Grand Central Terminal

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Lore & Background

Grand Central Terminal was built on the site of two similarly named predecessor stations, the first of which dated to 1871. Its distinctive Beaux-Arts design incorporates numerous works of art, and the terminal has earned several landmark designations, including as a National Historic Landmark. The Main Concourse, a 35,000-square-foot space, is often used as a meeting place and is especially featured in films and television. At its center is an information booth topped with a four-sided brass clock, one of Grand Central's most recognizable icons. The terminal's main departure boards at the south end of the concourse have been replaced numerous times since their initial installation in 1967. The terminal contains a variety of stores and food vendors, including upscale restaurants and bars, a food hall, and a grocery marketplace. The building is also noted for its library, event hall, tennis club, control center and offices for the railroad, and sub-basement power station. The original plan for the interior was designed by Reed and Stem, with some work by Whitney Warren of Warren and Wetmore.

Reader's Guide

Grand Central Terminal covers 48 acres and has 44 platforms, more than any other railroad station in the world. Its platforms, all below ground, serve 30 tracks on the upper level and 26 on the lower. In total, there are 67 tracks, including a rail yard and sidings; of these, 41 tracks are in use for passenger service, while the remaining two dozen are used to store trains. The terminal serves some 67 million passengers a year, more than any other Metro-North station. During morning rush hour, a train arrives at the terminal every 58 seconds. The terminal connects to the New York City Subway at the Grand Central–42nd Street station, which serves the 4, 5, 6, 7, and S routes. The name 'Grand Central Terminal' is inscribed on its 42nd Street facade; it is designated a terminal because trains originate and terminate there. The Long Island Rail Road's Grand Central Madison station, a 16-acre addition underneath the Metro-North tracks, was built from 2007 to 2023, with partial service to Jamaica beginning on January 25, 2023. The terminal's Main Concourse is located on the upper platform level, and the circulation system includes passages such as the 42nd Street Passage, Shuttle Passage, Grand Central Market, Graybar Passage, and Lexington Passage.

Did You Know?

• Grand Central Terminal has 44 platforms, more than any other railroad station in the world.
• During morning rush hour, a train arrives at the terminal every 58 seconds.
• The terminal's Main Concourse is 35,000 square feet and features a four-sided brass clock at its center.
• The Long Island Rail Road's Grand Central Madison station is a 16-acre addition built underneath the Metro-North tracks from 2007 to 2023.
• Grand Central Terminal served intercity trains until 1991, when Amtrak consolidated its New York operations at nearby Penn Station.