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I will arrive at Grand Central Terminal (via Metro North) and need to get to Times Square to catch a 2/3 train uptown. I see from the map that one can either take a 7 train or an S shuttle, but as I recall, they end up in different parts of the (large) Times Square station complex, and I am not sure which is closer to the 2/3 platforms.

I will have heavy luggage and would like to minimize the combined amount of walking in the stations at both ends. Which train should I take?

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  • The seven is more vertical waking; the shuttle is more horizontal. I'd normally say take the seven, but with heavy luggage it might be better to take the shuttle. Or a cab. If you're going to do that, depending on how far uptown it is, you might be better off getting off your train at 125th street.
    – phoog
    Dec 7, 2019 at 2:55
  • @phoog, this should have been posted as an answer. Please do so as soon as possible.
    – Willeke ♦
    Dec 7, 2019 at 7:43

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The Shuttle is located at poor locations for transfers to the numbered lines at both ends but is much shallower depth wise. This has to do with the history of the line, and results in a long but flat walk in Grand Central and a connection to the 2/3 requiring differences in elevation.

The 7's elevators at Grand Central are out of service as of December 2019 so getting down means escalators, which may be acceptable for your use case. The connection to the 2/3 is not particularly bad since there is a quick transfer at the eastern end of the 7 train platform at Times Square.

If you're carrying large bulky luggage, the shuttle might be the better option but it is set for heavy renovations and there are guaranteed stairs at Times Square. In contrast, the 7 has step free access at Times Square but requires long escalator rides down to the platform at Grand Central.

I personally feel that the shuttle may be the easiest method, but I'm not a regular user of the shuttle so I'm not as familiar with it.

Edit: As Michael Hampton noted, the shuttle is incredibly packed during rush hours. If you're traveling during AM or PM rush hour the 7 is almost certainly going to be the better option. Do note that if traveling during 4-6 PM on a weekday, getting a 2/3 uptown will be a miserable experience regardless though, in which case avoiding midtown entirely would be recommended if possible.

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    The shuttle gets extremely crowded in peak periods, so I wouldn't recommend it with baggage during such times. You can actually walk its entire length between its scheduled departures, and I have done so more than once, but OP doesn't want to do that on this trip and for good reasons. All things considered I'm leaning toward the 7.
    – Michael Hampton
    Dec 7, 2019 at 5:32

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