Grand Central Terminal

Covering 19 hectares and catering to over 750,000 people every single day, Grand Central Terminal plays an integral part in the lives of New York City citizens. In terms of numbers of platforms, it is the largest train station in the world, boasting a whopping 44 platforms, and also has 67 tracks running alongside.The terminal has been referred to as “the world’s loveliest station” due to its outstanding architecture and fantastic decorative Beaux-Arts style.Enjoy the soaring 38-metre ceilings and their inverted zodiac designs painted in fabulous gold leaf on cerulean blue oil, painted by the renowned Paul Cesar Helleu in 1912. Many believe the curious layout of the constellations to have been a simple accident, resulting from how the artist approached the task. Light is cast over the scene through the six splendid 23-metre arched windows that are placed just underneath the ceiling.Admire the station’s pair of decadent marble staircases, which replicate the finery of the grand staircase in the Paris Opera House, or meet up with a friend underneath the four faces of the opal clock at the information kiosk – this feature is estimated to be worth many millions of dollars. The Main Concourse, where these features are displayed, is the central hub of the station, which many people will already be familiar with from its appearance in numerous Hollywood films.Another stunning feature is Jules-Alexis Coutan’s sculpture of Mercury, accompanied by Hercules and Minerva, on the station’s façade. This statue frames the huge clock that commuters anxiously glance up at when hurrying for their train. The clock is four metres in diameter, and contains the biggest single example of Tiffany glass in the world.While the golden age of rail travel in the US has passed, Grand Central Terminal remains one of the biggest transport nodes in the country. Its tracks are on two levels, one bringing people to different areas of New York State, and the other to parts of Connecticut. The Dining Concourse is located below the Main Concourse, and contains a range of eateries including the celebrated Grand Central Oyster Bar and Restaurant.Grand Central Terminal is located at East 42nd Street and Park Avenue. As a transport hub, it is easily reached by bus, subway and rail.