Grand Central and New York Penn Station are two different train terminals in Manhattan. They were built by rival railroad companies in the early 20th century: New York Central and Pennsylvania Railroad. Different trains still arrive and depart from these stations today. Here’s what you need to know:
Grand Central
- Opened in 1913
- A very grand and beautiful building (pictured above)
- Metro-North Railroad commuter trains
- 4, 5, 6, 7, and S MTA subway lines
- Near Bryant Park and the Chrysler Building (view map)
- More people visit Grand Central than Penn Station (source)
New York Penn
- Opened in 1910 (but above-ground station was torn down in 1963)
- New train hall scheduled to open on January 1, 2021
- Amtrak, Long Island Rail Road and New Jersey Transit trains
- A, C, E and 1, 2 3 MTA subway lines
- Next to Madison Square Garden and near Empire State Building and Hudson Yards (view map)
- More rail passengers than Grand Central (source)
Editor’s Note: Despite these differences, both stations are in Midtown Manhattan and you can walk from one station to the other in about 22 minutes. Both stations are also near Times Square.
Amtrak Guide 