New York City

Where the brown-bulleted J and Z trains run 24/7 between Queens and Lower Manhattan, with skip-stop patterns dating to 1988.

via Wikipedia: J/Z (New York City Subway service) · see source

New York City is where the J Nassau Street Local and Z Nassau Street Express rapid transit services operate in the B Division of the New York City Subway. Their route emblems are colored brown. The services use the BMT Nassau Street Line in Lower Manhattan. The J operates 24 hours daily, while the Z operates only in the peak direction during rush hours. Both services operate between Jamaica Center–Parsons/Archer in Jamaica, Queens, and Broad Street in Lower Manhattan.

Last updated 2026-09-29 from the source article.

Quick Facts

Named for: James Stuart, Duke of York
Seal size: 90

Facts from the source article.

Lore & Background

The J/Z's current skip-stop pattern was implemented in 1988. The J/Z is derived from four routes: the JJ/15 between Broad or Chambers Streets in Lower Manhattan and 168th Street in Queens; the KK between 57th Street/Sixth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan and 168th Street in Queens; the QJ between Brighton Beach in Brooklyn and 168th Street in Queens; and the 14 between Broad or Chambers Streets in Lower Manhattan and Canarsie–Rockaway Parkway in Brooklyn. The Jamaica Line was originally known as the Broadway Elevated, completed in 1893 from Cypress Hills west to Broadway Ferry in Williamsburg. The second major service on the Broadway Elevated ran between Canarsie and Williamsburg via the BMT Canarsie Line, started on July 30, 1906. As part of the Dual Contracts, an extension from Cypress Hills east to Jamaica was completed on July 3, 1918, and express trains began running in 1922.

Reader's Guide

When the Z operates, the two services form a skip-stop pair between Sutphin Boulevard–JFK and Myrtle Avenue/Broadway and also make express stops between Myrtle and Marcy Avenues in Brooklyn. Midday J service also makes express stops between Myrtle and Marcy Avenues and all stops along the full route other times. The J/Z is derived from four routes: the JJ/15, the KK, the QJ, and the 14.

Did You Know?

On January 2, 1973, the QJ was cut back to Broad Street and redesignated the J.
The J was truncated to Queens Boulevard just after midnight on September 11, 1977, and to 121st Street on April 15, 1985.