We’ve replaced over 5,000 feet of old track and installed new switches that will help us provide smoother, more reliable service for decades to come. Your flexibility navigating service suspensions along the line on nights and weekends helped us get it done. Here's a peak inside the tunnel.
What we got done
New track between 145 and 168 St
Track on this stretch of the was over 35 years old – well past its prime. Replacing it means we can avoid unpredictable headaches and delays, to bring you more consistent service. Over the past few months, we chipped away and removed that old track.
We installed all the things that make track, track: new track ties, new plates, and new rails. We poured fresh cement to hold it all together. We also installed about 2,700 ft. of continuous welded rail, for an even smoother ride.
New switches at 185 and 189A/B at Dyckman St
The switches we’ve replaced were at the very end of their useful lives at 31 years of age. These new switches will do an even better job moving 1 trains to and from the middle track when there are diversions or outages on the line. Without these switches, service on the would grind to a halt whenever an issue arose that required a train to stop unexpectedly, like when a train has to hold in the station or if there’s an issue in the tunnels connecting stations.
Maintenance
While our track teams replaced this old infrastructure, lots of teams got to work on other maintenance projects. We want to minimize the number of times we have to disrupt service to do work. At 238th street, we repaired a switch. We also cleared out drain pipes to keep things flowing.
Service changes while we worked
Weekend service changes
Weekends
From 12:01 a.m. Saturdays, to 1 a.m. Mondays, 1 trains will run from South Ferry to 137 St. Beginning at 5 a.m. Saturday morning, three free shuttle buses will connect 1 stations and provide service to A C stations.
The three shuttle buses routes are:
- 137 St – 168 St
- 191 St – 168 St
- 242 St – 207 St
Note that there will be no shuttle bus service between 12:01 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Saturday morning.
These service changes will be in effect during the following weekends:
- January 2-4
- January 9-11
- January 16-18
- January 23-25
- January 30-February 1
- March 6-8
- March 13-15
- March 20-22
During the weekends of February 13-16, 20-22, and February 27-March 1, trains will run in two sections connected by a shuttle bus route. One section runs between South Ferry and 137 St. The second section runs between Dyckman St and 242 St.
Weeknight service changes
Weekends
From 12:01 a.m. Saturdays, to 1 a.m. Mondays, trains will run from South Ferry to 137 St. Beginning at 5 a.m. Saturday morning, three free shuttle buses will connect stations and provide service to stations.
The three shuttle buses routes are:
- 137 St – 168 St
- 191 St – 168 St
- 242 St – 207 St
Note that there will be no shuttle bus service between 12:01 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Saturday morning.
To get as much work done as possible during these changes, we're also adding in some maintenance projects during the weeknights. During the following weeknights, service will be slightly different than as described above:
- January 11-14
- January 18-21
- January 25-28
During these three weeks, the will operate in two sections:
- Dyckman St to 242 St
- South Ferry to 148 St (on the line)
There will be no service between 96 St and Dyckman St.
Shuttle buses will operate the following routes:
- 96 St to 168 St
- 168 St to 191 St
- Dyckman St to Dyckman St