Grand Central’s Secret Entrances
Okay, this is old news for folks who have been commuting for decades, but the realization that Grand Central has more than 4 entrances blew my frickin’ mind. I work in the low 50s, and there really isn’t a great way to get from Grand Central to work other than walking. For the first week or so of my job, I would walk up the escalators and out the MetLife building as a “short cut,” but even that didn’t make a huge difference.
One day, I was feeling adventurous enough to go down the hallway between Metro North tracks 38 and 39 — the one with the watch vendor and tennis racquet repair — and I was SHOCKED to find that it spit me out at 45th and Madison. (Also that there was a Dunkin’ Donuts.) Since this entrance is literally across the street from our corporate office, it means I can take a much later train whenever I have a morning meeting there. But, that’s not even the best part.
Looking at the map above, you can see that the Metro North train tracks are actually super long — like, blocks long. It turns out, by walking toward the front of the train to exit, I was actually going South in order to ultimately travel North to work. What you really want to do is walk toward the back of the train. Walk all the way back until you get to the glass cinderblock entryway to the stairs. Take the stairs and you will be transported to an underground labyrinth, with copious directional signage, that will ultimately drop you as high as 47th and Madison or 48th and Park.
Don’t be fooled by the 48th and Park entrance. It’s on the East side of the street, tucked behind a Capital One sign and some greenery.
On the return trip, utilizing the 47th and 48th street entrances regularly results in my making it to an earlier train; when you commute every single day, that extra 10 minutes adds up quickly.
Don’t worry if you’re somewhere between 42nd and 47th because there’s an entrance for you too! In fact, there are two — one on each side of the Helmsley Building.
You’re welcome.
