Astoria Boulevard

Astoria Boulevard is an express station on the BMT Astoria Line. Located above 31st Street at Astoria Boulevard and the Grand Central Parkway in Astoria, Queens, the station is served by the N train at all times, as well as by the W train on weekdays.HistoryThis elevated station opened on February 1, 1917, along with the opening of the rest of the Astoria Line, as an IRT line station, and the BRT (later BMT) also provided joint service.On the morning of May 1, 1998, a backhoe working underneath the station (not performing New York City Transit-related work) struck the mezzanine, ripping out three support beams while damaging four more and creating a huge hole in the floor. There were no injuries, but trains bypassed the station at restricted speed. Cleanup work began immediately and by noon, the slow speed restriction was removed. By 3:00 p.m., a temporary wooden floor was installed. Less than eight hours from the time of the first response, the station was back in full service. Permanent repairs were made overnight.Station layoutThe station has three tracks and two island platforms. The center track is not used in revenue service, but it had been used regularly as recently as 2002.