By Bill Parry
Astoria and Long Island City will have their W subway line again beginning Nov. 7, according to MTA officials. The agency discontinued the service amid budget cuts in 2010, but will relaunch the W to replace the Q train, which will depart Queens to operate on the 2nd Avenue subway line in Manhattan beginning in December.
It’s a boon for area straphangers, one local pol said.
“The growing population of western Queens is in desperate need of improved mass-transit service, and the return of the W train will help deal with this growing demand,” state Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria) said.
The W train will run between Ditmars Boulevard in Astoria and Whitehall Street in Manhattan on weekdays. The train will not run on weekends or late nights, forcing riders in Astoria and Long Island City to use the N train.
R train service will not be affected, according to the MTA.
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparr
