155th Street

155th Street lies where Harlem climbs toward Washington Heights, near the bluffs above the Harlem River. This Independent Subway station on St Nicholas Avenue is served by the A, B, C and D trains and drops riders close to the Polo Grounds Towers and the sweep of parkland along the river valley below Coogan's Bluff.

The neighbourhood carries a lot of history here. This is the old Polo Grounds territory, once home to baseball's New York Giants, and today the station serves a mostly residential pocket of upper Manhattan with easy links down to Midtown or up into The Bronx just across the water.

Station Overview

155th Street opened in 1932 as part of the city-built IND Eighth Avenue line and is served by the A, B, C and D trains. It sits in nominal Zone 1 near the northern edge of Harlem, one of the deep uptown stops on the lettered lines before they cross the Harlem River into The Bronx.

Lines and Connectivity

The A runs express down the Eighth Avenue trunk toward Midtown, Lower Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, while the C provides local service on the same route. The B and D use the Concourse line, crossing north into The Bronx and running south through Manhattan, with the D continuing into Brooklyn. From this single uptown platform you can reach a remarkable spread of the city without changing lines.

Station Layout and Structure

The station is deep underground, cut into the high ground of upper Manhattan, with express and local tracks so faster and slower trains share the same platforms. Because of the terrain the platforms sit well below street level, so allow a little extra time on the stairs or lift. Entrances open around St Nicholas Avenue and West 155th Street.

Accessibility

155th Street is listed as an accessible station with step-free access, which is especially useful given how deep the platforms lie below the street. Elevators connect the levels for travellers using wheelchairs, strollers or luggage. It is still wise to check the MTA elevator status before travelling in case a lift is temporarily out of service.

Travel Tips

• Pay a single flat fare with OMNY contactless or a MetroCard, the same price regardless of how far you travel.
• The A is express and the C is local on the shared tracks, so check the platform sign before boarding for the faster ride.
• The station is unusually deep, so use the elevator if you have heavy bags or limited mobility rather than the long stairways.
• Overnight the B does not run and the C is limited, so plan around the A and D for late trips.

Nearby Attractions

Polo Grounds site - just below the station toward the river. The former home of the New York Giants baseball club, now marked by the Polo Grounds Towers and a commemorative plaque.

Harlem River waterfront - a short walk east and downhill. Parkland and paths along the river with views across to The Bronx.

Trinity Church Cemetery and Mausoleum - a few minutes northwest. A historic uptown burial ground, the only active cemetery in Manhattan, with notable graves and quiet grounds.

Sugar Hill - south along St Nicholas Avenue. The storied Harlem Renaissance neighbourhood of handsome row houses.

Timings and Best Time to Travel

The lettered trains here run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so the station is always in service, though overnight frequencies drop between roughly midnight and 5am and the B does not run in the evening. Weekday rush hours toward Midtown are busiest, while midday and later evening travel tends to be calmer through this uptown stop.