WINNERS:

The Bronx - It’s not often we can award the winner label to a whole borough, but The Bronx is completely unaffected by the service changes this weekend. No problems to report on the 1, 4, D, 2, 5, or 6. Of course, watch out once you get into Manhattan.

M train riders - While it may be true that the M train only runs to Myrtle Ave on the weekend, but it is running. The upside is that the J is extended all the way to Atlantic Ave via the R line (but take note, it terminates at the Q platform). So M train riders, you get a little extra this weekend.

Q train riders - No longer will you have to walk the tunnel between Atlantic and Pacific to continue along the Q train. It is a normal run for the Q: express in Manhattan and local in Brooklyn.

LOSERS:

Bensonhurst and Dyker Heights - It is yet another weekend of N trains being rerouted on the D line, this weekend in the Manhattan-bound direction. It’s not exactly a problem that is garnering a whole lot of attention but it has become a serious barrier to using mass transit in these South Brooklyn neighborhoods.

Express trains - It’s a rough weekend for express train riders, especially in Manhattan. The A, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are all running local in Manhattan. In the case of the A train, it is running local in Brooklyn and Queens as well. It’s gonna be a long ride from Washington Heights, The Rockaways, Wakefield, Bedford Park, New Lots, Eastchester, and a lot of other place. Plan extra time.

Staten Island Ferry passengers - It’s another weekend of screwy service. The good news is there is regular R train service at Whitehall St. But there is no service on the 1 or 4 train. You can catch the J at Broad St but it’s a long walk to ferry and it won’t take you to midtown. Rely on the R train Staten Islanders.

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Friday Update: I was a little rushed last night so I missed a few things. I was wrong about the J being extended to Broad St, it is in fact going all the way to Atlantic Ave. My sources also tell me that the 4 and (presumably) 5 trains are running local. There is nothing in the official documentation about the 4 and 5 running local but my eyes in the city tell me it is so. Shoot me an email if you see it one way or another. Finally, I had one mislabeled train. Manhattan-bound A trains are in fact running express from Broadway Jct to Hoyt-Schemerhorn. That should do it. The map has been updated! Happy Labor Day!

Happy Labor Day everyone! For you history buffs out there, it was September, 5 1882 when per the urging of a labor leader named Peter J. McGuire the New York Central Labor Union organized a parade of workers from City Hall to Union Square. The first parade/picnic was held on a Tuesday, but every year after that it has been celebrated the very first Monday of September. Yet another thing New York City gave to the country. So make sure to enjoy your day off this Monday and celebrate work by playing all day. HOLIDAY NOTE: All service changes this weekend are for Saturday and Sunday only. There are no service changes for Labor Day itself, but the trains will run on a Sunday schedule. To see what Monday will look like, just look at the normal weekend service. Otherwise the MTA is in the mood to giveth and taketh away this weekend. The J train has been extended to Atlantic Ave and the R train is extended to 179 St on Saturday. However, the 1 train terminates at 14 St. The 4 and 5 terminate at 42 and Chambers Sts. And the other end of the J train terminates at 111 St. It will be tough in parts of Lower Manhattan this weekend. Check out this weekend’s winners and losers Happy Tracks New York!

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WINNERS

Brooklyn F train riders - After a few weekends of G trains replacing the F and forcing Brooklynites to transfer to get into Manhattan, F train service has been restored to normal. Of course this is bad news for Queens riders who have to deal with service traveling on the V line towards Manhattan. If it’s not one end of the F it’s the other.

6 train riders - It’s been a solid few months on the 6 train. The changes in the Bronx that had plagued the 6 seem to have dissipated on the weekends. It’s a nice, though long, trip from Pelham Bay to the Brooklyn Bridge

Brooklyn 2, 3, and 4 train riders - The past month has brought the circle route for the 5 and 2 trains in Manhattan. That really hasn’t harmed Manhattanites much, but for the folks in Brooklyn it has been a mighty pain. 2 trains have not traveled to/from the West Side to Brooklyn. There has been no 3 train in Brooklyn, which also means the 4 has run local to replace it. Well, your problems are over Brooklyn. But where have those problems gone? Funny you should ask…..

LOSERS

Wakefield, Williamsbridge, Allerton, Baychester, and Eastchester - The 2 and 5 trains are royally screwed in the Bronx this weekend. There is no 2 train between 241 and 180 Sts. That means residents of Williamsbridge, Allerton, and Wakefield have to rely on shuttle buses. And don’t get any ideas about going over to the 5 train. It is not running between 180 St and Grand Concourse. So it essentially a two train shuttle to get from the North-Central Bronx to Grand Concourse. Allow lots of extra time.

Middle Village - It may only be for Sunday this weekend, but there is still a deletion of the M train. It sort of eliminates the incentive to take public transit when there is none on a regular basis.

Upper West Side - This is a cumulative honor for the 79 and 86 St stations on the 1 train. They have had an express run in one direction almost every weekend for months. It is only two stations so it doesn’t seem significant, but for those who line on the Upper West Side it must be a complete aggravation by this point. Stay strong UWS!

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Late Friday Update: It appears I missed an easy one this weekend. Uptown 1 trains skip 79 and 86 Sts. They seem to do that lot lately eh? Also the previously indicated service change that had uptown D trains skipping 170, 174-175, and 182-183 Sts. seems to have been canceled.

Hey again everyone. Hope all is well on this wonderful weekend. It has been a stunning few days, perfect for my city “hikes.” I had a good hike today through Red Hook and Carroll Gardens. Plus a little hike through Sunnyside, Queens as well. All beautiful neighborhoods in their own way. Plus all three had to deal with service interruptions to the F and 7 last weekend, but all three will have normal service this weekend. How will your neighborhood fare? You’ll have to check the map to find out. Or click over to the winners and losers section to see if you are listed there. Happy Tracks New York!

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WINNERS:

L train riders - It is a fun time to live in Brooklyn and commute on the L. There continues to be none of the problematic service changes that tend to plague the L. It is an easy ride this weekend into Manhattan. Enjoy it!

D train riders - The D is one of the few trains this weekend to have no service changes at all. While you may not have that extra N train service to latch onto, it is still a clear weekend on the D. Just wait D train riders, as soon as the Yankee’s season ends, it will be a litany of construction.

6 train riders - I think the L, D, 6, and E trains are the only trains with no disruptions this weekend. I choose the 6 train for my final honors. It’s a nice run from Pelham this weekend. Enjoy the trip to Orchard Beach.

LOSERS:

Manhattan - Yup the whole borough gets the loss this weekend. Let me explain why. Downtown 2 trains run on the 5. Downtown 5 trains run on the 2. Uptown A trains run on the F. Downtown R trains run on the E and then the D. Downtown N trains run on the R. If it seems as if nothing is where it should be in Manhattan this weekend, there is good reason for it.

Brooklyn F train riders - It is yet another frustrating weekend of relying on the G train to get to Hoyt-Schemerhorn for the F train. One must assume that the MTA is decreasing the headways on the G so that it runs at worst every 10 minutes. but you never know. Regardless, it is frustrating having that one-train ride to Manhattan revoked.

M train riders - Another weekend of no M train service in either direction. Shuttle buses will connect you to the J or the L, but be advised the L is your best bet because J trains run in two sections at Essex St.

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Welcome back straphangers for another fun-filled weekend of zany subway service courtesy of everyone’s favorite cash-strapped city agency. This weekend sees a lot of trains running in places they don’t belong. So don’t be surprised if you’re standing on the platform this weekend when all of a sudden a train that has no business stopping there rolls into the stations. As always, you can check the winners and losers when they get posted on Friday. For now, here is the map. I’ll be back with any needed updates tomorrow.

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FRIDAY UPDATE: There are a few additions that I missed. Q train riders have to transfer through the tunnel at Atlantic/Pacific to continue their trip. Also in the same area, there is no Franklin Ave Shuttle on Sunday until 6 PM. The big issue is the 8th Ave line. It is a complete mess this weekend so let me give you a run-down of what (I think) is going to happen. The biggest mess is Saturday. Bear with me.

Saturday: There is no C train. Between 145 St and 59 St the D train makes express stops in both directions. Between 168 St and 125 St the A train makes all local stops. Between 125 St and 59 St downtown A trains make all local stops, uptown A trains make express stops. Bottom line: there is no uptown service at 72, 81, 86, 96, 103, and 116 Sts. Between 59 St and W 4 St downtown D trains run normally, uptown D trains run on the A line stopping at 14, 34, and 42 Sts. Between Canal St and 59 St Downtown A trains make all local stops, uptown A trains skip Spring, 23, and 50 Sts. Bottom Line: There is no uptown D service at 7 Ave, Rockefeller Center, 42 St and 34 St. There is no Uptown A (but there is normal E train service) service at Spring, 23, and 50 Sts.

Sunday: There is no C train. D trains run normally in Manhattan. A trains run local in Manhattan

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Well I’m sorry for the delay in updating this week. The MTA has been very slow in getting the official press release out online and in the stations. It has usually been up Thursday afternoon but as of Noon Friday, there is still nothing. I am going to post the map I have and come back later tonight or tomorrow morning with an update. The A and D trains are still confused as to what is running express/local when and where. The only guarantee? There will be no C train this weekend. Also of note, the 4 train is not running between Yankee Stadium and Woodlawn but the shuttle bus service is different. Rather than run a bus along Jerome Ave, there will be shuttle buses from all 4 train stops to the corresponding D train stops on Grand Concourse. Here is this week’s map for now……Happy Tracks New York!

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Hey there, sorry for no update this Thursday. I am still trying to figure out a problem with conflicting reports of A, C, and D train changes this weekend. And rather than redraw everything, I will wait for Friday’s press releases before I post the map. I have the day off Friday so it should be up in the morning. That is all. Have a good night.

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So according to the Daily News, the MTA is going to experiment with seatless subway cars in the near future. It is an experiment to try and reduce crowding delays on the most crowded lines in the city. The cars will have seats, but they will be able to be locked in an “up” position at rush hours. This probably won’t affect many riders who suffer seatless on most mornings, but it’s bad news for those who live at the far reaches of the lines such as Dyre Ave, Norwood, or Wakefield. The pilot program will feature seatless cars in 4 of the 10 train cars. The MTA says it doesn’t know which lines will have the experimental cars yet but one can pretty much assume it will be the L, 4, 5, 6, or 2. Trains running new cars are the only options because the seatless cars are new too and the N, W, J, and Z are not crowded enough to deserve the treatment. My guess is for riders on the L to watch out for these cars soon. And while it may not matter much to most riders, for those poorest riders who live furthest from Manhattan, it may just seem like another example of screwing the poor to serve the rich. And now the great refrain of those who live at a terminus, “at least I always get a seat,” may be a thing of the past.

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FRIDAY UPDATE #2: OK, hopefully one last change. The downtown 6 train will run express between 125 St and Grand Central (and the 4 late night). This is a last-minute emergency change and hopefully the last one.

FRIDAY UPDATE: Wow! A lot of major stuff got added at the last second this weekend. You will see the following changes reflected in the map.

-No M train service at all!

-Manhattan-bound N trains run on the D to 36 St-Brooklyn

-Brooklyn-bound R trains run over the Manhattan Bridge

-Norwood-bound D trains skip 182-183 Sts

-Q train riders have to walk the tunnel between Atlantic Ave and Pacific St to continue on the Q in both directions.

Hope that helps to clear things up out there. As always, keep vigilant and if you see anything out there that is not on the map, drop me an email and I will try to add it to the map. Though I will be at work from 7:30 AM to 9 PM on Saturday so it might take a while for me to see it!

Welcome back everyone. The dog days of summer are upon us and we all know the worst part about summer in New York is waiting for the train on a stifling Sunday on a platform that is 110 degrees. Well I’m here to make sure you don’t end up on a platform waiting for a train that will never come. There are the usual small changes to account for this weekend. Some old favorites and some new ones as well. One change to the site this weekend is that I will have the main weekend page as the home page and in the “posts” section to make the map available to those who use RSS feeds to view the site. Unless anybody knows how to add a static page to my RSS feed’s output, and if so drop me an email. Also, make sure to check out this week’s winners and losers. Happy Tracks New York!

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