Navigating the New York City subway system requires knowing exactly where your train goes, especially on long trunk lines like the IND Sixth Avenue Line. The MTA D train runs from Norwood–205th Street in the Bronx all the way down to Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue in Brooklyn, spanning three boroughs and over 40 stations. If you're trying to figure out every single stop, transfer point, and operational quirk along the route, you're in the right place.
The D train functions as both a local and express service depending on the borough and time of day. It runs express through most of Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn, while making local stops in the Bronx and southern Brooklyn. Knowing these patterns helps you shave minutes off your daily commute and avoid missing your transfer.
The Bronx: Local Stops to Norwood
The northern terminal of the D train is Norwood–205th Street in the Bronx. From here, trains travel southward down Grand Concourse, making local stops through upper Manhattan and the Bronx before transitioning to express service.
- Norwood–205th Street: Northern terminal station with connections to local bus routes.
- Bedford Park Boulevard: Transfer point for select B train services during peak hours.
- Kingsbridge Road: Serves local residential areas and commercial corridors along Grand Concourse.
- Fordham Road: One of the busiest transit hubs in the Bronx, offering heavy retail foot traffic and multiple bus connections.
- 183rd Street: Local stop serving University Heights.
- Burnside Avenue: Local stop with close proximity to major neighborhood parks and commercial streets.
- 174th–175th Streets: Local station serving Mount Hope.
- Tremont Avenue: Major crosstown bus connection point.
- 167th Street: Local stop near Yankee Stadium and Joyce Kilmer Park.
- 161st Street–Yankee Stadium: Major express and transfer hub linking the D, B, and 4 trains, packed on game days.
Manhattan: The Express Spine
South of 161st Street, the D train crosses the Harlem River into Manhattan. Here, it enters the IND Eighth Avenue Line briefly before shifting to the IND Sixth Avenue Line south of Central Park. During peak hours, the D operates as an express train in Manhattan, bypassing numerous local stations.
- 155th Street: Local stop in upper Manhattan (Note: B trains stop here, but peak-direction D trains skip it).
- 145th Street: Major transfer station linking the A, B, C, and D lines.
- 125th Street: High-traffic express station in Harlem with connections to multiple bus lines and Metro-North nearby.
- 59th Street–Columbus Circle: Major transit hub connecting the A, B, C, and D lines at the southwest corner of Central Park.
- Seventh Avenue: Local stop on the Sixth Avenue line (served by B and E trains, skipped by peak D trains).
- 50th Street: Local stop in Midtown West.
- 47th–50th Streets–Rockefeller Center: Bustling commercial hub connecting the B, D, F, and M trains.
- 42nd Street–Bryant Park: Major interchange connecting to the 7 train and the Times Square complex via subterranean passageways.
- 34th Street–Herald Square: One of the busiest transit nodes in the city, offering connections to the B, D, F, M, N, Q, R, and W trains, alongside PATH trains.
- 23rd Street: Local stop in Chelsea.
- 14th Street: Transfer station connecting to the F, M, and L (1st Avenue/Sixth Avenue pathway) lines.
- West Fourth Street–Washington Square: Major downtown express hub connecting the A, C, E, B, D, F, and M lines.
- BofA / Broadway–Lafayette Street: Major downtown transfer station linking the B, D, F, M, and 6 trains.
- Grand Street: The final Manhattan stop on the D line before crossing the Manhattan Bridge into Brooklyn.
Brooklyn: Crossing the Bridge to Coney Island
After leaving Grand Street, the D train crosses the northern edge of the Manhattan Bridge (or runs via the Montague Street Tunnel during bridge repairs) into Downtown Brooklyn. It then merges onto the BMT Fourth Avenue Line and later the BMT West End Line, winding down to Coney Island.
- DeKalb Avenue: Major Brooklyn transfer hub connecting the B, D, N, Q, and R trains.
- Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center: Massive transit complex linking the 2, 3, 4, 5, B, D, N, Q, and R trains, plus the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR).
- Seventh Avenue: Local stop in Park Slope (BMT Fourth Avenue Line).
- Prospect Avenue: Local stop.
- 25th Street: Local stop.
- 36th Street: Major express transfer station linking the D, N, and R trains.
- Ninth Avenue: The divergence point where the D train leaves the Fourth Avenue line and enters the BMT West End Line.
- Fort Hamilton Parkway: First stop on the West End elevated structure.
- 50th Street: Local elevated stop in Borough Park.
- 55th Street: Local stop.
- 62nd Street–New Utrecht Avenue: Major transfer hub connecting the D train to the M line at the MTA official site.
- 71st Street: Local stop.
- 79th Street: Local stop.
- 18th Avenue: Local stop.
- 20th Avenue: Local stop.
- Bay Parkway: Busy commercial stop in Bensonhurst.
- 25th Avenue: Local stop.
- Bay 50th Street: Final elevated stop before entering the Coney Island rail yard complex.
- Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue: Southern terminal station connecting the D, F, N, and Q lines right by the boardwalk and amusement parks.
Common Commuter Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Riding the D train smoothly requires avoiding a few classic pitfalls that trap tourists and new residents alike.
- Confusing Express and Local Runs: Don't wait on a local Manhattan platform during morning or evening rush hours expecting a D train to stop. During peak hours, D trains run express and skip stations like 50th Street or Seventh Avenue. Always check the digital countdown clocks on the platform.
- Ignoring Bridge Diversions: The MTA frequently performs weekend and overnight track maintenance on the Manhattan Bridge. When this happens, the D train is often rerouted via the Rutgers Street Tunnel (sharing space with the F train) or the Montague Street Tunnel (sharing with the R train). Always check the MTA Weekender service advisory before heading out on weekends.
- Mixing Up B and D Trains: In the Bronx and northern Manhattan, the B and D lines share tracks and stop patterns closely, but the B train only runs on weekdays during peak hours and terminates earlier (usually at 145th Street or Bedford Park Boulevard). Make sure you look at the roll sign on the side of the train car before boarding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the D train run 24/7?
Yes, the D train operates around the clock, though service frequencies drop significantly during late-night hours (typically between 11:30 PM and 5:00 AM), during which it may make local stops along portions where it otherwise runs express.
Which boroughs does the D train serve?
The D train serves three NYC boroughs: the Bronx, Manhattan, and Brooklyn. It does not enter Queens or Staten Island.
Where is the northern terminal of the D train?
The northern terminal is Norwood–205th Street in the northern section of the Bronx, located near the Bronx River Parkway and local parks.
How long does it take to ride the entire D train line?
A full end-to-end trip from Norwood–205th Street in the Bronx to Coney Island in Brooklyn takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to 1 hour and 45 minutes, depending on traffic and time of day.
