4 Train – Lexington Ave Express

Out of the three Lexington Avenue lines, the 4 train is the most consistent. Half the time, the 5 train is shut down due to construction. The 6 is a hit or miss line. As for the 4 train, it’s semi-​reliable. With the exception of the late night hours, you rarely have to wait more than five minutes for a 4 train. It runs express in Manhattan (except during late nights) and that saves a lot of time. Even in the Bronx where it runs local, it maintains a decent speed. Several of the stations on the 4 line were recently renovated, including Yankee Stadium (let’s go Yankees!), Burnside Avenue, and Fordham Road. If I was just rating the service then I wouldn’t hesitate to give the 4 a five.
Like almost every subway line, the 4 has its share of ghetto riders, as well as the candy sellers and performers. Some of the 4 line stops in the Bronx are in sketchy areas. And during rush hour, the 4 train is packed like one of those railroads in India.
The 4 train gets the job done, but don’t expect a comfortable ride.

Why worry about things that don’t matter…
I feel pretty safe riding the NYC subway these days. I ride pretty late at night, too. Like after midnight…
I find the subway easy to use. but then I’ve lived in new York for so many years… so I know the system pretty well… The confusing thing about the NYC subway is that it was built as three separate private companies… and then united as one system under public auspices… There are maps posted everywhere… and you can request a free map at any station to take with you! How cool is that!

I smelled the nastiest aroma I’ve ever smelled on the 4 train.
I was sitting on the train, late morning. Rush hour was over but there were still a decent amount of people on the train. A woman sits next to me. She has BATHED in Flowerbomb. Sickly sweet ethyl malitol, really fake nasty patchouli, that disgusting «green tea» note AKA bath and body works smelling nasty soap. You could smell her from 3 miles away.
Then she begins to eat a smoked salmon sandwich. Fish smell… in a train… YUCK! Now her already nasty perfume combines with the strong fish smell to make something truly revolting.
Next train stop, a guy gets on. Sometimes, I see someone so filthy looking that I immediately feel the urge to take a shower. And not a cold one. Dude has bright red super dry skin, extremely dry yet greasy hair, really rough hands with fingernail fungus. His pupils are microscopic and he is shiftily looking around the car and staring at every woman. And His SMELL. A wet dog combined with vomit. This combines with the perfume and fish. So you have a woman bathed in way too much awful perfume, a strong smelling fish sandwich, a dude who smells like a wet dog-​vomit mix… ALL IN ONE TRAIN CAR! Of course the 4 train decides to take 10 minutes to go from 59^th to 86^th. I am gagging.
As if this isn’t bad enough… someone unleashes a lactose intolerant fart. The four repugnant smells meld into an indescribable miasma. And the 4 train is taking it’s sweet time to very slowly inch uptown. All I can say is, when I finally exited the train, I had a raging migraine and took a long hot scalding shower.

Grew up in NYC; it’s been over 10 years since I rode the subway. Was extremely surprised at how things have changed. Digital signs indicating the next train’s arrival, internal announcements of upcoming stops and transfers, and a surprisngly clean interior. Most of all, I arrived at my destination as predicted by the Google estimate.

I need to understand something. It’s actually very astounding to me. Although I live by this train as well as the 2, 3, and 5 trains, why does this train arrive every 3 minutes yet the Q train that I live by at Prospect Park arrives every 10 minutes? I do love the 4 train but is this because of the rich, uppity white people who live on the UES? I used to work in East Harlem in 2010. That was when the time clocks for the train were installed. Fast forward in 2015, no other train line except the 2,3,5, and L train had timed clocks that tell us when the train arrives. So because I do not live in the UES, should I be denied access to know when the train is arriving as well? I mean the train is always crowded during rush hour you will be hard pressed to find a seat and this is one of the «best» subway lines in the MTA. I don’t get it because when I need to take the Q or B train, they take forever to come in the morning and are very packed compared to when I take the 4 or 5 trains.

The 4 and 5 trains are nice because they travel at high speeds and get you places quickly. The tend to be on time although on weekends they can be a little infrequent.
Overall very reliable, and the electronic signs are a huge bonus.

I’ve been taking the 4 train for years. Ever since I began teaching in the Bronx. Initially I was picking up the 4 train way downtown in the financial district. That was when I lived in Brooklyn and was enjoying the two hour treks that began with the C train. You notice things when you take the train the full length of Manhattan. Like about the demographics of the City. You can tell where you are on the 4 line based upon the majority of people on the train. Some racial differences, most financial though.
Then I moved to Astoria. And oh! I loved the 4 train. An hour to work from a quick N/​Q jaunt in the morning. Sometimes my trusty iron steeds would traverse me the distance in 45 minutes! This would allow me to forgive the constant and dreaded layovers at «Burnside» in the Bronx.

This is my go-​to train when the 5 is not running on weekends to Brooklyn College. I will take the 2 to Franklin Avenue, then transfer onto the 4. I love the express service through Manhattan, which makes my commute much quicker and more efficient than local service.
The train cars on this line also seem to be one of the newer sets of cars, and they aren’t falling apart like the trains on the 1 and 3. The air conditioning works great, and is a nice relief during the middle of summer.
The only thing I really don’t like about this train is that it attracts many tourists along the Lexington Avenue corridor. Basically everyone who sees the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building or Central Park takes the trains on the Lexington Avenue Line, and it is very crowded. Hopefully when the Second Avenue Line is completed in the next few years, it will relieve traffic on this line.

When running properly it’s possibly the best train in NYC (but seldom does that happen).
I’ve been taking the 4 train since I was in my momma’s womb. As an adult, I’ve relied on 4 to commute to work — downtown during morning rush hour, and there’s always an issue. I’m not sure how many excuses the MTA can come up with but these are some of the popular ones, there’s a sick passenger, there’s train traffic ahead, you’re at numerous complete (and continuous) stops for god knows what reason and you’ll hear them alllll most mornings; it’s truly unpredictable. You can leave your home 30 minutes early one day and get to work 30 minutes late, yet the next day you can leave twenty minutes late and get to work on time.
My advice is to use this train when you’re meeting up with a friend on the weekend or something. I believe it’s wisest to stick with the good ol’ express bus for my morning commute.
Atleast, the MTA has Delay Verify.
As far as it being crowded, hey, it’s NYC …

I usually trust Unilocal for honest and mostly accurate reviews. I didn’t know that one could review a NYC subway line on Unilocal,but after reading some very silly opinions, I’ll throw my hat in the ring as well.
I take this train five days a week, twice daily. I’m not one of those folks blabbering about «oh I take it from 59^th to Brooklyn bridge during rush hour and it’s crowded. 2 stars.» Dry your tears. It’s rush hour in New York.
I get on the train at 14^th street union square and take it to bedford park blvd in the Bronx. I have close to an hour each trip to soak in the good, the bad, and the ugly.
The 4 train is extremely reliable. A significant delay is a rare thing on this line. The voice announcements are clear because the line uses new cars. It is usually reasonably clean. It doesn’t stop and hang out in the tunnel between stops with unexpected delays like lines using older cars. I also have the option of using the D, which actually stops 2 blocks closer to my job, but I don’t because the 4 is better in every way. No train is perfect but this is one of the better lines.

During rush hour especially before a Yankees game is EXTREMELY CROWDED. However, it is a decent train that goes to many locations I prefer from Bronx to Brooklyn. I prefer the express over the local.
Grade: D+

The 4 train is always crowded regardless of what time or day you take it.

Rush hour review. I take this train between Lexington 59 and Bowling Green every day. Yes yes some days you get the slow train frustration but for the most part, 4 train does the job. Oh… I guess I can also take the 5 train. To me they’re the same.
⁴⁄₅ on rush hour runs like, every 2 minutes. On the way to work I transfer from the yellow train. And almost 100% of the time, when running down to the green train platform, shit-​tons of people getting off the just-​arrived green train will be climbing the stairs and blocking my path. And almost surely, I will miss the door closing by a fraction of a second. Fuck. I’d try crowd surf my way down the stairs, but I don’t think early rush hour New Yorkers would take my shit. *ANYWAYS* Thankfully the ⁴⁄₅ come so often that by the time I begin to throw a big fit, the train behind it is already pulling up to the station. Much love.
Wall St guys — why are you so tall? At 5’8 I’m not exactly a smurf but holy shit you make my rush hour smell like armpits. Buy some cologne with that Brooks Brothers shirt would ya?
Despite the frequency of the trains, rush hour is classic New York City. So tourists, you are pretty much guaranteed the legit sardine experience. Just don’t mess with the black lady. Seriously she’d rip your face off.

I prefer the 5, tends to have more people on this and is a bit dingier. its’ an express though so it is hard to give less than a 3: o

Can’t remember if it was the 4 or 5 train, a religous nut broadcasts his irrational views, which is normally not review worthy. But this one particular religious nut repeats over and over again how all women who wear short coats and show off their butts are going straight to hell. He’s totally deadpan. And better yet he has a Jamaican accent. 5 stars because that level of entertainment normally costs a $ 20 cover and a two drink minimum.
On another note, totally unrelated to this since I never mentioned the story to her, my mom was going to a church party and wearing a short top and tights. She asked me if her outfit was appropriate to wear to church and I was like, of course girl, go do your thang.

The only time this train works properly is in the Bronx. It does not function correctly from 125^th street to Fulton Street. Then it works in the first part of Brooklyn until you hit around Atlantic Avenue, then around Crown Heights it becomes madness again.
It takes me about 45 minutes to get to work and I get on at the 86^th Street Stop and get off at Fulton Street. This trip should take about 25 minutes.
I would add more to this rant but I have to leave 30 minutes early now to prepare to wait 30 minutes in the tunnel because there was a «sick passenger».

The rating for this train can vary from 1 – 3 stars, depending on where you take it.
1 star from 59^th St. uptown/​downtown to 86^th St. during rush hour. Always crowded, and with annoying waits between trains.
3 stars from Atlantic-​Barclays Center to Grand Central on the weekends. It’s actually pretty efficient, especially since the 5 doesn’t work during that time.
I like how it’s express, but since it’s the only line that services the east side, it’s always gonna be crowded. The 2^nd Ave subway line needs to act like a John Mayer song and hurry up and get here.

What’s there not to love about an express train.
We can show off to our european friends how great transit is in NYC.
We can cover vast distances in a single bound!
We can go from Grand Central to Union Square in ONE stop!
We can go from Union Square to Chambers in ONE stop!
I’m always happy to catch the express train. It’s like you got something for free!

Some days start in the best possible way.
This was not one of those days.
Monday morning, on my way to work. I swipe my Metrocard, and get on the platform. And wait. And wait. And wait some more. Finally, the announcer barks that there are no 4 trains to Manhattan. No service to Manhattan. None. And no explanation.
Great.
Since there’s no alternative. everybody gets on the ²⁄₃. The train is insanely packed. And. Moves. Excruciatingly. S. L. O. O. O. O. W… It takes one full hour to go from Franklin Avenue to Atlantic Avenue. That’s one stop one the 4. One hour for the equivalent of one stop!
On Atlantic, everybody tries to get on the N/​R. There are so many people that the platform is overflowing, and people spill over the stairs.
«Fuck, I am never going to be able to board this train», I think.
I make an executive decision, and exit the station. I walk ten minutes to the Hoyt/​Schermerhorn stop, and take the A. Smooth ride from there on.
One hour and fifty minutes to get to work.
Happy Monday, Matteo.

Number Four Train you are always packed like sardines every single time during rush hour, as I can never squeeze my petite body into your cars on Broadway-​Nassau Fulton Street station. Yet you carry more passengers than you can hold and still move, as the #6 train does not alleviate any congestion. Number Four Train passengers force their way inside your cars it was literally like trying to squeeze and adult size elephant into your door.
You are vital to moving passengers to major destinations like Grand Central Terminal and Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. The body of your train is somewhat narrower unlike the A or F thus; congestion dwells during rush hour service. You have somewhat adequate heating and cooling system at times and minimal vagrants.