Amtrak celebrates 50th anniversary with opening of Moynihan Train Hall

Credit: Amtrak

As part of its 50th anniversary, Amtrak – in partnership with Empire State Development – has expanded its footprint in New York City with the opening of Moynihan Train Hall, located inside the Farley Post Office building, directly across 8th Avenue from New York Penn Station.

The new station, combined with recent improvements to New York Penn Station, will: Relieve crowding; improve passenger comfort and security; and offer an enhanced facility that will better serve Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor (NEC) and the operator’s long-distance travellers and commuter rail passengers.

“Moynihan Train Hall represents Amtrak’s commitment to offering the best possible travel experience,” said Amtrak’s CEO, Bill Flynn. “Between improved passenger comfort and security, the new amenities and enhanced accessibility features, this is the type of train station that the late Senator Moynihan always envisioned for New York City travellers.”

The Moynihan Train Hall includes:

• Large, spacious areas for customers to explore and physical distance from others
• Accessible features that cater to the needs of all Amtrak customers
• State-of-the-art technologies to improve the boarding experience using the free customer Wi-Fi throughout the station
• A large boarding concourse that features a sky lit atrium approximately the size of the Grand Central Terminal’s Main Hall
• A new reserved customer waiting room, Red Cap Service and a new, flagship premium Metropolitan Lounge, providing select travellers with a high-quality experience, including expanded food and beverage offerings.

“Amtrak’s Moynihan Train Hall will deliver the world-class rail travel experience that our customers deserve when travelling to and from this incredible city. The beautiful vistas, modern design, new amenities and enhanced accessibility features showcase the kinds of improvements that Amtrak is undertaking across our network,” said Amtrak Board Chair, Tony Coscia. “Amtrak dreamed up this plan 35 years ago, and we deeply thank the Governor, Senator Schumer and the New York Congressional delegation, and all our partners, for helping to make it a reality.”

Amtrak has implemented several improvements to New York Penn Station over the past year as it advances its plan to modernise stations, infrastructure and trains on the Northeast Corridor. This includes: Promoting new technology, contactless travel, physical distancing and other safety measures; completing its refresh of the Ticketed Waiting Area for Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT customers; new LED lighting in the Rotunda area; the installation of an Ultraviolet Germicidal irradiation (UVGI) system in one of the Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) units in the Amtrak concourse; refreshed platforms and new wayfinding signage; and continued work on the Infrastructure Renewal programme.