59th Street

59th Street is the Lexington Avenue line's version of the busy intersection at 59th and Lex, serving the 4, 5 and 6 trains one level away from the separate N/Q/R/W station of a similar name. Commuters from the Upper East Side rely on this stop heavily, since the 4 and 5 run express and can cut travel time downtown dramatically compared with the local 6.

Like its neighbour beneath Bloomingdale's, this station sits at the edge of Central Park and the Upper East Side's high-end shopping stretch. The walk up from the platform puts you close to the park's Grand Army Plaza entrance, the Plaza Hotel, and the beginning of Fifth Avenue's museum-and-mansion corridor heading north, making this one of the more scenic exits in the entire system.

Station Overview

59th Street opened in 1918 and is served by the 4, 5 and 6 trains on the Lexington Avenue line. The station is in Zone 1 at the boundary of Midtown and the Upper East Side and is accessible, with toilets and an information booth.

Lines and Connectivity

The 4 and 5 trains run express through Manhattan, making this a fast route downtown to Union Square, Wall Street and Brooklyn, or north to Harlem and the Bronx. The 6 train runs local, stopping at every station up the Upper East Side toward the Bronx and south through Midtown East and the East Village to Lower Manhattan. A connecting passage links to the separate Lexington Ave-59th Street station for the N, Q, R and W trains.

Station Layout and Structure

The station is underground with island platforms serving the express and local tracks. Because the 4 and 5 trains run express here, platforms can get crowded quickly when trains arrive, particularly during rush hour. Signage directs riders toward the connecting passage for the Broadway line trains if a transfer is needed.

Accessibility

59th Street is an accessible station, with step-free routes provided between the street and platform levels. It is worth checking the MTA's live elevator status ahead of time, since this is one of the busier transfer points on the East Side and equipment maintenance can occasionally affect access.

Travel Tips

• Take the express 4 or 5 if you are headed a long distance downtown or uptown, saving several stops compared with the local 6.
• Central Park's Grand Army Plaza entrance is a short walk north, a good starting point for a walk through the park.
• Follow the connecting passage signs if you need the N, Q, R or W rather than resurfacing to the street.
• Rush hour on the express platform is intense, stand back from the doors and let riders off before boarding.

Nearby Attractions

Central Park (Grand Army Plaza entrance) - 5 minutes on foot. A grand entrance to the park near the Pulitzer Fountain and the start of the park's east side loop.

The Plaza Hotel - 6 minutes on foot. The landmark hotel overlooking the park's southeast corner, with its famous lobby and Palm Court.

Fifth Avenue museum corridor - a short walk and short ride away, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the string of Upper East Side museums begin a little further north along Fifth Avenue.

Timings and Best Time to Travel

The 4, 5 and 6 trains run 24 hours a day at 59th Street, with less frequent service overnight. The express platform is especially busy during weekday rush hours as Upper East Side commuters head downtown. Midday and weekend mornings offer a calmer ride if your schedule allows it.