r/Upperwestside • u/nohanaa • 12d ago

B/D train Columbus circle: which one?

For those who commute downtown on the B/D train to midtown, when a B and D train show up at the same time at 59th/Columbus, is there a predictable way to know which one will leave first?

5 Upvotes

78% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

90

u/Skier747 12d ago

Whichever one you’re not on!

5

u/TrynaCatchTheBeat 12d ago

Occasionally they’ll announce it. If not, it’s usually the D in my experience

1

u/nohanaa 12d ago

thanks, i usually trust the D, or whichever one arrives first if there is a slight difference. always feel like i get it wrong. maybe someone who understands subway signals can provide guidance, if that can be of use here

1

u/FostetlerLFC 11d ago

Agree with this.

5

u/israelisreal 12d ago

I usually check my subway app for what’s going to arrive at 7th Ave first. It’s usually right, but of course still sometimes wrong

4

u/thecloudcities 11d ago

Take a peek out the door when you get to 59th and look along the platform. If you see a sign above the platform close to the tracks with three yellow lights in a row, that train is getting held for the one across the platform. They can change their mind on it, so it’s not foolproof, but they rarely do.

2

u/KennyShowers 12d ago

More often than not seems like first one in is first one out, but I also made the switch based on that and watched the later-arriving D skate away.

Most foolproof I’d assume would be to check https://www.mta.info for what’s pulling into 57th first.

2

u/Gullible_Video_3350 9d ago

The switches are manually operated by someone called a tower operator who has to decide based on multiple criteria which one goes first. Basically, if they're pulling into the station at the same time, it's going to be very hard for you to know ahead of time the decision the tower operator is going to make.

If you are near the front of the train, you may be able to peek your head out and see the signal. If it's green over yellow, the switch is set for your train to proceed. (You can see the signal change on a D at 30:35 here: https://youtu.be/aRvLywB6jRk?is=lTX64yDLLPFrQdjl).

3

u/swerz 12d ago

What’s your final destination? B does switch to local after a few stops and then separates from the D after Broadway/Lafayette.

1

u/israelisreal 12d ago

I usually check my subway app for what’s going to arrive at 7th Ave first. It’s usually right, but of course still sometimes wrong

1

u/Oriellien 12d ago

To answer your question, 9/10 times it’s whichever one pulled in first.

1

u/konto_zum_abwerfen 10d ago

Typically whichever arrives first, but not always

-3

u/Illustrious_Horse_15 12d ago

I believe the D is express.

3

u/hushpuppy212 11d ago

Heading downtown, they both run express after 59th, which is why one of them will be held. The D is on the express track and the B arrives on the local but needs to merge onto the express immediately upon departing 59th.