Grand Central Station

Grand Central Terminal, better known as Grand Central Station or simply Grand Central, comprises the second busiest train station in the world, drawing a close second fiddle only to Manhattan’s Penn Station.

Where is Grand Central?

Located at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown, Grand Central represents the southern terminus of the Metro-North Railroad’s Harlem, Hudson and New Haven lines, further connecting commuters to the New York City Subway at the Grand Central/42nd Street Station.

Built atop the site of two previous rail stations, Grand Central was designed by two competing architectural firms—Reed and Stem for the overall interior design of the station, while Warren and Wetmore designed the station’s Beaux-Arts exterior.

Construction of Grand Central Station

Construction began on June 19th of 1903, in three sections or “bites,” designed to minimize interruptions to rail service during Grand Central’s construction. Over 10,000 workers were employed during the terminal’s ten-year build, at a total cost of $180 million, or $5.3 billion in today’s currency.

Since its opening in 1913, Grand Central covers 48 acres, 44 platforms and 67 tracks, making Grand Central the largest railway station in the world. Eight new tracks and four more platforms are currently under construction, two levels beneath the original twin-level underground tracks, providing additional access to Manhattan’s affluent East Side.

Now a registered National Historic Landmark, Grand Central Terminal is one of the top ten most visited tourist attractions in the world, drawing an estimated 22 million visitors a year, above and beyond the usual flow of regular train and subway passengers. A favorite location for feature films and television shows alike, Grand Central sports a wide variety of retail outlets, including upscale restaurants and bars, two food halls and a grocery store, making Grand Central Station, one of the busiest crossroads on earth.