Flushing Avenue

Flushing Avenue on the J and M trains is one of the oldest stations in the entire subway system, dating back to 1888 as part of the original elevated line that once carried steam trains through Brooklyn. Perched above Broadway in Williamsburg, it has a distinctly old-New-York character, with iron latticework and a history stretching back well before the subway as we know it existed.

This stretch of Williamsburg blends older Hasidic Jewish and Latino communities with the artier, more gentrified blocks closer to the East River, giving the area around the station a genuinely layered, mixed identity rather than the single-note "hipster Williamsburg" image often associated with the neighbourhood.

Station Overview

Flushing Avenue opened in 1888, making it one of the oldest stations on the network, and sits in Zone 1, in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn. It is served by the J and M trains. The station is accessible, with facilities including toilets and passenger information.

Lines and Connectivity

The J and M trains at Flushing Avenue run into Manhattan via the Williamsburg Bridge, reaching the Lower East Side and continuing to Lower Manhattan, and south through Bushwick and further into Brooklyn and Queens.

Station Layout and Structure

Flushing Avenue is an elevated station on a steel structure above Broadway, one of the older elevated designs still in service, with stairs down to street level.

Accessibility

Flushing Avenue is an accessible station, with elevators providing step-free access between the street and the elevated platform.

Travel Tips

• This is one of the oldest stations in the system, worth a look for its historic elevated ironwork.
• The J and M cross the Williamsburg Bridge into Manhattan, giving good views of the East River.
• The surrounding blocks mix long-established communities with newer Williamsburg development.

Nearby Attractions

Williamsburg - the surrounding neighbourhood, a mix of established communities and newer development.

Broadway commercial strip - beneath the elevated tracks, with local shops and businesses.

Williamsburg Bridge - a short ride away, with a pedestrian and bike path over the East River.

Timings and Best Time to Travel

The J and M trains run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with less frequent overnight service. Weekday rush hours bring the busiest commuter traffic across the Williamsburg Bridge into Manhattan.