BMT West End Line
Encyclopedia
The BMT West End Line is a line of the New York City Subway
, serving the Brooklyn
, communities of Borough Park, New Utrecht, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach
and Coney Island
. The D
train operates on the line at all times, providing service to Manhattan and the Bronx via the IND Sixth Avenue Line
. Although there is a center express track and express stations along the entire line, there is no regular express service at this time.
The elevated line, originally mapped as the New Utrecht Avenue Line (though the common name prevailed after construction), replaced the surface West End Line
.
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Under the Dual Contracts of 1913, an elevated line was built over New Utrecht Avenue, 86th Street and Stillwell Avenue, fully opening to Coney Island on July 21, 1917. The original surface right-of-way was retained for use by trolley cars to provide local service and protect the company's franchise. Over the years, the West End line has been featured in movies and television shows. The famous chase scene from "The French Connection
" (1971) was filmed under the West End line in Brooklyn, and the opening scene of "Saturday Night Fever
" (1977) features Tony Manero (John Travolta) walking down 86th Street, with the West End elevated line above. Additionally, the opening credits of the television show "Welcome Back, Kotter
" (1975) also featured the West End line.
The West End Line has had an express (on the BMT Fourth Avenue Line
) service - labeled 3 in 1924 - since it opened in 1916, passing over the Manhattan Bridge
and onto the BMT Broadway Line
express tracks. In the late 1950s, midday trains were switched to the local Fourth Avenue tracks and through the Montague Street Tunnel
, and late night and Sunday service became a shuttle between Coney Island and 36th Street
. The express and local services were assigned the designations T
and TT in the early 1960s. With the opening of the Chrystie Street Connection
in late 1967, the B
train from Manhattan and the Bronx was extended to Coney Island, absorbing the T and TT (both ran express on Fourth Avenue). The TT late night and Sunday shuttle survived until 1968, when the B became full-time. It ran local on Fourth Avenue during late night hours, but express at all times. Late night operation was cut back to a shuttle to 36th Street in the mid-1980s. In 2001, when reconstruction of the Manhattan Bridge
north tracks, the B service in Brooklyn was replaced by the new W
train, which ran as a shuttle not only to 36th Street during nighttime hours, but also to Atlantic Avenue – Pacific Street on weekends. In 2002, reconstruction of Coney Island – Stillwell Avenue resulted in the West End Line being the only line to serve the terminal and the W was extended full-time into Manhattan, using the local Fourth Avenue tracks and Montague Street Tunnel on weekends and late nights hours. In 2004, the Manhattan Bridge reconstruction was completed, and the W was replaced with an extended D
train, running over the bridge at all hours and express on Fourth Avenue except late nights.
The other service pattern was the "West End Short Line", a rush-hour local (on Fourth Avenue) service between the BMT Nassau Street Line
in Lower Manhattan
and 62nd Street or Bay Parkway
. It became part of the TT in the early 1960s and was discontinued in 1967.
In 1987, the short line service was essentially recreated when the rush-hour M
extension to Brooklyn was moved from the BMT Brighton Line
to the West End Line terminating at Bay Parkway
. It terminated at Ninth Avenue
until 1995, when it was cut back to Chambers Street. It was extended again from 2001-04 while the Manhattan Bridge was closed for reconstruction. In 2010, as part of a series of MTA budget cuts, rush-hour M service was discontinued.
BMT D. This is coincidental to the fact that the current (2011) primary service designator is also D.
New York City Subway
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
, serving the Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, communities of Borough Park, New Utrecht, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach
Bath Beach, Brooklyn
Bath Beach is a neighborhood in the New York City Borough of Brooklyn in the United States. It is located at the southwestern edge of the borough on Gravesend Bay.-Geography:...
and Coney Island
Coney Island
Coney Island is a peninsula and beach on the Atlantic Ocean in southern Brooklyn, New York, United States. The site was formerly an outer barrier island, but became partially connected to the mainland by landfill....
. The D
D (New York City Subway service)
The D Sixth Avenue Express 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 uses the IND Sixth Avenue Line through Manhattan....
train operates on the line at all times, providing service to Manhattan and the Bronx via the IND Sixth Avenue Line
IND Sixth Avenue Line
The Sixth Avenue Line is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway in the United States. It runs mainly under Sixth Avenue in Manhattan, and continues south through the Rutgers Street Tunnel to Brooklyn...
. Although there is a center express track and express stations along the entire line, there is no regular express service at this time.
The elevated line, originally mapped as the New Utrecht Avenue Line (though the common name prevailed after construction), replaced the surface West End Line
West End Line (Brooklyn surface)
The West End Line or New Utrecht Avenue Line was a surface transit line in Brooklyn, New York City, United States, running along New Utrecht Avenue and other streets between Coney Island and Sunset Park...
.
History
The French Connection (film)
This article is about the 1971 film. For the British fashion label, see French Connection .The French Connection is a 1971 American crime film directed by William Friedkin. The film was adapted and fictionalized by Ernest Tidyman from the non-fiction book by Robin Moore...
" (1971) was filmed under the West End line in Brooklyn, and the opening scene of "Saturday Night Fever
Saturday Night Fever
Saturday Night Fever is a 1977 drama film directed by John Badham and starring: John Travolta as Tony Manero, an immature young man whose weekends are spent visiting a local Brooklyn discothèque; Karen Lynn Gorney as his dance partner and eventual friend; and Donna Pescow as Tony's former dance...
" (1977) features Tony Manero (John Travolta) walking down 86th Street, with the West End elevated line above. Additionally, the opening credits of the television show "Welcome Back, Kotter
Welcome Back, Kotter
Welcome Back, Kotter was an American television sitcom starring Gabe Kaplan and featuring a young John Travolta.It originally aired on the ABC network from September 9, 1975 to June 8, 1979.-Premise:...
" (1975) also featured the West End line.
Service patterns
BMT Fourth Avenue Line
The Fourth Avenue Line is a rapid transit line of the BMT division of the New York City Subway, mainly running under Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn. Fourth Avenue never had a streetcar line or elevated railway due to the provisions of the assessment charged to neighboring property owners when the street...
) service - labeled 3 in 1924 - since it opened in 1916, passing over the Manhattan Bridge
Manhattan Bridge
The Manhattan Bridge is a suspension bridge that crosses the East River in New York City, connecting Lower Manhattan with Brooklyn . It was the last of the three suspension bridges built across the lower East River, following the Brooklyn and the Williamsburg bridges...
and onto the BMT Broadway Line
BMT Broadway Line
The BMT Broadway Line is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway in Manhattan, New York City, United States. , it is served by three services, all colored yellow: the on the express tracks and the on the local tracks...
express tracks. In the late 1950s, midday trains were switched to the local Fourth Avenue tracks and through the Montague Street Tunnel
Montague Street Tunnel
The Montague Street Tunnel carries the trains of the New York City Subway under the East River between the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. It opened to revenue service on Sunday, August 1, 1920 at 2 am with a holiday schedule, the same day as the 60th Street Tunnel. Regular service began...
, and late night and Sunday service became a shuttle between Coney Island and 36th Street
36th Street (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)
36th Street is an express station on the BMT Fourth Avenue Line of the New York City Subway, located at 36th Street and Fourth Avenue in Sunset Park, Brooklyn....
. The express and local services were assigned the designations T
T (New York City Subway service)
T is a service designation of the New York City Subway. It is not currently in use, but was previously used for a service on the BMT West End Line, originally BMT 3. It was discontinued in 1967, but a shuttle, designated TT, continued into 1968. This shuttle was replaced by the B, which in 2001...
and TT in the early 1960s. With the opening of the Chrystie Street Connection
Chrystie Street Connection
The Chrystie Street Connection is a major connecting line of the New York City Subway, and is one of the few connections between lines of the BMT and IND divisions...
in late 1967, the B
B (New York City Subway service)
The B Sixth Avenue Express 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 over the IND Sixth Avenue Line in Manhattan....
train from Manhattan and the Bronx was extended to Coney Island, absorbing the T and TT (both ran express on Fourth Avenue). The TT late night and Sunday shuttle survived until 1968, when the B became full-time. It ran local on Fourth Avenue during late night hours, but express at all times. Late night operation was cut back to a shuttle to 36th Street in the mid-1980s. In 2001, when reconstruction of the Manhattan Bridge
Manhattan Bridge
The Manhattan Bridge is a suspension bridge that crosses the East River in New York City, connecting Lower Manhattan with Brooklyn . It was the last of the three suspension bridges built across the lower East River, following the Brooklyn and the Williamsburg bridges...
north tracks, the B service in Brooklyn was replaced by the new W
W (New York City Subway service)
The W Broadway Local was a rapid transit service of the New York City Subway's B Division that ran from 2001 to 2010. It was colored yellow on station signs and the subway map, as it ran on the BMT Broadway Line in Manhattan....
train, which ran as a shuttle not only to 36th Street during nighttime hours, but also to Atlantic Avenue – Pacific Street on weekends. In 2002, reconstruction of Coney Island – Stillwell Avenue resulted in the West End Line being the only line to serve the terminal and the W was extended full-time into Manhattan, using the local Fourth Avenue tracks and Montague Street Tunnel on weekends and late nights hours. In 2004, the Manhattan Bridge reconstruction was completed, and the W was replaced with an extended D
D (New York City Subway service)
The D Sixth Avenue Express 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 uses the IND Sixth Avenue Line through Manhattan....
train, running over the bridge at all hours and express on Fourth Avenue except late nights.
The other service pattern was the "West End Short Line", a rush-hour local (on Fourth Avenue) service between the BMT Nassau Street Line
BMT Nassau Street Line
The BMT Nassau Street Line is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway system in Manhattan. It is served by the and trains which are colored brown on maps and signage...
in Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan is the southernmost part of the island of Manhattan, the main island and center of business and government of the City of New York...
and 62nd Street or Bay Parkway
Bay Parkway (BMT West End Line)
Bay Parkway is an express station on the BMT West End Line of the New York City Subway, located in Brooklyn at the intersection of Bay Parkway and 86th Street, in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. The station is served by the D train at all times.This station was the terminus for the M train from 1987 to...
. It became part of the TT in the early 1960s and was discontinued in 1967.
In 1987, the short line service was essentially recreated when the rush-hour M
M (New York City Subway service)
The M Sixth Avenue Local is a rapid transit service of the B Division 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 in Manhattan....
extension to Brooklyn was moved from the BMT Brighton Line
BMT Brighton Line
The BMT Brighton Line is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway in Brooklyn, New York City, United States. Local service is provided at all times by the Q train. The Q is joined by the B express train on weekdays...
to the West End Line terminating at Bay Parkway
Bay Parkway (BMT West End Line)
Bay Parkway is an express station on the BMT West End Line of the New York City Subway, located in Brooklyn at the intersection of Bay Parkway and 86th Street, in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. The station is served by the D train at all times.This station was the terminus for the M train from 1987 to...
. It terminated at Ninth Avenue
Ninth Avenue (BMT West End Line)
Ninth Avenue is a bi-level express station on the BMT West End Line of the New York City Subway, located at the intersection of Ninth Avenue and 39th Street in Brooklyn. Each level has three tracks and two island platforms. The upper level serves the BMT West End Line while the lower level formerly...
until 1995, when it was cut back to Chambers Street. It was extended again from 2001-04 while the Manhattan Bridge was closed for reconstruction. In 2010, as part of a series of MTA budget cuts, rush-hour M service was discontinued.
Chaining information
The West End Line is chainedNew York City Subway chaining
New York City Subway chaining is a method to precisely specify locations along the New York City Subway lines. It measures distances from a fixed point, called chaining zero, following the twists and turns of the railroad line, so that the distance described is understood to be the "railroad...
BMT D. This is coincidental to the fact that the current (2011) primary service designator is also D.
Station listing
| Neighborhood | Station | Tracks | Services | Opened | Transfers and notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| splits from the BMT Fourth Avenue Line BMT Fourth Avenue Line The Fourth Avenue Line is a rapid transit line of the BMT division of the New York City Subway, mainly running under Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn. Fourth Avenue never had a streetcar line or elevated railway due to the provisions of the assessment charged to neighboring property owners when the street... |
||||||
| Center Express track begins (No Regular Service) | ||||||
| connecting tracks to former BMT Culver Line (No Regular Service) | ||||||
| connecting tracks to 36th–38th Street Yard from local tracks | ||||||
| Sunset Park Sunset Park, Brooklyn Sunset Park is a neighborhood in the western section of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, USA. It is bounded by Greenwood Heights to the north, Borough Park to the east, Bay Ridge to the south, and Upper New York Bay to the west... |
Ninth Avenue Ninth Avenue (BMT West End Line) Ninth Avenue is a bi-level express station on the BMT West End Line of the New York City Subway, located at the intersection of Ninth Avenue and 39th Street in Brooklyn. Each level has three tracks and two island platforms. The upper level serves the BMT West End Line while the lower level formerly... |
all | June 24, 1916 | former transfer to BMT Culver Line | ||
| Borough Park Borough Park, Brooklyn Borough Park , is a neighborhood in the southwestern part of the borough of Brooklyn, in New York City in the United States.... |
Fort Hamilton Parkway Fort Hamilton Parkway (BMT West End Line) Fort Hamilton Parkway is a local station on the BMT West End Line of the New York City Subway, located in Brooklyn at the intersection of Fort Hamilton Parkway and New Utrecht Avenue, in the neighborhood of Borough Park. It is served by the D train at all times. It has three tracks and two side... |
local | June 24, 1916 | |||
| 50th Street 50th Street (BMT West End Line) 50th Street is a local station on the BMT West End Line of the New York City Subway, located in Brooklyn at the intersection of 50th Street and New Utrecht Avenue in Borough Park, Brooklyn. It is served by the D train at all times.... |
local | June 24, 1916 | ||||
| 55th Street 55th Street (BMT West End Line) 55th Street is a local station on the BMT West End Line of the New York City Subway, located at the intersection of 55th Street and 13th Avenue in Borough Park, Brooklyn. It is served by the D train at all times.... |
local | June 24, 1916 | ||||
| Bensonhurst Bensonhurst, Brooklyn Bensonhurst is a neighborhood located in the southwestern part of the New York City borough of Brooklyn.-Geography:Sometimes erroneously thought to include all or parts of such neighborhoods as Bath Beach, Dyker Heights, and Borough Park, or to be defined by the streets where the concentration of... |
62nd Street | all | September 15, 1916 | BMT Sea Beach Line BMT Sea Beach Line The BMT Sea Beach Line is a rapid transit line of the BMT division of the New York City Subway, connecting the BMT Fourth Avenue Line subway at 59th Street via a four-track wide open cut to Coney Island in Brooklyn... at New Utrecht Avenue |
||
| 71st Street 71st Street (BMT West End Line) 71st Street is a local station on the BMT West End Line of the New York City Subway, located in Brooklyn at the intersection of 71st Street and New Utrecht Avenue in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. It is served by the D train at all times.... |
local | September 15, 1916 | ||||
| 79th Street 79th Street (BMT West End Line) 79th Street is a local station on the BMT West End Line of the New York City Subway, located in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn at the intersection of 79th Street and New Utrecht Avenue. It is served by the D train at all times.... |
local | September 15, 1916 | ||||
| 18th Avenue 18th Avenue (BMT West End Line) 18th Avenue is a local station on BMT West End Line of the New York City Subway in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. It is served by the D train at all times. It has three tracks and two side platforms. The center express track is not normally used.... |
local | September 15, 1916 | ||||
| 20th Avenue 20th Avenue (BMT West End Line) 20th Avenue is a local station on the BMT West End Line of the New York City Subway, located at the intersection of 20th Avenue and 86th Street in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. It is served by the D train at all times.... |
local | December 29, 1916 | ||||
| Bay Parkway Bay Parkway (BMT West End Line) Bay Parkway is an express station on the BMT West End Line of the New York City Subway, located in Brooklyn at the intersection of Bay Parkway and 86th Street, in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. The station is served by the D train at all times.This station was the terminus for the M train from 1987 to... |
all | December 29, 1916 | ||||
| 25th Avenue 25th Avenue (BMT West End Line) 25th Avenue is a local station on the BMT West End Line of the New York City Subway, located in Brooklyn at the intersection of 25th Avenue and 86th Street, on the border of the Bensonhurst, Bath Beach and Gravesend neighborhoods of Brooklyn. This station is served by the D train at all times.There... |
local | December 29, 1916 | ||||
| connecting track to Coney Island Yard | ||||||
| Gravesend Gravesend, Brooklyn Gravesend is a neighborhood in the south-central section of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, USA.The derivation of the name is unclear. Some speculate that it was named after the English seaport of Gravesend, Kent. An alternative explanation suggests that it was named by Willem Kieft for the... |
Bay 50th Street Bay 50th Street (BMT West End Line) Bay 50th Street is a local station on the BMT West End Line of the New York City Subway, located at the intersection of Bay 50th Street and Stillwell Avenue in the Gravesend neighborhood of Brooklyn. It is served by the D train at all times... |
local | December 21, 1917 | |||
| connecting track to Coney Island Yard | ||||||
| Center Express track ends | ||||||
| Coney Island | Coney Island – Stillwell Avenue | all | December 23, 1918 | BMT Brighton Line BMT Brighton Line The BMT Brighton Line is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway in Brooklyn, New York City, United States. Local service is provided at all times by the Q train. The Q is joined by the B express train on weekdays... IND Culver Line IND Culver Line The IND Culver Line is a rapid transit line of the B Division of the New York City Subway, extending from Downtown Brooklyn south to Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City, United States... BMT Sea Beach Line BMT Sea Beach Line The BMT Sea Beach Line is a rapid transit line of the BMT division of the New York City Subway, connecting the BMT Fourth Avenue Line subway at 59th Street via a four-track wide open cut to Coney Island in Brooklyn... |
||