street to 95th Street via the Manhattan Bridge, and the Fourth Avenue express tracks.

On November 27, 1967, the day after the Chrystie Street Connection opened, the RR was moved back to Astoria–Ditmars Boulevard on the BMT Astoria Line. Replacing it on the Queens Boulevard Line was the new EE service, running weekdays only between Forest Hills–71st Avenue and Whitehall Street (with additional trains terminating at Canal Street). The Nassau Street specials, which could no longer run as a loop via the Manhattan Bridge, were through-routed from Bay Ridge–95th Street to 168th Street in Jamaica as RJ, along the route used today by the J and Z services. Under the first color scheme, RR was colored green and RJ was red. In the original Chrystie Street routing plans, the TA planned to totally eliminate the RR service, and maintain the RJ route as the main Bay Ridge service.

The RJ designation was only used from November 1967 until July 1, 1968, when it was cut back to Chambers Street and renamed as additional RR rush-hour peak-direction service. Because track connections between the Nassau Street Loop and the south tracks of the Manhattan Bridge were severed as part of the construction of the Chrystie Street Connection, these trains could not run in a loop anymore. On August 30, 1976, the EE was discontinued, with the N being extended to Forest Hills on weekdays to replace it.

On January 24, 1977, as part of a series of NYCTA service cuts to save $13 million, many subway lines began running shorter trains during middays. As part of the change, RR trains began running with six cars between 10:45 a.m. and 2:05 p.m.

In 1979, the MTA released a revised coloring scheme; RR service was assigned the color yellow (because it used the BMT Broadway Line). Although BMT Nassau Street Line services were colored brown, the rush hour RR service that used the Nassau Street Line was colored yellow, using a diamond bullet. The RR service via Nassau Street was referred to as the "Chambers Street Special".

1980s–2000s changes

On May 6, 1985, the MTA eliminated double letters for local service; the RR became the R. R service on the Broadway Line continued to use a yellow bullet, while the special Chambers Street–Bay Ridge rush-hour service was signed with a brown diamond with a white R inside, matching the J and M services using the BMT Nassau Street Line.*

Starting on April 28, 1986, R service on the Nassau Street Line was extended to Metropolitan Avenue for layups and put-ins from Fresh Pond Yard. After the N/R swap, the Nassau R used East New York Yard equipment. This rush hour service was discontinued on November 20, 1987.

On May 24, 1987, the northern terminals of the N and R were swapped. The swap placed the R along the IND Queens Boulevard Line to Forest Hills–71st Avenue once again, with the N replacing it in Astoria. The change was made to give the R direct access to the Jamaica Yard (where the train is assigned to this day), As part of the reroute plan, F service along Queens Boulevard was discontinued during late nights (1 a.m. to 5 a.m.). Late night local service was replaced by the R, which ran as a Queens Boulevard Local at all times. F trains were cut back to 57th Street on the Sixth Avenue Line during late nights.*

• In 1986, the TA studied which two services should serve the line during late nights as ridership at this time did not justify three services. A public hearing was held in December 1986, and it was determined that having the E and R run during late nights provided the best service.

On December 11, 1988, the Archer Avenue Lines opened, and the E was rerouted to its current terminus at Jamaica Center via the Queens Boulevard Line's express tracks. E trains began running express east of Continental Avenue, skipping 75th Avenue and Van Wyck Boulevard at all times. The R was extended from Continental Avenue to 179th Street to provide local service; this allowed F trains to continue running express to 179th Street, and F trains skipped 169th Street between 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. During the morning rush hour, four R trains went into service at Continental Avenue, because local ridership from 179th Street during rush hours did not warrant it. All R trains went to 179th Street during the afternoon rush to avoid taking loaded R trains out of service at Continental Avenue.

Two service plans were identified prior to a public hearing on February 25, 1988, concerning the service plan for the new extension. The first would have split rush-hour E service between the two branches, with late night service to 179th Street provided by the R, while the second would have had all E trains run via Archer Avenue and would have extended R locals to 179th Street. A modified version of the second plan was decided upon: some E trains would run from 179th Street instead of Archer Avenue during morning rush hours, though all E trains would run to Archer Avenue during the afternoon rush hour to reduce confusion for Queens-bound riders. The 1988 changes angered some riders because they resulted in the loss of direct Queens Boulevard Express service at local stations east of 71st Avenue—namely the 169th Street, Sutphin Boulevard, Van Wyck Boulevard and 75th Avenue stations. Local elected officials pressured the MTA to eliminate all-local service at these stations.

On June 10, 1990, overnight service was split instead of operating along the full route. The northern section operated between 179th Street in Queens and 34th Street–Herald Square in Manhattan; the southern section operated as a shuttle between 36th Street–Fourth Avenue and 95th Street in Brooklyn. As part of service cuts that went into effect on September 30, 1990, the R was cut back to 71st Avenue outside of rush hours, and overnight service no longer served Manhattan and Queens; overnight service operated as a shuttle in Brooklyn between 36th and 95th Streets. Local service between 179th Street and 71st Avenue outside of weekday rush hours was replaced by F trains during weekday midday and evening hours and weekend daytime hours; overnight local service between 179th Street and Queens Plaza was provided by trains.

In 1992, the MTA considered three options to improve service at these local stops, including leaving service as is, having E trains run local east of 71st Avenue along with R service, and having F trains run local east of 71st Avenue replacing R service, which would be cut back to 71st Avenue at all times. The third option was chosen to be tested for six months starting in October or November 1992. On October 26, 1992, R trains were cut back to 71st Avenue at all times, and in its place, the F ran local east of 71st Avenue at all times, thus eliminating express service along Hillside Avenue. After the six months, the change was kept because there was minimal negative passenger reaction and because of the intensity of the request, even though 77% of passengers had benefited from the pre-October 1992 service plan. The change increased travel time along the F by minutes, and reduced travel time for passengers at local stations by one to two minutes.

In October 2000, late-night shuttle trains in Brooklyn began skipping 53rd Street and 45th Street in the northbound direction. This was so shuttle trains could terminate more quickly at 36th Street on the Fourth Avenue Line, their northern terminal. Previously, all northbound B, N and R trains had stopped at the same track at 36th Street, which resulted in delays because it took several minutes for the R trains to be cleared.

After the September 11, 2001 attacks, R service was initially cut back from 71st Avenue to Court Street; service in Manhattan was provided by , and trains, and service in Queens was provided by , and trains. On September 17, R service was completely suspended and was replaced by Q trains in Queens, by Q and W trains in Manhattan, and by trains in Brooklyn. Normal R service was restored on October 28. Effective December 16, 2001, to accommodate new V service, the frequency of R service during the morning rush hour was decreased, with trains running every six minutes instead of every five minutes.

On September 8, 2002, Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue was closed for reconstruction. As a result, late night R service was extended to Pacific Street, running express between that station and 36th Street on the Fourth Avenue Line. On April 27, 2003, the frequency of Saturday morning and afternoon service was decreased, with trains running every 12 minutes instead of every 8 minutes. Trains also ran every 12 minutes on Sunday mornings and afternoons, instead of every 15 and 12 minutes on Sunday mornings, and every 10 and 8 minutes on Sunday afternoons. Late night service was cut back to 36th Street when the north side of the Manhattan Bridge reopened on February 22, 2004.

In December 2007, the MTA approved a service increase to allow R service to operate along the full route 24 hours daily. This service change would have went into effect in December 2008; however, the 2008 financial crisis placed a hold on this service increase indefinitely.

2010s and 2020s changes

After Hurricane Sandy flooded the subway system, the Montague Street Tunnel was completely flooded. When service was restored, the R train was split into two sections (between Forest Hills and 34th Street–Herald Square at all times except late nights, and between Jay Street–MetroTech and Bay Ridge–95th Street at all times). On December 4, the Queens–Manhattan section was extended to Whitehall Street–South Ferry. On December 21, full service was restored between Manhattan and Brooklyn after the Montague Street Tubes were drained.

However, from August 2, 2013, to fall 2014, the tunnel was closed again so that extra repairs could be completed, bringing back similar storm changes to the R train. On weekdays, the divided R ran in two sections: one section between Forest Hills and Whitehall Street–South Ferry, and the other between Court Street and Bay Ridge–95th Street. On weekends, the R train ran its full route via the Manhattan Bridge, skipping all stations between Canal Street and DeKalb Avenue. The weekday service between Forest Hills and Whitehall Street essentially recreated the former EE route from 1967 to 1976. Originally slated to open by October 2014, the tunnel reopened a few weeks early, on September 15, 2014, and several million dollars under budget.

Beginning on November 5, 2016, overnight R service was extended north to Whitehall Street-South Ferry in order to provide a one-seat ride into Manhattan. This eliminated the need for northbound trains to skip 45th Street and 53rd Street in order to reverse on the express tracks at 36th Street–Fourth Avenue. The change took place on November 5, 2016. During late weekend evenings, every other R train short turned at Whitehall Street, resulting in waiting time doubling along the entire Brooklyn portion of the route. As part of the changes, these short-turns were extended to 95th Street.

Starting November 6, 2017, one northbound R trip was diverted to serve the then-new Second Avenue Subway in order to increase service on that line during the morning rush hour. In February 2019, in the midst of a transit crisis, several Bay Ridge politicians proposed splitting the R route in half, similar to the pattern enacted during the Montague Street Tunnel closures in 2013 and 2014, citing the route's length and unreliability. This proposal has been met with criticism from local riders, mostly because it would eliminate a one-seat ride into Manhattan.

On March 17, 2023, New York City Transit made adjustments to evening and late night , and R service to accommodate long-term CBTC installation on the Queens Boulevard Line between Union Turnpike and 179th Street. Evening R service originating from 95th Street after 8:30 pm on weekdays and after 9 pm on weekends was cut back from 71st Avenue to Queens Plaza. In August 2023, it was announced that midday headways on the R would be reduced to eight minutes although the MTA delayed the service increase until early 2024.

Effective July 7, 2025, one southbound R trip was rerouted after 36th Street to terminate at Bay Parkway on the West End Line. This change was implemented to avoid delays in N service due to merging conflicts, and was briefly tested for evaluation in February 2025. This trip makes express stops along the West End Line, stopping at Ninth Avenue and 62nd Street.

Route

Service pattern

The following table shows the lines used by the R, with shaded boxes indicating the route at the specified times:

Stations

For a more detailed station listing, see the articles on the lines listed above.

Notes

References

References

1. (December 7, 2025). "R Train (Queens Boulevard/Broadway/4 Avenue local) Line Map".
2. Grynbaum, Michael M.. (May 10, 2010). "Take the Tomato 2 Stops to the Sunflower". The New York Times.
3. (January 14, 2016). "Crappy 100th Birthday, R Train! Love, Bay Ridge".
4. "BMT 1924 Map".
5. (January 6, 1918). "Open New Subway to Times Square – Brooklyn Directly Connected with Wholesale and Shopping Districts of New York – Nickel Zone Is Extended – First Train in Broadway Tube Makes Run from Rector Street in 17 Minutes – Cost About $20,000,000 – Rapid Transit from Downtown to Hotel and Theatre Sections Expected to Affect Surface Lines". The New York Times.
6. Bolden, Eric. "NYCT Line by Line History". erictb.info.
7. (January 1, 1920). "Legislative Documents". J.B. Lyon Company.
8. (August 1, 1920). "New Subway Link Opens; Service Started Through Queens and Montague Street Tubes". The New York Times.
9. (November 1, 1925). "Open Subway Line to Fort Hamilton – Fourth Avenue Extension Put in Service After Wait of Four Years – Half-Mile Cost $2,000,000 – Completion Gives Residents Through Trip Without Recourse to Trolley Cars". The New York Times.
10. "Rush Hour". subwaynut.com.
11. (1952). "Notice To Passengers". New York City Board of Transportation.
12. (September 27, 2013). "Cities 101: Double Lettered Trains In The NYC Subway System".
13. (September 2010). "A History Of The R Train". New York Division Bulletin.
14. (January 1961). "BMT Riders: Change In Routes! January 1 To Further Improve Routes". New York City Transit Authority.
15. (2015). "From a Nickel to a Token: The Journey from Board of Transportation to MTA". Fordham University Press.
16. (August 1976). "Service Adjustment on BMT and IND Lines Effective 1 A.M. Monday, Aug. 30". New York City Transit Authority.
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18. Hogarty, Dave. (August 3, 2007). "Michael Hertz, Designer of the NYC Subway Map". [[Gothamist]].
19. (June 5, 1981). "Is This The End For 'Chambers St. Special?". Home Reporter and Sunset News.
20. (July 17, 1981). "Bring Back Chambers St. Special: Arculeo". Home Reporter and Sunset News.
21. Chiasson, George. (October 2010). "A History Of The R Train". New York Division Bulletin.
22. (October 16, 1986). "Shifts on N and R Lines Are Planned in Queens". [[The New York Times]].
23. (May 1987). "Announcing Service Changes On The N and R Routes Beginning May 24, 1987 New Routes Mean Better Service". New York City Transit Authority.
24. (June 1, 1990). "Annual Report on 1989 Rapid Routes Schedules and Service Planning". New York City Transit Authority, Operations Planning Department.
25. Sparberg, Andrew J.. (October 1, 2014). "From a Nickel to a Token: The Journey from Board of Transportation to MTA". Fordham University Press.
26. (May 1990). "Alternatives Analysis/Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Queens Subway Options Study". [[United States Department of Transportation]], [[Metropolitan Transportation Authority]], [[Urban Mass Transit Administration]].
27. (August 1988). "Archer Avenue Corridor Transit Service Proposal". New York City Transit Authority, Operations Planning Department.
28. Johnson, Kirk. (December 9, 1988). "Big Changes For Subways Are to Begin". The New York Times.
29. (May 2016). "Archer Avenue Extension Subway Service December 11, 1988 New York City Transit Authority".
30. (June 17, 2016). "System-Wide Changes In Subway Service Effective Sunday, December 11, 1988".
31. Polsky, Carol. (December 11, 1988). "New Subway Line Finally Rolling Through Queens". Newsday.
32. (1988). "Archer Avenue Extension Opens December 11". Welcome Aboard: Newsletter of the New York City Transit Authority.
33. (August 1988). "Archer Avenue Corridor Transit Service Proposal". New York City Transit Authority, Operations Planning Department.
34. (January 30, 1988). "Archer Opens Dec. 11 Excerpts From TA Plan". Notes from Underground.
35. (April 1993). "Service Change Monitoring Report Six Month Evaluation of F/R Queens Boulevard Line Route Restructure". Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
36. Linder, Bernard. (April 2011). "60th Street Tunnel Service". Electric Railroaders' Association.
37. (September 30, 1990). "Service Changes September 30, 1990". New York City Transit Authority.
38. (May 1992). "Van Wyck Blvd Station". Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
39. (October 1992). "October 1992 New York City Subway Map". New York City Transit Authority.
40. (October 2001). "World Trade Center Destroyed". Electric Railroaders' Association.
41. (December 2001). "New IRT and BMT Schedules". Electric Railroaders' Association.
42. (December 2001). "New IRT and BMT Schedules". Electric Railroaders' Association.
43. (January 2002). "63rd Street Connector In Service – New Schedules in Effect". Electric Railroaders' Association.
44. (July 2002). "F N W Q Q Changes Sun, Sept 8, 2002 to Spring 2004 Reconstruction of Stillwell Avenue Terminal Changes Service in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens". New York City Transit Authority.
45. (July 2003). "New BMT-IND Schedules". Electric Railroaders' Association.
46. (February 5, 2004). "MTA NYC Transit Manhattan Bridge Information". Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
47. (February 2008). "Around New York's Transit System - Increased Subway Service". Electric Railroaders' Association, Incorporated.
48. (February 2018). "MTA 2008 Adopted Budget February Financial Plan 2008–2011 Appendix". Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
49. Neuman, William. (June 19, 2008). "Subway Service Increase to Be Less Than Hoped". The New York Times.
50. Neuman, William. (March 24, 2008). "M.T.A. Postpones Subway and Bus Service Upgrades". The New York Times.
51. "Restoring R Service in the Montague St. Tube". Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
52. Cox, Jeremiah. (September 7, 2012). "Hurricane Sandy: Effects on Subway & Rail Service".
53. (June 2013). "R Montague Tunnel Closure Map". Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
54. (July 2013). "R Service Affected by 14 Month Closure of Montague Under River Tube". Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
55. Flegenheimer, Matt. (August 4, 2013). "On R Train, Unwelcome Reminder of Storm's Impact". The New York Times.
56. McGeehan, Patrick. (September 12, 2014). "Subway Tunnel to Open, Storm Repairs Finished". [[The New York Times]].
57. (September 15, 2014). "The R Roars Back". The New York Times.
58. (September 8, 2014). "Exclusive: R Train's East River Tunnel May Reopen Early". Brooklyn Daily.
59. (September 14, 2014). "R Train To Resume Service Between Brooklyn And Manhattan Monday". CBS Local.
60. (June 16, 2016). "Change Allows More Transfers, Faster Commutes for Brooklyn Customers". Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
61. (July 29, 2016). "Sub-Division B Train Operator/Conductor Road & Non-Road Work Programs in Effect: November 6, 2016". New York City Transit.
62. (June 17, 2016). "Transit & Bus Committee Meeting June 2016". Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
63. Lam, Katherine. (October 23, 2016). "MTA Flyers Spotted for W Train's Return in November". PIX11.
64. (October 2016). "New NQRW Service". Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
65. Rivoli, Dan. (May 22, 2017). "MTA to Add Q Trains on Second Ave. Subway Line as Ridership Soars". New York Daily News.
66. (November 6, 2017). "7:01 AM – 8:05 AM 96 ST – TransitFeeds".
67. (February 20, 2019). "Brooklyn officials' idea: Speed up Bay Ridge commutes by cutting the R train route in two".
68. (February 20, 2019). "Split decision: MTA must again separate R-train service between Bklyn and Manhattan, local pols demand".
69. McShane, Julianne. (February 26, 2019). "R They Serious? Straphangers Blast Pols' Proposal to Again Split Bklyn, Manhattan R-Train Service".
70. (February 24, 2023). "MTA to Perform CBTC Signal Installation Work on E, F and R Lines in Queens Starting March 17". New York City Transit.
71. Simko-Bednarski, Evan. (August 22, 2023). "MTA Adding More N, R Trains on NYC Subway Starting Monday".
72. (August 22, 2023). "MTA Expanding Service on N and R Trains; No More 'Rarely' or 'Never' Trains, Officials Say".
73. (September 7, 2023). "Subway Track Work Slows Plan to Boost R Train Service to 2024".
74. Nessen, Stephen. (September 7, 2023). "MTA Fails on Promise to Boost R Train Service, Lawmaker Says".
75. "R Subway Timetable - New York City Transit". [[Metropolitan Transportation Authority]].
76. (March 2025). "BMT Sea Beach Line Service Improvement Pilot". Electric Railroaders' Association.
77. {{NYCS const. serviceguide
78. {{NYCS const. timetable. r
79. (May 13, 2011). "GTFS Schedule Data – New York City Transit Subway". Metropolitan Transportation Authority.