The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has revealed a major change for weekday subway riders. Beginning Dec. 8, 2025, the F and M trains will swap their routes between Manhattan and Queens during the day, with the hope it will reduce delays.
Under the new schedule (which takes place during weekdays from about 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.), the F train will run via the 53rd Street tunnel, stopping at Queens Plaza, Court Square, Lexington Av/53 St and Fifth Ave/53 St. Meanwhile, the M train will move to 63rd Street, working for stations that includes 21 St‑Queensbridge, Roosevelt Island, Lexington Av/63 St and 57 St.
MTA officials say the reason for the swap is to eliminate a merge at Queens Plaza, where F and M trains currently cross, resulting in a source of delays on Queens Boulevard. After the change, the F will share tracks with two other lines (down from three), and the M will share tracks with three (down from four), helping move delays to smaller parts of the subway system.
Service on nights and weekends will not change. During those times, trains will continue to run on their current schedules, and riders should use existing routes.
In the last few years, the F train’s boarding volumes at Roosevelt Island have led to a lot of crowding, with many riders unable to board until multiple trains pass. Some residents hope that moving the M line there will ease that issue and make boarding easier. Still, not all reactions are positive about this change. Some riders are concerned the swap could increase travel time for certain journeys or force new transfers. Others welcome the change, saying the swap is a logical solution to a recurring problem.
The MTA says it will provide updated signage, maps and announcements in the near future. With the swap confirmed, commuters have time to prepare for when the F and M trains swap lines this December.
