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A residence interior at The Astelle with a window framing the Mott Haven skyline.

Lexington Avenue Express

Apartments Near the 4 and 5 Trains, Mott Haven

The Astelle is a short walk from the 4 and 5 at 138 St-Grand Concourse, the express alternative to the 6 train at our doorstep. A new 2025 building in Mott Haven.

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The short answer

A short walk to the 4 and 5 express

The Astelle is at 286 Rider Avenue. The 6 train at 3 Av-138 St is the closest stop, about three blocks away. A few blocks west, at 138 St-Grand Concourse, the 4 and 5 run as the Lexington Avenue Express, so when you want to skip the local stops on the way downtown, the express is a short walk from the door. Most days you will choose between the two by mood and destination, the local at the corner or the express around the way.

The line

Where the 4 and 5 take you

From 138 St-Grand Concourse the 4 and 5 run express down the Lexington Avenue trunk, skipping the local stops between the headline stations. These are the express stops in order south, each the door to a different part of the city.

4 and 5 trains, the Lexington Avenue Express

138 St-Grand Concourse

Lexington Avenue Express

Express stop, a few blocks west of The Astelle

Because the express skips the local stops, the 4 and 5 cover the same East Side stations as the 6 in fewer stops once they are downtown, useful when your destination is one of the big interchange stations rather than a stop in between.

Express stops, in order south

  • 125 St
  • 86 St
  • 59 St
  • Grand Central - 42 St
  • 14 St - Union Sq
  • Brooklyn Bridge - City Hall
  • Fulton St
  • Wall St

Service note: the 5 stops here all day except late nights, and the 4 stops here except during rush hours in the peak direction. The 6 local at 3 Av-138 St, three blocks east, fills any gap and runs 24 hours.

Approximate ride times

From 138 St-Grand Concourse on the express

Approximate off-peak ride times on the 4 and 5 from 138 St-Grand Concourse, per MTA and Google Maps trip estimates. Real times vary with the schedule, transfers, and time of day. The express trades a slightly longer walk for fewer stops downtown.

Approximate off-peak travel time on the 4 and 5 express trains from 138 St-Grand Concourse to common Manhattan destinations. Times are rounded estimates per MTA and Google Maps and vary by schedule and time of day.
DestinationHowApprox. time
Grand Central-42 St4 or 5, expressAbout 20 min
14 St-Union Sq4 or 5, expressAbout 25 min
Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall4 or 5, expressAbout 30 min
Wall St, Lower Manhattan4 or 5, expressAbout 35 min

4 train (Lexington Avenue Express) line map, MTA

Local or express

The 6 at the corner, the express around the way

You are not choosing one train over the other here, you have both. The 6 is the closest stop and runs around the clock; the 4 and 5 are the express, a few blocks farther, for skipping stops downtown. Most renters use whichever fits the trip.

6 train, the Lexington Avenue Local

The 6, the closest stop

About three blocks east at 3 Av-138 St, the 6 is the Lexington Avenue Local, 24 hours. It is the everyday line: shorter walk, runs all night, and reaches the whole East Side one stop at a time.

More on the 6 train
4 and 5 trains, the Lexington Avenue Express

The 4 and 5, the express

A few blocks west at 138 St-Grand Concourse, the 4 and 5 run express down Lexington, skipping the local stops. Worth the slightly longer walk when your stop is one of the big interchange stations downtown.

How to choose: take the 6 for the short walk, around-the-clock service, and the in-between East Side stops; take the 4 or 5 when you are headed to a major downtown interchange and want to skip stops. The 5 stops at 138 St-Grand Concourse all day except late nights, and the 4 stops there except rush hours in the peak direction, so check the time before you walk over.1

Sources

  1. 5 train (Lexington Avenue Express) line map, MTA
  2. 4 train (Lexington Avenue Express) line map, MTA

Getting around

Questions about the 4 and 5

How far is the 4 and 5 from The Astelle?
The 4 and 5 are at 138 St-Grand Concourse, a few blocks west of the building. The closest stop overall is the 6 at 3 Av-138 St, about three blocks east.
What is the difference between the 4, 5, and 6 here?
The 6 at 3 Av-138 St is the Lexington Avenue Local, the closest stop and a 24-hour line. The 4 and 5 at 138 St-Grand Concourse are the Lexington Avenue Express, a few blocks farther, and they skip the local stops downtown.
Do the 4 and 5 both stop at 138 St-Grand Concourse?
The 5 stops there all day except late nights, and the 4 stops there except during rush hours in the peak direction. When neither is running, the 6 local at 3 Av-138 St runs 24 hours, a few blocks east. Check the MTA line maps for current service.
How long is the express ride to Grand Central?
About twenty minutes on the 4 or 5 from 138 St-Grand Concourse, off-peak. Times vary with the schedule and time of day.
Should I take the express or the local?
Take the 6 local for the shorter walk, all-night service, and the in-between East Side stops. Take the 4 or 5 express when your destination is a major downtown interchange and you want to skip stops.
An Astelle living room opening onto a private balcony, blocks from the 4 and 5 express at 138 St-Grand Concourse.

Arrange a visit

Walk both stations once and the choice is obvious.

Stand at the door, walk to the 6 at the corner, then to the express around the way. Book a tour and we will point you to both.

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Before you go

See The Astelle in person.

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