Grand Central Terminal to Columbia University Irving Medical Center by bus and subway
Quick answer: Take the M42 bus from E 42 St/Park Av to W 42 St/8 Av, then take an uptown A train from 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal to 168 St. The trip takes about 46 minutes door to door on a weekday (43 to 48 depending on the connection). The M42 bus comes about every 7 minutes during the day. Every line on this trip runs all night.
Grand Central Terminal to Columbia University Irving Medical Center
- M42
- A
- Walk 1 minto E 42 St/Park Av
- M42 M42 busFrom E 42 St/Park Av5 stops, about 11 min
- Change at W 42 St/8 AvWalk about 3 min
- A A trainFrom 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal, uptown4 stops, about 18 min
- Get off at 168 St
- Columbia University Irving Medical CenterWalk about 9 min
Weekdays, fall 2026 MTA schedule · First and last trips
Step by step
- Walk about 1 minute from Grand Central Terminal to E 42 St/Park Av.
- Take the M42 bus from E 42 St/Park Av to W 42 St/8 Av. It's 5 stops, about 11 minutes.
- At W 42 St/8 Av, walk about 3 minutes to 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal for the A train.
- Take an uptown A train from 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal to 168 St. It's 4 stops, about 18 minutes.
- From 168 St, walk about 9 minutes to Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
Times and frequency
From the MTA's fall 2026 schedule. Typical trip is the door to door time in the middle of the day.
| Day | First trip | Last trip | Typical trip | A train in the daytime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | Runs all night | 46 min | About every 7 minutes | |
| Saturday | Runs all night | 47 min | About every 10 minutes | |
| Sunday | Runs all night | 43 min | About every 10 minutes | |
Late at night
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 54 minutes, and the A train comes about every 20 minutes.
Tips for this trip
- Know your stop. Get ready after 145 St. The next stop is 168 St. Start a live trip in Cobblehop and it alerts you before your stop.
- LIRR trains stop at Grand Central Madison, on the west side of Grand Central Terminal, under Vanderbilt Avenue. (source, checked 2026-11-04)
Step-free access
For the subway part of this trip: Times Sq-42 St/Port Authority Bus Terminal (A platform) is on the MTA's list of accessible stations; 168 St-Washington Hts (A platform) is on the MTA's list of accessible stations. Elevators can be out of service, so check elevator status on mta.info before you go.
What it costs
- Subway and local bus: $3 per ride with OMNY (tap a contactless card or phone) or a MetroCard. One transfer within 2 hours to the subway or a local bus is included.
Fares as of November 2026. Check the official fares page before you ride.
Grand Central Terminal to Columbia University Irving Medical Center: common questions
How do I get from Grand Central Terminal to Columbia University Irving Medical Center by public transit?
Take the M42 bus from E 42 St/Park Av to W 42 St/8 Av, then take an uptown A train from 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal to 168 St.
How long does it take?
About 46 minutes door to door on a weekday, 43 to 48 depending on the connection. On weekends it's about 47 minutes.
Do I have to change along the way?
Yes, once: at W 42 St/8 Av.
Does it run all night?
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 54 minutes, and the A train comes about every 20 minutes.
How much does it cost?
Subway and local bus: $3 per ride with OMNY (tap a contactless card or phone) or a MetroCard. One transfer within 2 hours to the subway or a local bus is included.
Related routes
- Grand Central Terminal to 9/11 Memorial & Museum
- Grand Central Terminal to Statue of Liberty ferry at Battery Park
- Grand Central Terminal to Central Park
- JFK Airport to Columbia University Irving Medical Center
- LaGuardia Airport to Columbia University Irving Medical Center
- Penn Station to Columbia University Irving Medical Center
- All New York routes
Sources
Cobblehop is independent. It is not affiliated with the MTA or any transit agency. Schedules on this page come from the MTA's public GTFS data; check these pages for the latest service:
- MTA: developer data (the GTFS schedules used on this page)
- MTA: subway and bus fares
- MTA subway stations, with accessibility (data.ny.gov)
- Grand Central Terminal: visitor information
Transit data: Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Cobblehop is not affiliated with or endorsed by the MTA.
Published November 7, 2026. Times were computed from the MTA fall 2026 schedules for 2026-11-18 (weekday), 2026-11-21 and 2026-11-22. Planned work and holidays change service, so check Cobblehop for live times before you go.
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