Penn Station vs Grand Central: which station do you need?
Grand Central to Penn Station
- S or 7
- 1, 2 or 3
Quick answer: Amtrak, NJ Transit and most LIRR trains use Penn Station on the West Side. Metro-North uses Grand Central on the East Side, and some LIRR trains use Grand Central Madison underneath it. To get between them, take the 7 or the Shuttle to Times Sq, then the 1, 2 or 3 one stop to 34 St-Penn Station.
Penn Station (West Side, 31st to 34th Streets)
- Trains: Amtrak, NJ Transit (including trains to Newark Airport) and the Long Island Rail Road. Moynihan Train Hall, across Eighth Avenue, serves Amtrak and the LIRR.
- Subway: 1 2 3 at 34 St-Penn Station on Seventh Avenue, and A C E at 34 St-Penn Station on Eighth Avenue. Both stations are step-free.
- Also here: Madison Square Garden sits right above it.
Source: MTA: Madison Square Garden; NJ Transit: Newark Airport; MTA station accessibility data (data.ny.gov).
Grand Central and Grand Central Madison (East Side, 42nd Street)
- Grand Central Terminal: Metro-North trains to the Hudson Valley and Connecticut (Hudson, Harlem and New Haven lines).
- Grand Central Madison: LIRR trains, deep underneath Grand Central Terminal.
- Subway: 4 5 6 7 and the S (42 St Shuttle) at Grand Central-42 St, which is step-free.
LIRR trains go to either Penn Station or Grand Central Madison, so look at the train's terminal before you board.
Source: MTA: Metro-North schedules; MTA: LIRR schedules; MTA station accessibility data (data.ny.gov).
Getting between them
- At Grand Central, take the S (42 St Shuttle) or the 7 one stop to Times Sq-42 St, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Change to a downtown 1, 2 or 3 and ride one stop to 34 St-Penn Station, about 2 minutes.
That's one $3 fare. Allow about 15 minutes with the walk through the stations. Late at night the Shuttle doesn't run, so take the 7. Walking is about a mile, around 20 minutes.
Source: MTA published subway and bus schedules (fall 2026).
And the Port Authority Bus Terminal?
Long-distance and New Jersey buses leave from the Port Authority Bus Terminal on Eighth Avenue between 40th and 42nd Streets. The A C E stop at 42 St-Port Authority, which connects underground to Times Sq-42 St.
Source: MTA published subway and bus schedules (fall 2026).
Penn Station and Grand Central: common questions
Does Amtrak leave from Grand Central?
No. Amtrak trains in New York leave from Penn Station and Moynihan Train Hall, on the West Side.
Does the LIRR go to Grand Central?
Yes, some trains. LIRR trains go to Penn Station or to Grand Central Madison, under Grand Central Terminal. Check your train's terminal.
Which station is Metro-North?
Grand Central Terminal, on 42nd Street on the East Side.
How far is Penn Station from Grand Central?
About a mile, around 20 minutes on foot. By subway, take the S or 7 to Times Sq, then the 1, 2 or 3 one stop to 34 St-Penn Station.
Where do trains to Newark Airport leave from?
NJ Transit trains to Newark Airport leave from Penn Station.
Official sources
Cobblehop is independent and isn't affiliated with these agencies or operators. Check their pages for the latest schedules and service changes:
- MTA: Metro-North schedules
- MTA: LIRR schedules
- MTA: Madison Square Garden
- NJ Transit: Newark Airport
- MTA station accessibility data (data.ny.gov)
- MTA: published schedules (GTFS)
Published November 7, 2026. Station details were checked against MTA, NJ Transit and Port Authority pages and the MTA's published schedules in November 2026. Service changes, so check Cobblehop for live times before you go.
Plan your trip in Cobblehop. Say where you're going and get one clear route, a leave-in countdown and a buzz before your stop.
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