Underneath the new European-styled train shed at Coney Island/Stillwell Avenue. Photo by: Zach Summer, January 2010.

BMT West End Line

BMT Culver Line
Demolition of the Culver Shuttle

BMT Sea Beach Line

BMT Brighton Line
Manhattan Bridge · Myrtle Avenue

Overview

For a list of all the lines serving Coney Island, see Lines below.

The Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue terminal is the confluence of the four major BMT routes. The BMT Brighton Line, BMT Culver Line, BMT Sea Beach Line, and BMT West End Line all terminate/originate here.

Cross section of the canopy and platforms at the rebuilt Stillwell Avenue station. (MTA diagram.)

Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue was a Dual Contracts-funded replacement for the private Culver and West End Depots. The station consists of four island platforms and eight tracks; from west to east (left to right if you're facing north), the platforms serve the West End, Culver, Sea Beach, and Brighton lines. Train access to the West End and Sea Beach platforms is from the north; Culver and Brighton from the south, although all tracks except those serving the West End platform pass through the station and can accept trains arriving from the north or south.

Stillwell Avenue underwent a massive reconstruction and fully reopened serving all lines in May, 2005. During the construction one platform at a time was closed to service and the respective line was cut back to a temporary terminus or routed to a different platform than usual. The new station features an arched canopy over most of the length of the platforms (they are exposed at the north end). Under the canopy but over the platforms at about the midway point is a pedestrian overpass and crew quarters built on a bridge-like structure. This overpass is ADA-accessible via elevator. Ramps and stairways lead from the platforms down to the lobby area although the ramps themselves are not fully accessible, a short flight of stairs at the bottom of each one.

The lobby area has the fare control turnstiles plus gates which are opened at times of peak traffic. There are ramps from the lobby to the bus lanes at the Mermaid Avenue end of the station. There is an old-style wooden token booth still used at this station at times of peak traffic.

Stillwell Avenue offers many varied opportunities for photos and should not be missed. The north end of the station has a pedestrian crossing over all 8 tracks, and the view from the West End side looking north towards Manhattan is the best. The view south from the overpass is now obscured by the canopy but still provides excellent photo opportunities. Exit the station at Stillwell Avenue and yet more opportunities are available to you along Stillwell Avenue on the west, Surf Avenue on the south and Neptune Ave on the north sides of the station.

Artwork

My Coney Island Baby, Robert Wilson, 2004.

Map

Track map of the Stillwell Avenue/Coney Island station area. This map has been released into the public domain by its creator, SPUI.

Photo Gallery

Image 1898 (228k, 1024x668) Photo by: Doug Grotjahn Collection of: Joe Testagrose Location: Coney Island/Stillwell Avenue	Image 2349 (160k, 1024x677) Collection of: Joe Testagrose Location: Coney Island/Stillwell Avenue	Image 2921 (207k, 1024x655) Photo by: Ed McKernan Collection of: Joe Testagrose Location: Coney Island/Stillwell Avenue	Image 29501 (127k, 640x480) Photo by: Irwin Markowitz Location: Coney Island/Stillwell Avenue	Image 30559 (86k, 768x576) Photo by: Richard Panse Location: Coney Island/Stillwell Avenue
Image 32366 (273k, 1044x788) Photo by: Richard Panse Location: Coney Island/Stillwell Avenue	Image 48527 (184k, 1044x788) Photo by: Michael Hodurski Location: Coney Island/Stillwell Avenue	Image 51586 (118k, 1024x768) Photo by: Michael Hodurski Location: Coney Island/Stillwell Avenue	Image 68218 (176k, 1044x788) Photo by: Zach Summer Location: Coney Island/Stillwell Avenue	Image 91485 (209k, 1044x788) Photo by: Paul P. Location: Coney Island/Stillwell Avenue
Image 110471 (243k, 666x500) Photo by: John Dooley Location: Coney Island/Stillwell Avenue	Image 119274 (229k, 1044x700) Photo by: Chris C. Shaffer Location: Coney Island/Stillwell Avenue	Image 122933 (316k, 1024x687) Photo by: Joe Testagrose Location: Coney Island/Stillwell Avenue	Image 128480 (358k, 1044x715) Photo by: Zach Summer Location: Coney Island/Stillwell Avenue	Image 130795 (342k, 1044x788) Photo by: Robert Mencher Location: Coney Island/Stillwell Avenue