The MTA released data from 2022 announcing that the busiest subway station in NYC is officially Times Sq-42 St station, home to the N,Q,R,W,S,1,2,3,7,A,C,E,B,D,F,M lines, with 45,023,339 annual riders.

The Lexington Avenue Line (4, 5, 6, and <6> trains) is widely considered the busiest subway line in New York City.

Here’s a breakdown of why:

Key Facts

1. Annual Ridership: Pre-pandemic, the 4, 5, and 6 trains together regularly saw over 1.3 million riders on an average weekday — more than any other line.
2. Geography: It runs through the heart of Manhattan’s East Side, serving major hubs like: - Grand Central Terminal - Union Square - Wall Street (via 4/5) - Brooklyn Bridge–City Hall - Many dense residential neighborhoods in the Bronx and Manhattan.
3. Transfer Points: It connects with numerous other subway lines and Metro-North at Grand Central, funneling huge numbers of commuters.

Post-Pandemic Context

While overall ridership dropped during COVID-19, the Lexington Avenue Line remains the busiest in terms of average weekday ridership as of recent MTA data (2022–2023). The 8th Avenue Line (A/C/E) and Broadway Line (N/Q/R) are also heavily used but still trail behind Lexington in total daily passengers.

Important Distinction

• Sometimes the IRT Lexington Avenue Line (the physical tracks for 4/5/6) is called the busiest trunk line.
• The individual train with highest ridership is often the 6 train (local), though the 4 and 5 express trains also carry enormous numbers during peak hours.

So, if you’re asking for