This fall, V-train local service will replace the F express in the 53^rd Street tunnel.The F will thus miss critical connection points it now meets at Queens Plaza and Lexington Avenue.Riders from the eastern end of the F train will also lose their one-seat ride to Manhattan’s east side.The likely result is that E-trains, which are already sardine cans, will become intolerably packed, while V and F trains will be relatively underused (MTR #’s 303 and 306 provide more details on the service plan).

The service changes will stem from Transit’s recent connection of the Queens Boulevard subway tunnel to the 63^rd Street tunnel under the East River.The 63^rd Street tunnel was designed to serve new subway lines in Queens that have never been built.One level of the tunnel will be used to connect LIRR trains to Grand Central Terminal.

Last week, NYC Transit announced that, in response to pressure to save G-train access to Queens, it would build a moving walkway in the sprawling Court Square/23^rd St. station to make up for the loss of G connections at Queens Plaza, and run G service into Queens at night and on weekends (presently, night and weekend G service stops at Court Square).