B (New York City Subway Service) - History

History

The designation B was originally intended to designate express trains originating in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan and operating in Midtown Manhattan on the IND Sixth Avenue Line. However, the original B service, beginning with the opening of the Sixth Avenue Line in 1940 and continuing until opening of the Chrystie Street Connection in 1967, ran only as a rush-hour local between 168th Street – Washington Heights and 34th Street – Herald Square. This service was designated BB in conformance with Independent Subway System protocol of using double letters to indicate local services.

Subsequent to the opening of the Chrystie Street Connection, the former BB trains were combined with the former T service of the BMT West End Line, creating a through service from Washington Heights to Coney Island – Stillwell Avenue. This service was initially to have been signed BT but was simply signed B instead. Starting July 1, 1968, the B had its Manhattan terminal at 57th Street during non-rush hour daytime hours, bypassing 57th Street and extending to 168th Street only during rush hours.

The partial closure of the Manhattan Bridge to subway service between 1986 and 2004 affected B service by severing the connection between the northern and southern portions of the route. Beginning on April 26, 1986, the northern B (via Sixth Avenue, informally called "Orange B") and the southern B (via the BMT Broadway Line, informally called "Yellow B") operated as two different services. The Orange B more or less duplicated the former BB service, and the Yellow B imitated the old T service. The former B service resumed December 11, 1988. On October 29, 1989, the IND 63rd Street Line opened, extending service to 21st Street – Queensbridge. B service ran through this new line on weekends. A year later, it would also run here on weekday evenings.

On April 30, 1995, the north side of the Manhattan Bridge was closed on midday and weekends until the following November. During this time, B trains ran only between Atlantic Avenue – Pacific Street and Coney Island – Stillwell Avenue, running local on the BMT West End Line and express on the BMT Fourth Avenue Line.

On February 22, 1998, B service was cut to 57th Street on evenings and weekends as a result of the reconstruction of the IND 63rd Street Line. Service on that line was replaced by a shuttle to the BMT Broadway Line.

On March 1, 1998, the B and the C switched northern terminals, ending the connection between the B and Washington Heights. The B was now routed onto the IND Concourse Line during rush hours.

In 2000, B service was taken off of the IND 63rd Street Line for signal and track work. It now ran along Central Park West to 145th Street (Bedford Park Boulevard during rush hours) at all times except late nights.

On July 22, 2001, B service over the Manhattan Bridge was again interrupted and service recast similarly to the 1986 changes. However, this time the West End Line portion of the run was redesignated as the W. B service ran weekdays only, to Bedford Park Boulevard during rush hours and 145th Street during middays and evenings.

On February 22, 2004, the Manhattan Bridge was fully reopened to subway service. B trains were extended through Grand Street station and over the north tracks of the Manhattan Bridge into Brooklyn, replacing the Q Diamond as the Brighton Express to Brighton Beach.

From September 14, 2009 to October 3, 2011, B trains ran local in Brooklyn due to a station reconstruction project on the Brighton Line.