In the New York City Subway nomenclature, a "line" refers to the physical trackage used by trains that are used by numbered or lettered "services"; the services that run on certain lines change periodically.
Since 1979, each service's color corresponds to the line it primarily uses in Midtown Manhattan[original research?
The following list shows the connections between the different divisions of the New York City Subway.
[15] Many of the New York City Subway's lines have express tracks, unused in revenue service and generally only used for re-routes.
[16] Despite “subway” implying underground travel, the following segments are located above ground or at grade level[17] and comprise about 40% of the trackage.
[18] At minimum, in normal revenue service, all lines have two tracks, with one exception: the BMT Franklin Avenue Line has a single track between Franklin Avenue and Park Place.
The third track, when in use, is generally for peak-direction express service or reroutes, with exceptions noted below.
The following New York City Subway lines are either entirely defunct or have major portions no longer in service.