Let's face it, Grand Central Terminal is somewhere you must visit whenever you're in NYC. Doesn't…read morematter if it's your first or 100th time coming to the city, this building is just magnificent. My friend is big into old historical buildings with intricate architecture and I'll admit it, I like it too. This place is like a little city. Besides transportation, there's plenty of shops and restaurants. So much history in this building. I can't help but think of all those who had to say goodbye to their loved ones as they took their long travels out of this terminal. There's so many photo ops and it's soooo large, you can spend hours here exploring.

As the name itself says, it is indeed grand. Beautiful decor and a must stop in NYC even if you…read moredon't need to ride one. Always under construction in one side or another, this iconic NYC stop was as familiar and grand as ever. Considering how long I am staying here, I could no longer be taking taxis and uber all the time, so I got much better acquainted with the station and more and more I love this!

We always come in and out of Moynihan Train Hall when visiting NYC. It's celebrating its 10 year…read moreanniversary as well. This is such a welcomed sight from coming into the older, darker Penn Station across the way. This new train station also has a food hall with a variety of food vendors, stores (including a Walgreens/Duane Reade), and a bar as well. There is a dedicated Amtrak lounge for first class ticket guests, and one for regular ticketed guests. All in all, this is my go to train depot when coming in and out of NYC by train.

This is one of the main train transit hubs in Manhattan, part deux of two sections of Penn Station,…read morenew-ish-ly renovated as of 2020-21. A lot on the history of Penn Station is covered in my separate review of the station, so I'll just add some logistical notes here: - Moynihan Hall is where Amtrak trains arrive and depart, LIRR and NJ transit trains still depart from the depths of the un-renovated hel% oh I mean half under Madison Square Garden. - there's a walkway that connects Moynihan with the MSG basement thru underground tunnel beneath 8th Avenue. You have to look for the signs that direct you to the right escalators downstairs, otherwise some signs will point you outside to walk across the street, which is a perfectly available way to connect, though less convenient in inclement weather. - food options are fancier in Moynihan since it's newer though some may feel pricier too. Personally I'm think most food options in the station (both sides) are over-priced, though Moynihan probably has the better tasting choices, and newer, more pleasant looking stores and stands. - for subway transfers, Moynihan is close to the A/C/E blue lines that run along 8th Ave and MSG section is between A/C/E and 1/2/3 red lines that run along 7th Ave. The MSG exit is closer to B/D/F/M orange and N/Q/R yellow lines at Herald Square too. - While Moynihan is shinier and newer, the older section does win out in that it's slightly more centrally located for those arriving or departing the city. I found this website helpful in discussing the differences between the two different sections of Penn Station, and how to traverse between them, so sharing here! https://www.remitly.com/blog/travel/new-york-penn-station/

Celebrating its 115th birthday this year, Penn Station is decidedly not new--pan to the sections…read morethat look straight outta the late 60s--but to look on the brighter side at least part of the station looks better as of 2021! A welcome update if you ask most New Yorkers. Most recently renovated in 2020 to expand into the Farley Post Office building, this extensive transportation hub is situated between 7th and 9th Avenues, between 31st and 33rd Streets. To understand a little more on how this landmark fell from the general public's graces I delved into Penn's history: - built in 1910 to support the ambitious project led by Alexander Cassatt of the Pennsylvania Railroad company to connect Manhattan via under river tunnel to the vast railway network along the East Coast and Midwest. - designed by architect Charles McKim, the original structure was an immense Greco-Roman masterpiece modeled after St Peter's Basilica in Rome, with Doric columns wrapping around two city blocks, vaulted ceilings, a soaring glass dome, shopping arcade, mezzanines and massive waiting rooms with murals, friezes and sculptures. - peaked in 1945 at over 100 million annual passengers but but declined in volume and revenue through 1963 due to increases in automobile, airline and other public transit options, leading to the 1954 selling of air rights to sections above ground to Madison Square Garden. - demolished in 1963-66 with only the underground remnants and some sculptural elements saved, the station layout maintained separate concourses for Amtrak, NJ Transit (which operates the former PRR commuter lines from NJ), and the LIRR. The outdated design and crammed layout received much vitriolic denunciation and caused much traveler aggravation over the past several decades. - credited to senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, plans were hatched in the 1990s to build a newer version of a train hall, with two phases of construction that was finally completed by January 2021. This newer section, located between 8th and 9th Avenues, services Amtrak trains and includes a food hall, retail stores, and a glass roofed waiting lobby inspired by the past station's architecture. Don't forget to checkout the famous escalator with mural map of the surrounding NY metro area. Sooooo (yes with 5 Os) much nicer than the basement maze that is the section between 7th and 8th Avenues. Interesting fact: the only transit organization in business under the same name at Penn Station from inception to now is the MTA Long Island Railroad (LIRR). For much more extensive info: https://www.nytransitmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Penn-Station-Train-Talk-at-Plaza-33.pdf https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/the-rise-and-fall-of-penn-station-penn-station-today/

This review centers on the zero (or negative) Star disgusting, 1960s "original" Penn Station…read moresection under Madison Square Garden, not the great job with modern 4-5 Star updates to everywhere else that has had major modernizations, averaging the complex to 2 Stars in my opinion. This Penn Station "original" main train hall really needs to be rethought and opened up. Remember as a kid being driven up through the passage immediately under Madison Square Garden and dropped off for our trip back to Philly. With little to compare and excited about any train trip, we descended down the escalator (see pic) into this round hall, eventually over to the track stairs entry, waiting for our train to arrive for boarding. As the years advanced, that first trip "magical" episode melted into the reality it's drab, dark, and increasingly seedy with neglect, bare bone amenities and smelly derelicts. Understandably given security issues, that car passage leading to the escalator no longer operates as it did. This blueish gray, sad section no longer functions as those now likely dead planners and developers had envisioned. Now, the majestic Moynihan Hall becoming the main hall for Amtrak, updated NJ Transit section, and open LIRR corridor with fresh new arcade has brought needed modern amenities, yet this "original" (that is from the late '60s) is not just dated, it's an appendix without beneficial bacteria! Plus, Penn Station Access with allow Metro-North trains to come in and the Gateway Program will provide expanded capacity to the complex. It's ripe for a completely new life, in line with what we have learned from its failures and our learnings. Penn Station is a public resource and should be a pleasant, uplifting experience in both function and appearance. It the country's biggest train station in the country's biggest city. With the importance of mass transit, it should be a place to be proud of. Stop the infighting over who's responsible and whoever has the rights over this. Those stakeholders (including some greedy developers) who own/manage/contribute to running this area need to either have their rights revoked or get with the program. They had the opportunity to make things right and need to get out of the way of progress for the people! Reinvent this "original" Penn Station hall so we can burn sage to cleanse it of the toxic ghost of Robert Moses! Begone demon Moses! Begone!

This is a letter I sent to them: Trip/Event Date: 8/24/2025…read moreMessage: I am writing to formally report an incident involving an Amtrak employee whose conduct I found to be rude, dismissive, and inappropriate.On August 24, while traveling on Silver Meteor, I was escorting my elderly mother to a different car to use the single-occupancy bathroom, as the one in our room was uncomfortable for her. As we passed an Amtrak employee and a passenger, the Amtrak employee remarked, You know you have a toilet in your room. I explained, Its a little uncomfortable for my mom, to which she responded, There goes our bathrooms.When we returned from the bathroom, we passed them again, and the passenger said, Why dont you use the bathroom in your room? Then the employee said 'She should have gone to the bathroom before she got on.' These repeated comments felt unnecessary, condescending, and frankly, bullying. I was simply trying to ensure my mothers comfort and dignity, and I felt threatened and judged for doing so.I respectfully request that this incident be reviewed and addressed. I believe all passengers deserve to be treated with courtesy and respect, especially when accommodating the needs of elderly or vulnerable individuals.Thank you for your attention to this matter. I would appreciate confirmation that my complaint has been received and any steps that will be taken to prevent similar experiences in the future. You can call me for additional information. Thank you. - Till this day, all I get is "we will investigate"

I dont understand how the NYC Amtrak has low ratings…read more My main mode of travel from DC to NYC is by amtrak. Cuz their aint no way with gas prices, Im driving. I cant stand buses, and planes... if I can fly for cheap then I would. I usually book my tickets far in advance. My tix each way is usually $31 DC-NYC, Bmore to NYC $21 each way... now let's say last minute (like day before), you can book $19. The trains are clean and no ratchetness. No type of foolishness. The train attendant are nice, and hardly any delays unless it's weather related. However don't get to comfy and fall asleep, watch your belongings. Sometimes you can bump your seats depending on the attendance. The sleeper cabins are nice, bathrooms are clean. I have a better experience with Amtrak on the east coast then going from DC to Chi town. NYC Amtrak waiting area is nice too, way nicer than DCs UNION Station.

Newest part of Grand Central Terminal. It's right above Madison Ave so hence the name…read more Plenty of entrances to get here and it's deep below street level. There are escalators and elevators to get you down and there are some vendors on the concourse level as well. Bathrooms too and it does connect with the "main" part of Grand Central. GC Madison mainly serves the LIRR.

There are tons of escalators, so if you need to the catch the 2:17 train, you'll have to be in the…read morearea long before 2:17. And it's not the liveliest of train stations. But I have to award five stars for the clean bathroom. Due to basic geography, the ride itself is faster than Penn, so maybe if they were starting in 1908 they would have built Penn Station here, but consider all the terminated or "maybe someday in theory" rail links it's nice that this thing actually got built.

The subway was really cool. Three Dollars for a ride, and we…read moresaved $50 From catching an Uber. There are some stairs going to the train and coming up from the train. My first time taking the train and I loved it! We took the 'E' train!

Not the cleanest station, and pretty deep underground, but E/F trains stop here (stacked, though,…read morenot on the same rails), and you can get up and down but the escalators are slower and people clog up the space as they wait on a long ride up / down. Convenient to 5th Ave shopping and closer to 57th Street if you need to catch the cross-town bus or walk up to the park.

Decent Station as part of the MTA subway system. I walked to this one from my hotel to get to…read moreRoosevelt Island. It was pretty big and cleaner than most. It also was crowded but I was there during commute times so that is to be expected. Love it or hate it, it remains the easiest way, for me at least, to get around NYC

An MTA station is on 21st Street in Long Island City. It smells pretty bad here. Lots of piss. A…read morecool thing is the look. This helps it appear unique. Considering the area, this station isn't that bad. It serves the F Train. This is the fastest way into Manhattan, faster than any bridge will get you. A notable thing about this is how it looks different from other underground stations. The biggest difference here is the tile. Instead of the usual white, it's orange. This results in there not being as many stains. Overall it looks pretty clean. The smell is very bad like a toilet. It often has a delay. Trains are about to go through an underwater tunnel and often they get backed up. Escalators are here. These are usually out of order. It overall is pretty convenient. It has some problems with delays. The escalators suck and usually aren't working.

I wanna thank the professional crew on train 164 and train 87 this weekend for their assistance as…read moreI missed my stop due to me helping a passenger get seated. I had been assured they would help in my panicked state & they did! I thank each one!

Amtrak is very affordable if you prepurchase your tickets before your trip. Due to the shutdown we…read morecouldn't get the flights we wanted l, so we took the train from NYC to Wilimgton. I had not been on a train in about 30 years. They've done a great job remodeling the interior. Lots of leg room, and can recline back further than a plane. If you haven't ridden in awhile, consider a train trip! I loved that the conductors have gone back to the retro caps I remember from my childhood. Very personable conductor and we really enjoyed our two hour trip.