IRT 42nd Street Shuttle

⁹⁄₁₀ this shuttle is running smoothly and very fast and convenient. If your not traveling into queens, your bestbnet is to take the shuttle and skip the 7 train to travel in between 7^th ave Times Square and Lexington ave Grand Central Station.
Another great thing is that there are not many olanned service changes so it is very rare that the shuttle is out of service. Love this train and for some reason, to me at least, the most convenient train line.

Make sure to look up and follow the signs for the shuttle. It’s always super busy at this station and if you’re not paying attention, you’re going to go the wrong way. Once you get to the shuttle, make sure to pop out those headphones so you can find out if you need to move to another track. Or, you can just hope that everyone else is listening and follow them.

When it comes to going between Times Square and Grand Central, I actually prefer the 7 train.
The S Train is tucked away in a corner in both subway stations and requires a bit of a trek through equally crowded MTA stops. The Shuttle also spends more time at the platform waiting for passengers than the 7 Train does.
Granted, the 7 does have one stop that the Shuttle does not (5^th Avenue — Bryant Park), but this doesn’t add much time to your commute.
The 7 has been rolling out new cars (usually those that are Queens-​bound), so your short ride will be more comfortable in a 7 Train.
*Note: I would only recommend this Shuttle if you’re transferring to another subway line. In terms of time, you’re better off walking if you’re literally just going from Times Square to Grand Central.

Get ready to leap over a gorge as you exit the train in Times Square.

When you are in the right time & place to get it, it’s good. When you aren’t, the wait is excruciating. This is especially true if you’re at Times Square where there is no clock to tell you when or where the next shuttle is showing up. You just have to follow the crowd of people if you don’t hear the announcement in the station. I’ve not seen the typical level of trash in the cars or irritating people that populate the average subway car.
Generally, I don’t prefer doing this since I’m not a person who likes waiting around. In the summer, you are probably better off just walking to Grand Central or Times Square. If you are wearing uncomfortable shoes or it’s a nasty day outside, however, you’ll want to wait for this. Trust me, you’ll save yourself time & heartache from sore feet, freezing to death or getting soaked in a monsoon.

The IRT 42^nd Street Shuttle … sounds like such a long name — we NY’ers just call it «The Shuttle» (I didn’t even know there was another shuttle train, the one down on Franklin in Brooklyn, until after high school I think)
It’s always at its first and last stop waiting for you to get on and take you to its, yup, first and last stop … just 2 stations, back and forth and back and forth and back and forth … ok, I’ll stop.
From Times Square to Grand Central … connecting the A/​C/​E/​N/​R/​Q/​½/​3 subways & Port Authority Bus Terminal with the 4÷5÷6 subways & Metro North trains.
Very packed during rush hour … get ready to learn how to move!
Wait a minute if a train’s not there, the next one is coming already.

Ultra-​consistently train running that just runs straight back and forth across town connecting Times Square Station and Grand Central Station.
Never really have to wait more than 2 – 3 minutes. Unless its rush hour, its easy to find seating.
Another perk is that advertisers spruce up these trains all the time so its always makes the short ride interesting to see the new themes/​ads that coat these trains.

This train is more likely than any other to be used as a «theme» train for an advertiser. I’d always rather take this than the 7 train; first, you have to go down a couple of levels just to get to the 7. (Although the shuttle is not accessible, as is noted on a sign in the passageway, and the 7 is.)
I’ve very rarely had to wait for it; I usually take it during the day, but even on weekends or at night, there’s usually one waiting.
I love the tourists that ask you which stop to get off. Just keep ridin’, man.

Not bad. It’s a much better option, most times, than hiking down all the twists and turns to the 7 train. It’s just annoying that there are so few cars available per trip, and you some times can’t get on one… but then can’t get over to the other track in time to catch the next. Often crowded, but a nice option. And the cars are really nicely decorated, which makes for a nicer cramped ride. And come on! It’s a two second ride. It ain’t that bad ;-)

This has to be the most frequent and consistent line in the city. I ride the shuttle twice a day, and never have I waited more than 1 minute or 2 before the subway arrived. Shoot, half the time it’s already there, and I just waltz right on in.
Probably not the best use of your $ 2.50 if you don’t have an unlimited MetroCard, but why would ride the shuttle at all if you’re not commuting to/​from work? You can easily walk to and from Grand Central/​Times Square within 15 – 20 minutes if you want to have a more scenic route.
Anyhow, during rush hour, this line is amazing. Nothing to complain about and it takes you straight to and from Times Square to Grand Central within a matter of minutes. Need to transfer and go up and down the east/​west side? Then you’re in luck because both Times Square and Grand Central has access to all the lines you want. If you’re going between those two stations, then this is way better and more frequent than the 7 train.
Not many bums here. I think I’ve seen like one in the last 60 times that I’ve ridden this line. The bum rush to get in and out of the shuttle is pretty intense though. You better bring your A game or else you’re going to get stepped on.

Subway does arrive every few minutes.
During rush hour.
Off hours? Give yourself a crapload of time… you may be waiting 20 — 30 minutes between trains. I shit you not.
Never seen panhandlers on this line? Track 1, head car, GC direction. Meet Hardell.
Summertime stink is back too! GC side only.
This line blows. Worst $ 2.50 ride they offer.
Five stars!!!

A short and sweet line that operates in approx. five minute intervals for mere stops from Times Square to Grand Central Terminal. Since it is a short line, I do not see many panhandlers but straphanders be very mindful of the wide gap at Times Square.
The train is entirely wrapped advertisement for cool branding of a product. A very strong statement for crafted meticulous adhesive in the placement on seats, on the subway door panels, and a border outside of every car wrapped advertisement. A life size photo of the product or service is depicted on the subway which is reminiscent of the 1980s era where graffiti covers the entire eight car train.

One of my favorite subway lines in the city!
Quick, efficient, and constantly running every few minutes.
Only takes a minute or two to go from Times Square to Grand Central where I can catch the 4,5,6 back uptown or downtown. It’s a terrific option when the weather is bad out, or in a rush and don’t feel like walking across town.
I have never seen panhandlers on this line probably because it is a short ride, and there are a few trains always alternating back and forth every few minutes that it does not seem too overcrowded as many subway lines can get.
When waiting for this train there is usually some sort of band or entertainers performing in the lobby area by the escalators across the platform. Also, many of the trains now have some sort of theme, promo, or advertisement covering every inch of the cars inside and out. It’s usually pretty cool looking as I have seen it for tv shows, movies, travel/​history channel, local sports teams, etc.
To me, it’s also so much quicker and easier than taking the 7 train between these stops.

Is it me or is this not only the cleanest but quickest ride on the subway? I love when I get on and its promo themed into something I like, like m&mS!!!
Sometimes some one waits until the doors close to start thier whole begging schpeel, «give me money because yada yada. blah blah. But its not overpopulated with panhandlers because the ride is so quick and well monitered besides an occasional grope you dont hear of incidents on the shuttle.
I think I love you shuttle.

The S makes or breaks my commute.
If the train arrives on track 1 or 3, it’s a good omen.
(Does anyone know what happened to track 2?)
If it arrives on track 4, I feel like I am slowly paying for something I did wrong in a previous life.
The layout at the Times Square stop is bafflingly inefficient, forcing commuters into a hairpin turn nearly a full train’s length away from where the other trains stop, which creates uncomfortable human traffic jams (even by MTA standards).
Generally, people riding this line are pros and the advertisements wrapping the cars are interesting to stare at in my pre-​coffee haze.
Agree with Llarry on the smell on the GC side. I was thinking it smells like a rodenticide and decaying rat stew.

I’ll be honest, I’ve never taken this train. I don’t see the point of it. Use your feet and walk, and if you can’t or if it’s cold outside, take the 7 train. Why does there need to be a train that only makes two stops (both of them happen to be the Worst Places on Earth, too.) when there’s another train that already makes both of them?
This review isn’t about that pointless train, though, it’s about the people that take it. There must be something in the air they’re pumping through the S that turns everyone into a big jerk. In the morning, I exit the Grand Central Station at the exit near the shuttle and, if god forbid, a train just arrived, brace yourself. People actually seem to go out of their way to walk in your path, shove you, and elbow you in the face. And I’m not being overly sensitive here, I mean, I make it through plenty of other insanely crowded areas during rush hour without risking injury, so what gives?
I’ll tell you. Mean people take the S. Fact.

*Warning:This Review is not about the Shuttle, but rather the 42^nd Street Subway Station.*
After watching the Expendables, I go into this station, swipe my Metrocard, and as I was walking down the stairs, I was stopped by undercover police officers, as soon as I was downstairs, they rushed after me and told me to get against the wall. At first I thought it was a joke, but as soon as they flashed their badges I was shocked. They made a huge scene because I obviously violated one of the MTA’s rules of Conduct. I had my boxcutter exposed, they told me that am not supposed to be carrying it, since it was a violation. OK, so these two White officers were doing their job, but f*ck, they made me feel like a bad muthaf*cka, tourist walking jetting besides me, scared to death. This was a pityful stop, and since am a minority with fancy clothes, happy go lucky, it ticked them off. They were abviously targeting a Black or a Latino, so pathetic. After checking my record, which was inmmaculate, they didn’t ticket me, lucky. But anyway, I was told to have it concealed when in the subway. This incident was silly, I despise the fact that I was singled out. This is NYC, there’s mad dudes that carry pocket knifes/​box cutters in the subway and on the train. And MTA rules get violated every single day. Am mad, but it’s all good. Cause this is what all cops need to do, in order to keep this city «safe».

The IRT 42^nd Street Shuttle is a historic line. It only takes 1 minute to get from Times Square to Grand Central and vise verso. It dates back to the original subway in 1904. It was built as part of the 1^st subway when it connected to the IRT Lexington Avenue Line at Grand Central and the IRT 7^th Avenue Line at Times Square. Track connections still exist, but are not used in regular service. Times Square used to be a local station on the shuttle because in 1904, the area was known as Longacre Square. Not a popular location. You can tell by looking at the pillars at track 2. Be careful getting on and off at Times Square… big gap because of the curve.

Very efficient way of getting from E-​W or vice versa. Too bad it’s not open late nights between Times Square and Grand Central.
This is one of those lines that should have times and tracks listed on. It’s always a pain running to Track 4.

It’s a remarkably efficient way to get from East Side to West Side or vice versa, though I don’t understand the preponderance of people exiting the shuttle who don’t see me walking toward them when the only option for me would be to walk into a pillar unless they move to accommodate me, which they have plenty of room to do.
The shuttle takes about a minute and a half, a trip that would cost you about half an hour (20 minutes, maybe, at a brisk pace) on foot. Given that I work downtown, I use the shuttle almost every day, as the West Side trains are almost always less crowded than the East Side trains.