Architecturally, Grand Central is gorgeous. Inside you're…read moretreated to a massive lobby with iconic steps and balcony. It's a marvel to behold when you're in it. It's a big station so it can be a bit daunting at first but you have signs and proper directions to get you where you need to go. I'd suggest for first-timers to arrive early and take your time. You don't want to rush through here.

I guess the first thing you'll want to know is how I ended up dragging myself out of bed to catch…read morethe damn F train to 47 Rockefeller Plaza almost in the middle of the night, sure felt like it at 4:45AM. It was freezing, or maybe it was warm, maybe it was my cold, but it felt cold as hell anyway because who the hell wants to be awake when the sun isn't even trying yet? ​So I walk all the way over to Lexington Ave and 42nd Street which is a hell of a walk when you're half asleep and your feet feel like two sacks of wet sand, just to get to Grand Central and catch the 6:18 AM train to Scarsdale. I have this part-time paralegal job up there. It depresses the hell out of me, strictly speaking, but a person's got to keep a job or people start looking at you like you're a total crook or crackhead or something. ​Grand Central at six in the morning is actually pretty grand, if you want to know the truth. It really is. It's not full of all these phony tourists snapping pictures of every single thing like they've never seen a ceiling before. The main concourse is just vast and quiet, with that big greenish ceiling with all the stars painted on it, even though the stars are drawn totally backward, which is just like people, if you think about it. Nobody even notices. ​There's that big clock right in the middle sitting on top of the information booth. It just sits there, looking very old and very expensive and not giving a damn about anybody's problems. I stood there for a second looking up at it, and for a minute it almost made me feel less miserable about going all the way to Scarsdale to look at legal briefs or whatever the hell I was going to do. ​The guys working the tracks at that hour don't yell at you, which is a nice change. You just walk down the ramp to your track, get on the Metro-North, and sit by the window. It's almost nice, except you know as soon as the train starts moving that you're actually on your way to work, which ruins the whole thing. ​If you have to go to work at six in the morning, Grand Central is about the only place in New York that doesn't make you feel like a complete loser for doing it. I mean it. It really doesn't. ​

If you're traveling through New York, I definitely recommend Moynihan Train Hall if your train…read moredeparts from there. It's modern, clean, bright, and much more spacious than the original Penn Station. There are comfortable waiting areas for Amtrak passengers, great restaurants, and unique shops to browse while you wait. The entire station feels more organized and much less stressful. Penn Station is still the main hub for New Jersey Transit, the Long Island Rail Road, and other commuter trains. It has plenty of restaurants and food options, but it's definitely showing its age. It's extremely busy, especially during rush hours, with people constantly rushing, weaving through crowds, and trying to catch trains. It can feel hectic and overwhelming if you're not familiar with it. Overall, while Penn Station gets the job done, Moynihan Train Hall offers a much more enjoyable travel experience. If I have a choice in the future, I'll definitely choose Moynihan whenever possible.

Penn Station and Moynihan Train Hall are not my stomping grounds - I commute to the city from…read moreWestchester and work on the east side so GCT is more my jam. However, I was taking the Amtrak to DC and as such, needed to embark out of Moynihan. I haven't taken the Amtrak since it embarked from NYC out of Penn - and I gotta say this is a complete upgrade. Penn is old, ugly, and depressing - the complete opposite of Moynihan. The main hall is grand, with beautiful fixtures, super high ceilings, well kept finishings, and an overall bright aesthetic. Getting around is relatively easy - there are signs everywhere indicating where to go. To pass time, there's a decent amount of shops in the hall, and a large food hall several options. Despite Moynihan being an overall positive, I do feel there are opportunities to increase train time signage. They were not in the most ideal places, especially in the ticketed waiting area. Speaking of the waiting area, it was decently sized but I think the seats could have been a smidge more comfortable. Despite my critiques, Moynihan Train Hall is an overall yes - I was super impressed. There's no question this is an upgrade to commuting out of Penn, and wouldn't hesitate to take the Amtrak out of here in the future.

Pretty cool station to stop by and check out. We rode in from Long Island to go to Madison Square…read moreGarden. Got off train and walked into the Garden. Couple blocks from Macys and other popular spots in the city. Theres bathrooms in a few different areas and lots of places to eat.

I know it's been a few years now but Penn Station's revamp has to be acknowledge. It's nicer and…read moremore spacious now, storefronts are clean and pretty good. The options you have for food or quick pick me ups are helpful and actually worth going to. Realistically, Penn Station feels pretty safe to be in throughout the day. People mind their business and get to where they need to go. You have a constant police force there, whether on foot or on a Gator. You have buskers playing music towards the subway entrance. Few members of the unhoused community use Penn Station for shelter at night, not a big deal for me - I'd rather they have a roof under their head than being outside. Penn Station gets busy during big sports days, keep that in mind.

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.

I was taking the LIRR early Monday morning to visit my brother in Long Island. My go-to station…read morehad always been Penn, but Monday's train originated from Grand Central Madison. I'd never been -- the station is only three years old -- so I stopped by Sunday to (pardon the expression) 'case the joint out.' Good thing! I entered at Grand Central Station, followed signs and walked. Then walked some more. Took escalators, maybe an elevator. Finally ended up at ticketing. I don't think I would have allotted enough time if I hadn't known the layout beforehand. It was off hour. Not many people there. The customer service rep, a wonderful woman named Heather, wanted to make sure I knew what I was doing. She actually left her post to show me the tracks and helped me get my bearings. (Guess what! Heather was there Monday morning when I returned. I felt like I was seeing an old friend!) Here's a tip for everyone: If you don't want to deal with the underground labyrinth, look for the elevator on Madison off 47th Street. It'll take you directly down to ticketing and the waiting area. And specifically for older folks: To reap the senior discount, purchase your tickets the day of your trip, not before. There's no upcharge to buy tickets on the train. If I heard correctly, senior fares are the same for peak and off-peak -- but don't quote me on that! This station is light, bright, much quieter than Penn. Bathrooms are infinitely better. Now that I know what I'm doing, this may become my station of choice.

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.

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.

Amtrak is a what we need across all of the United States…read more For the most part Amtrak is a cheaper, safer, and more reliable way to travel. For me, the service inside the train cars have always been cordial and kind. Any issues I've had with Amtrak has always been a weather issue which resulted in delays, yes I can get upset at that but like I don't because at the end of the day I'm in a comfortable seat with proper airflow and food available. That's better than a plane in my opinion.

Would highly recommend anyone that's Interested in traveling…read more Would recommend you get a room on the Train They come to around dinner time and inquire if You would like to dine with another Couple they also have times you can eat I really enjoyed doing this We did this many years ago ! Don't have nothing bad to say ! We got on as strangers & got off We knew everyone on the train ! Very enjoyable !!