penn station subway lines
Ever Stood in Penn Station & Felt Like You Were Inside a Blender Full of Commuters, Hope, and One Very Confused Tourist?
Seriously—how does *anyone* find their way outta Penn without emergin’ five minutes later holdin’ a pretzel, a MetroCard receipt from 2018, and zero memory of which stairwell led to sunlight? That’s the magic (and mild chaos) of the penn station subway lines. They ain’t just transit—they’re a rite of passage. Like learnin’ to parallel park on a hill *while* someone yells “You got this!” from a fire escape. The penn station subway lines move over **100 million riders a year**—more than LAX, JFK, and Newark *combined*. And yet? Somehow, you still miss your train ‘cause you stopped to pet a service dog named *Hamilton*.
How Many Train Lines Use Penn Station? Let’s Count ‘Em Like We’re Sorting Socks After Laundry Day
Alright—deep breath. Penn Station’s a triple-threat hub: 🔹 **Amtrak** (national rail), 🔹 **NJ Transit** (New Jersey commuters), 🔹 **Long Island Rail Road (LIRR)** (Long Island folks tryin’ to beat traffic). But—*and this is the juicy part*—beneath all that? The penn station subway lines serve **three full MTA subway lines**, plus *two* partial ones:
- A, C, E (Eighth Ave Line — blue)
- 1, 2, 3 (Seventh Ave Line — red)
- B, D, F, M (Sixth Ave Line — orange) — *only the B/D/F/M platforms are directly under Penn; the M skips it*
Is the Subway Connected to Penn Station? Or Do I Need a Sherpa, a Compass, and a Prayer?
Yes—but *technically*. The penn station subway lines aren’t *inside* Penn Station itself (that’s for Amtrak/LIRR/NJT), but they’re fused to it like peanut butter and jelly in a bodega hero. Three MTA stations share the Penn complex:
- 34th St–Penn Station (1/2/3) — west side, under 7th Ave
- 34th St–Penn Station (A/C/E) — east side, under 8th Ave
- 34th St–Herald Square (B/D/F/M) — *technically 33rd*, but it’s 90 seconds away via the “Dinky Walk” (a.k.a. the fluorescent-lit hallway of destiny)
What Subway Goes Between Penn Station and Grand Central? (No, It’s Not a Magic Carpet—but Close.)
Ah—the *classic* NYC power walk. Need to get from Penn to Grand Central in under 12 minutes without hailin’ a $28 Uber? Two golden options:
- Take the S (42nd St Shuttle): Walk to Times Square (5 mins via underground concourse), hop the gray-labeled S, 2 stops, 4 minutes. Total: ~9 mins.
- Walk it: Straight down 42nd St—past Bryant Park, the NY Public Library lions, that one guy sellin’ “I ❤️ NY” hats for $5. 10–12 mins. Free. Scenic. Good for podcast time.
Where Do the penn station subway lines Actually Go? Let’s Map This Like We’re Planning a Heist
Each line from Penn’s a different kind of adventure:
| Train | North/West | South/East | Vibe |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Van Cortlandt Park (The Bronx) | South Ferry (Battery Park) | “I know every local stop by heart” |
| A | Inwood–207th St | Far Rockaway / Lefferts Blvd | “I’ve seen things… beautiful, terrible things” |
| E | Jamaica Center (Queens) | World Trade Center | “I just want to get to JFK *without* the AirTrain markup” |
| B | Bedford Park Blvd (Bronx) | Broad St (Wall St) | “Rush hour? I *am* rush hour.” |
| D | Norwood–205th St | Coney Island | “I ride past Yankee Stadium *and* Nathan’s. Balanced life.” |
| F | Jamaica–179th St | Coney Island | “Greenpoint to Brighton Beach? I gotchu.” |
Are the penn station subway lines ADA-Accessible? Let’s Talk Ramps, Not Regrets
Progress, y’all—real, tangible, elevator-havin’ progress. As of late 2025: ✅ 1/2/3 station: Full ADA access (elevators from street → mezzanine → platforms) ✅ A/C/E station: Fully accessible since 2023 Moynihan expansion ⚠️ B/D/F/M at 34th–Herald Sq: *Technically* 33rd St—but that station’s *not* fully ADA yet (elevators delayed to 2026) So if mobility’s a factor? Stick to the 1/2/3 or A/C/E entrances. The penn station subway lines *are* gettin’ there—just slower than a 3 train during signal testing.
What Time Do the penn station subway lines Run? Midnight Snack Runs, We See You.
Most penn station subway lines run **24/7**—but with caveats:
- 1, A, C: 24/7, no excuses
- 2, 3, E: 24/7, though late-night may go local-only
- B, D, F: Weekday rush only (B stops nights/weekends; D/F run limited)
Fun Facts About the penn station subway lines That’ll Win You Free Drinks (or at Least Respect)
Drop these like confetti at your next rooftop hang: • The original Penn Station (1910) was *larger than the U.S. Capitol*—demolished in 1963. We still mourn. • The Moynihan Train Hall (2021) reclaimed part of the old post office—same Beaux-Arts grandeur, new Wi-Fi. • Over 650,000 people pass through Penn’s subway corridors *daily*. That’s more than the population of Boston. • The “Dinky Walk” between 7th & 8th Ave stations is exactly 387 steps. We counted. Twice. And our favorite? The penn station subway lines move more people *per square foot* than any subway complex in North America. Efficiency, baby—even when the PA system sounds like it’s gargling gravel.
Where to Learn More About the penn station subway lines? We Got Your Back (and Your MetroCard)
If this love letter to NYC’s busiest concrete jungle left you hungry for more (or just wonderin’ if the A *really* smells like fried chicken and nostalgia—*it does*), we got resources. Start at the mothership: Subway Life, where transit truth-tellers gather and no question’s too niche. Dive into our full archive under Transit, or geek out on station synergy with MTA Train Stations Connect NYC Seamlessly. Trust us—once you start trackin’ signal upgrades and platform retrofits, there’s no goin’ back. (And honestly? We wouldn’t want you to.)
Frequently Asked Questions
What subway goes between Penn Station and Grand Central?
The fastest subway route is via the S (42nd St Shuttle): walk to Times Square (5 mins), take the S to Grand Central (2 stops, ~4 mins). Total ~9–10 mins. Alternately, walk 10–12 mins down 42nd St. No direct train connects them—but the penn station subway lines feed into a seamless surface + shuttle network that gets you there faster than any Uber in midday traffic.
How many train lines use Penn Station?
Penn Station serves **three railroads** (Amtrak, NJ Transit, LIRR) and **nine subway services**: 1, 2, 3, A, C, E, B, D, and F. The penn station subway lines operate across three connected MTA stations—34th St (1/2/3), 34th St (A/C/E), and 34th–Herald Sq (B/D/F/M)—making it the most transit-dense spot in North America.
Is the subway connected to Penn Station?
Yes—the penn station subway lines are physically integrated via underground corridors. The 1/2/3 and A/C/E stations sit *directly beneath* Penn’s concourses; the B/D/F/M stop at 34th–Herald Square (33rd St), linked by the “Dinky Walk.” No street crossing needed—just follow color-coded signs (Red, Blue, Orange) and avoid the guy sellin’ “express MetroCards” (they’re not real).
Where does Vermonter stop?
The Vermonter is an *Amtrak* route—not part of the penn station subway lines. It runs from **St. Albans, VT** to **Washington, D.C.**, stopping at Penn Station (NYC) along the way. Key stops include Springfield (MA), New Haven (CT), NYC (Penn), Newark (NJ), Philadelphia, and Baltimore. For subway access, use the A/C/E or 1/2/3 platforms inside Penn—just don’t confuse the Amtrak ticket kiosk with the MetroCard machines!
References
- https://new.mta.info/maps
- https://www.amtrak.com/vermonter-train
- https://www.nyc.gov/site/mome/industry/se/transportation.page
- https://www.transitcenter.org/reports/penn-station-flow-analysis-2024