Penn Station, the LIRR's flagship terminal, is in the heart of Manhattan. It's within walking distance of Herald Square, the Empire State Building, and Hudson Yards. However, it's a pain in the behind to get from Penn Station to the east side of Manhattan. Midtown East is a major business district. The Upper East Side has many high-end businesses and famous museums. Prior to the opening of Grand Central Madison, LIRR riders who wanted to access the east side of Manhattan had to backtrack by taking the 1,2 , or 3 train one stop to Times Square and then the 42nd Street shuttle to Grand Central. Doing so is inconvenient, especially on nights and weekends when the 1, 2, and 3 don't run frequently.

In the 1960s, there was a proposal to send some LIRR trains to the ornate Grand Central Terminal, which is located in Midtown East. Long story short, there were many delays due to issues with funding. Plus, Metro-North, which operates out of Grand Central Terminal, refused to share tracks with the LIRR. Hence, the LIRR had to build a separate station under Grand Central Terminal. Metro-North's pettiness cost taxpayers A LOT of money and presented logistical challenges.

On January 25, 2023, Grand Central Madison finally opened. Enjoy the ride and the tour!