Jamaica station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jamaica
Track 3, Platform B at Jamaica station, looking west.
Location	93-02 Sutphin Boulevard Jamaica, Queens, New York
Coordinates	40°41′59″N 73°48′28″W / 40.69972°N 73.80778°W / 40.69972; -73.80778
Line(s)	Main Line Atlantic Branch Montauk Branch
Platforms	6 island platforms (cross-platform interchange)
Tracks	10
Connections	New York City Subway: ​ (at Sutphin Boulevard–Archer Avenue–JFK Airport) New York City Bus: Q20A, Q20B, Q24, Q30, Q31, Q43, Q44 SBS, Q54, Q56 MTA Bus: Q6, Q8, Q9, Q25, Q34, Q40, Q41, Q60, Q65 Nassau Inter-County Express: n4 AirTrain JFK: Jamaica Station Route
Construction
Parking	Yes
Disabled access	Yes
Other information
Fare zone	3
History
Opened	1836
Rebuilt	1912–1913, 2001–2006
Electrified	750 V (DC) third rail
Traffic
Passengers (2017)	over 200,000 on weekdays
Rank	2 of 125
Services Preceding station LIRR Following station Kew Gardens towards Penn Station City Terminal Zone through to branches Hunterspoint Avenue limited service towards Long Island City East New York towards Atlantic Terminal through to City Terminal Zone Hempstead Branch Hollis towards Hempstead Port Jefferson Branch New Hyde Park towards Huntington or Port Jefferson Oyster Bay Branch Mineola towards Oyster Bay Ronkonkoma Branch Mineola towards Greenport via Ronkonkoma Montauk Branch Babylon towards Patchogue, Speonk or Montauk West Hempstead Branch weekdays St. Albans towards West Hempstead Babylon Branch St. Albans towards Wantagh or Babylon Long Beach Branch Valley Stream towards Long Beach Long Beach Branch weekends Locust Manor towards Long Beach Far Rockaway Branch Locust Manor towards Far Rockaway Far Rockaway Branch weekends Valley Stream towards Far Rockaway East New York towards Atlantic Terminal City Terminal Zone shuttle Terminus through to City Terminal Zone Belmont Park Branch special event service Belmont Park Terminus
Former services Preceding station Long Island Rail Road Following station Dunton toward Long Island City or Penn Station Main Line Union Hall Street toward Greenport Dunton toward Long Island City Montauk Division Union Hall Street toward Montauk Dunton toward Flatbush Avenue Atlantic Division Cedar Manor toward Valley Stream

Jamaica station is a very important train station in Jamaica, Queens, New York City. It's a major hub for the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR). Over 200,000 people use this station on weekdays! This makes it the busiest transit center on Long Island. It's also one of the busiest train stations in North America.

The station is built high above the street. It has six platforms and ten tracks for LIRR trains. You can also connect to the AirTrain JFK here. This special train takes you to John F. Kennedy International Airport. There are also connections to the New York City Subway right below the station. Many local buses stop nearby too. Almost all LIRR train lines pass through Jamaica station. This makes it a great place to switch trains to get where you need to go.

History of Jamaica Station

Early Stations

The Jamaica station you see today was built between 1912 and 1913. It replaced two older stations. The first was the LIRR's original Jamaica Station, built around 1836. It was rebuilt a few times over the years.

The second station was called Jamaica–Beaver Street. It opened in 1867. The LIRR bought this line in 1867. This station was also rebuilt and moved.

The New Jamaica Station

Both old stations were closed when the new Jamaica station opened. The "Jamaica Improvement" project in 1912–1913 helped connect all the LIRR lines. This made it much easier to transfer between trains at Jamaica station. This is why Jamaica is such a central hub today.

When the new station opened, some people in Jamaica weren't happy. It was a bit far from the main downtown area. So, the LIRR added a new Union Hall Street station in 1913. This station closed in 1977.

Modern Upgrades and Expansion

The station has had many updates over the years. In the 1990s, it got a big renovation. This added elevators, new stairs, and better platforms. It also added connections to the new Archer Avenue subway line.

2001–2006 Renovation

From 2001 to 2006, Jamaica station got another huge upgrade. This $387 million project helped build the AirTrain JFK terminal. The station got new platforms and a pedestrian bridge. A central elevator bank now connects the LIRR, the street, and the subway. A new glass roof was also added over the tracks.

This renovation made the station bigger and more modern. It also made it easier for everyone to use, including people with disabilities. The project won an award in 2006!

2015–2019 Improvements

More improvements were made from 2015 to 2019. These changes were to get ready for the East Side Access project. This project will connect the LIRR to Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan.

The changes at Jamaica station included new tracks and faster switches. A new Platform F was built for trains going to Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn. This means some passengers might need to switch trains at Jamaica to get to Brooklyn. These changes help more trains run through Jamaica station. They also make trains move faster. This will allow for more trains during busy times.

Station Layout

Layup tracks north of Jamaica station

Jamaica is the main hub for the Long Island Rail Road. It has six long platforms, called island platforms. Five of these, Platforms A–E, are about 1,000 feet long. They can fit almost 12 train cars!

Trains on tracks 2 and 7 use a special system called "Spanish solution" boarding. This means you can get on or off these trains from platforms on both sides. This helps people quickly switch between three trains at once. For example, in the morning, trains going to different places arrive at the same time. You can walk through one train to get to another. This makes changing trains very easy.

The sixth platform, Platform F, is newer and shorter. It's used for trains going to Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn. Tracks 9 and 10 are not next to any platforms. They are used for trains that are not carrying passengers or for freight trains.

The main entrance to the station is a 100-year-old building. It's where you can buy tickets and find waiting areas. It also holds the main offices for the Long Island Rail Road.

AirTrain Station

AirTrain JFK Jamaica platform

The AirTrain station is in a glass building next to the LIRR platforms. It has two tracks and one island platform. You can reach it by escalator or elevator from the street. There's also a covered bridge connecting it to the LIRR station.

The AirTrain platforms are fully enclosed. They have special platform screen doors. These doors keep the station at a steady temperature. They also stop people from falling onto the tracks. Sensors make sure the train is in the right spot before the doors open. This allows the AirTrain to run automatically without drivers.

The platform is about 240 feet long. The next stop on the AirTrain is Federal Circle. The AirTrain is owned by the Port Authority. You pay your fare when you enter or leave the station. This is different from the LIRR. You can find MetroCard vending machines here.

AirTrain Station Layout

2F	Track 1	← Jamaica Station Train toward Terminal 8 (Federal Circle)
	Island platform with PSDs, doors will open on the left, right
	Track 2	← Jamaica Station Train toward Terminal 8 (Federal Circle)
1F	Lobby	Fare control, connection to LIRR platforms
G	Street level	Exit/entrance

Connections to Other Transit

Jamaica station is a major transit hub. You can connect to many other ways to travel here.

Subway Connections

You can connect to the New York City Subway at the Sutphin Boulevard–Archer Avenue–JFK Airport station. This station serves the Archer Avenue lines (E J and ​Z trains).

Bus Connections

Many bus routes stop at or near Jamaica Station. These buses can take you to different parts of Queens, Brooklyn, and even the Bronx.

Images for kids

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  Entrance to tracks 11 and 12 on the new platform