There are a couple different bus companies you can choose to use to get to Boston, NY, Philadelphia, UCONN, etc. they have Peter Pan bus line, FlixBus, and The Greyhound. They also have the Amtrak trains in this same station. Although I feel safe, the area is definitely sketchy. There are ticket counters for this who hasn't bought their tickets beforehand. And there is also a small eatery that has coffee and breakfast sandwiches to purchase. read more

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This is just your average train/bus station with services to New York, Boston, Philadelphia, etc... There's a parking lot, across the street, I have never utilized it, since I typically get dropped off, or occasionally pick up a passenger. This station is small, with some seating available, there's a Subway for food, a convenience store also selling coffee, pizza and bagels. No reliable place to get a coffee, like Starbucks or Dunkin. There's some outlets, but none that are usb supportive, I only brought the cord with me. There appeared to be plenty of ATMs. Unfortunately, due to mechanical difficulties, I couldn't take this pre planned and pre payed trip today. This is not the fault of the Union Station, but the bus company Grayhound. This is a very basic bus station in Hartford. It would be nice if people could use trash cans to dispose of their litter, making the Union Station a tiny bit more pleasant for fellow passengers. read more

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Encouraging Staff. Quiet Ambiance. And a nice bathroom for a refresher during delays. read more

Union Station - Hartford Union Station Mural Lookout - Public Transportation Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

Union Station in Hartford, CT is a transportation hub with rail and bus routes. Taxi and commuter support is also available. There's also a convenient parking lot across the street for commuters/travelers. There are multiple seating areas in the lobby with screens filled with updates on incoming routes. This station is not too far from home and I like that I am able to take a direct train to New York with no transfers required. read more

Union Station - Public Transportation Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

I arrived at this train station at night and it was clean and well lit. There were many signs to show you were to get additional connecting or local transportation. I got in at 11:59 pm and there were quite a few people traveling too. On my return trip I ordered a sandwich and beverage while waiting on my train back to Philadelphia. Yup, I recommend the Hartford Union Train Station. read more

Union Station - Train station area. - Public Transportation Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

First of all, it's a real b*tch trying to write reviews for the right Union Station because so many train stations carry that name. Hartford, New Haven, Baltimore. Seriously. This is for the one in Hartford (I reviewed New Haven and Baltimore separately). I took Amtrak from New Haven to Hartford. As I've said in other train station reviews, I have been spoiled by some of the bigger, nicer stations, like Philly, Chicago, and definitely Moynihan station in Manhattan. But also, now that I've experienced stations that are poorly kept as Baltimore's Union Station, I've learned to rate based on a happy medium. Someone stated, "this is a bus station that just happens to have a train running upstairs." I think this is the right take. It's fairly clean, no frills. There is a coffee station, vending machines, and a Subway. There is some nice street art and murals outside for photo ops. It's very near the capitol. Near some decent restaurants, museums, and some pedestrian spaces. read more

I think it's highly unwelcoming to have jail toilets at this place. I think it could be a lot nicer I know it runs the risk of being trashed by the public but still the risk you take read more

This is a fine train station. It's not winning any awards, and it's not the architectural marvel that something like Grand Central is, but it does the job. The bathroom was clean. The chairs are uncomfortable, but at least they are there, and there are enough of them to accommodate the people that were waiting. There is decent WiFi, with no hoops to jump through to connect (much appreciated). The entire place smells like bad pizza, from the moment you arrive til the moment you leave. But that could be worse. It drowns out the weird Subway bread smell, which is for the best. It's definitely in better shape than the shuttered bar across the street (On The Rocks, and it really is). I'm glad I don't spend a lot of time here, but it's perfectly serviceable for when you do. read more

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Not much of a train/bus station but gets the job done. Trains stop, you get on, they leave. Buses stop, you get on, they leave. Overpriced daily parking seems to dissuade commuter use. No coffee shop...I recall a Dunkin Donuts here years ago but now only a Subway that does not open early. Uncomfortable seats, in station and limited at that. Only highlight is very friendly and helpful agent at Amtrak window. Will use the station as no other choices but reluctantly. read more

Union Station - Public Transportation Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

Our last trip out heading to NYC and back to the same good old platform following a weekend in the City late February 2020. Who then could have predicted we would visit and return safely with my 90 year old mother-in-law just as the vaguely known viral tsunami was about to strike. I digress, like many of you it's hard not to. Back to the Grand Old Choo Choo Station - Hartford's small, but grand Union Station. Once a vital hub in the Insurance Capital for many years, it went through some hard times, especially in the '70s and '80's. At that time I remember a vibrant life around the station with eateries, night clubs, and a couple of darkened streets below the I-84 over pass. This area was known for Joe's seeking cordials, other nefarious (aka NARCfarious) activities, and of a great deal of other crime. In the '90s: Union Station received a well overdue Face Lift, as the area, around the station also drew the attention of other developers. This however, was short lived, the Station (Bus & Train) remain steady, riding through time. I look forward to revisiting the Station again grabbing a ticket worry free for NYC or further south, or to the north Springfield, and/or even south east via New Haven, Providence, and then to Boston. Mass transit, especially by train leaves a smaller carbon footprint per person verse car travel and even a bus. read more

It's fine. There are benches to sit on, terrible food places or vending machines, and the women's bathroom has like steel toilets without toilet seats. There's an elevator to the Amtrak and CT Rail trains, along with stairs. I used to take buses from there although it's been since before Covid. That's a whole other story, with late buses and lack of communication, but that's the bus companies, and pretty universal read more

Traveler review: what you need to know! Union station is Connecticut's train and bus station... very conveniently located in downtown Hartford, clean simple & no frills. I found it to be the most quick and easy way to get to NYC, and cheap too. It very small you won't have difficulty finding your way around. There is only one train track, so you can be pretty sure you're at the right spot. Just make sure you show up on time. They serve Amtrak, Petter Pan and Greyhound. Parking is right across $2 for the first half hour and $2 per half hour thereafter, max $15. or you can pick up and drop off right at the pull up right infront. Food- for a quick bite they have Dunkin and Subway and wending machines for drinks. Closest restaurant is Changa Rosa. read more

This is a bus station that just happens to have a train running upstairs. There's a Subway sandwich shop, a Dunkin Donuts, a tiny convenience shop, and little else here besides the bus and rail ticket counter and a CT rail ticket machine. Definitely not the kind of place you want to hang around for long. I'll be sure to get here very close to my departure time on my return trip. read more

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Lots of fond memories of meeting my family at Union Station. Now that we take the bus we just pass through picking up or dropping off passengers. It has an old world feel in places. I feel the spirit somehow. The beautiful tile adorns the outside now. It cheers you to see the pretty colors. There's no fancy shops that I recall. The attractions are the historic places nearby. It's a great place to visit to take photos. read more

Union Station - I love the tiles. Colorful 9/23/16 - Public Transportation Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

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Your Union Station experience will probably differ depending on what you are up to - picking up from and getting on a train are two different experiences. More often than not, I am picking up. The station is easy on / easy off from I84 and has a parking lot across from it that is relatively cheap if you need to wait around for a while. If you choose to squeeze onto the street, watch out - one side has a sign for Taxis only, and while I'm a relative pro at ignoring signs (no parking, no standing, no idling, no speeding, no turning) this is one that I actually obey. Taxi drivers are so protective of their side of the street that they will lay on their horn and continuously inch up to your car, more or less forcing you out of their territory. I see it happen every time I am there - so watch out. Just park on the other side, and ignore THOSE no parking signs. I've never had a problem sitting over there with my hazards on waiting for a train to arrive. Just get there early for that - that side tends to fill up fast. Or get there super early, park in the cheap lot, and go grab a drink at City Steam. If you are departing...well Union Station isn't all that special. It is relatively void of frills and thrills that make it fun to look at / be in / explore. You can sit on a bench, drink coffee from the mini DD in there, or get some subway. There are two (2) kiosks for Amtrak ticket printing...and that is it. I usually get there just late enough to print my ticket and wait 5 minutes by the track until my train comes. Yes, I said track. Track 1 is THE track, so its fairly difficult for you to get lost. Waiting up there is pretty much standing room only, save for a scattered bench or two, and can get chilly in the winter. Overall, its not that bad. Easier to depart from than New Haven (longer drive) and there's never too many people getting on the train at one time...so no real crowds to push through. read more

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Have made dozens of trips here to pick up visiting relatives. Thr train station itself is small but comfortable. Always fairly crowded inside, but the folks are OK, no panhandlers or derelicts to be found. There is a fair number of comfy wood benches spread throughout the terminal. Food service is limited to a Dunkin, a Subway, a teeny tiny convenience store, and a bank of vending machines. We picked up my brother-in-law tonight at 9:20 PM and just the Subway was open. There is a medium sized parking lot across the street, but gaining acces to it can be challenging because of the dozens of cars that sit double parked on the street waiting to pick up arrivals. Sometimes the backup extends all the way to Asylum Street, effectively blocking incoming traffic, I have never seen any police presence there for traffic control in the dozens of times I have been there. So there you have it, a small very manageable terminal, limited food service, reasonably priced parking lot, and poor traffic control issues. All in all, A-OK........ read more

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Pretty quiet place here! Definitely can expand to make it more attractive but what more can you ask for at a station? A lot of people don't park at the parking-most people ask others to pick them up by doing a U-turn when coming by! (You have to pay for parking.) There is a Dunkin' Donuts and subway here! There is a screen inside that shows you when the buses arrive and which gates. There is a little arcade area next to the amtrack windows, by the restrooms! read more

Union Station - Public Transportation Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

There's a woman that works here who is extremely rude. I went up to ask her a question about my train and she rudely said "I can't tell you, you need to listen to the loud speaker" (which is a broken garbled mess, that's why I went up to ask about a delay in the first place). The board with the train times? Yeah that was broken too with a large crack down the side where the times are. I ended up going up asking the male attendant next to her if my train was in fact delayed and he simply said yes. That's literally all she had to say. I saw others go up to her and she gave them the same attitude. My mom took the train to come visit me a year ago and said this same woman was rude to her then. I don't know what her deal is but I reported her to Amtrak the last time who then reported her to the station. I get that working in a train station can be overwhelming, but there was no reason for her to be so nasty to people. I frequent HUGE stations in NY and NJ where there are thousands of people and I've never had a worker be rude like her. read more

The great hall is pretty, the station...yeah not so much. The historical pics on the wall are a nice touch though. Your options are pretty limited - there are a couple Northeast Regionals that terminate and originate in Springfield, otherwise unless you take the Vermonter, your journey to or from this station will likely involve a transfer at New Haven. Typical characters lurking, panhandling - then again these people are drawn to me like a magnet. If you have a smartphone or tablet, download the Amtrak app and don't even bother printing your ticket at the Quik Trak machine - unless you're a massive dork like me who wants an actual ticket as a souvenir. The Springfield line is single tracked in the area, so there's really no way to screw up boarding your train. Once NHHS rail opens in a few years (New Haven-Hartford-Springfield Rail) there will be two tracks, but that's a ways away. I think the fenced off area on the platform facing 84 is going to be part of the busway (blech). It's better than your typical Amshack (See Windsor Locks) but it's no Grand Central Terminal. Protip for raildork photographers like me: you can get some decent shots of the train coming in with the Capital in the background. Bus service looks okay, but I don't do buses so I have no comment there. read more

Hands down the creepiest place ever. When you walk in there are people in every corner just starring at you. It's a little overwhelming and scary. So now I just buy my ticket online so I don't have to deal with going inside at all. The bus ride itself I've never had a problem with its totally cool. I've taken Peter Pan before, greyhound and bonanza and it's always been a smooth ride. The drivers are polite too for the most part. read more

I had to cool down before I wrote this review because I had such a poor experience here. First off , there is no public parking so it's hard to wait with whoever drove you there for your bus to leave. It would be easier if you knew what busses were leaving from which gate at what time, but there are no signs telling you this - you have to wait in the ticket line and inquire at the Greyhound desk. My bus was cancelled and our bus was combined with a bus an hour later, but they never told me when I asked what gate to wait at - had to hear it from someone else in line 45 min later. This was one particularly bad experience, but every other time I've been through the busses were consistently late or overbooked. If a line starts forming, you also have to wait outside under a dark, depressing, bland concrete overhang - its really night-and-day compared to South Station's great bus terminal. Inside their are public restrooms (actually really clean), a Subway, vending machines, and an Amtrak office. The inside of the station is actually pretty nice. It's just a shame that you'll be more than likely standing outside in the elements waiting for a late bus that's overbooked. read more

Union Station - Public Transportation Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

I like this bus station. What surprises me the fact that the restroom was very clear, which happens rarely in a bus stop. Therefore, GREAT JOB JANITORS!!! It is in a convenient location, only 15 minutes away from major government offices. I bought my tickets online and printed them at home, so I did not deal with any staffs. Therefore, I could not comment about them here. They have subway and Dunkin Donuts inside. I wish they have something that opens till late. read more

Union Station - Walkway on the left and bus stop on the right. - Public Transportation Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

It's a bus station so you don't really have many options if you need to take a bus. The have a Subway and a Dunkin' so at least there's some food options. There is a little ice cream spot, but I've never seen it open. They have a number of vending machines so I recommend if buying a drink to check them all. The one I used was $4 for a soda. My biggest concern is the display board. I had booked a 3:40 to Boston on Greyhound. I found my bus # on the board, but it was listed as a 3:10. I asked the people at Greyhound and they couldn't explain why it was wrong. Ultimately it turned out that my bus was delayed which was not communicated on the board. Luckily Greyhound has their own display that is more accurate. The point is to not trust the station display. read more

Its a bit hectic here, but the place is kept reasonably clean and the parking out front is no worse than trying to pick people up at the airport (considering how many people come through here). There is even a Subway inside to grab a bit to eat if you're passing through. Staff is hit or miss as far as helpfulness goes - but there is only one train track, and the buses all come to one place - so you should be able to figure things out. read more

I really liked this train station. Everything was very clean and organized. They had a Dunkin Donuts and a Subway inside as well as a bus station and a gift shop. It felt like a mini New York City. I have been comming to Hartford recently for the Yelp Elite events. Very fun city to visit. The train station felt safe and the bathrooms were super clean. I would definitely travel here if I was comming up this way. read more

My experience at this station was extremely sub par. First, my bus was delayed 1 hour and 40 minutes so you can say that I spent a while at this station. When I got in line to see if there was another bus, I waited while an agent had a friendly conversation with someone for 15 minutes before another station employee told him to stop because he had a line forming. Also, in the time I spent here the fire alarm has gone off unnecessarily causing everyone to evacuate, but the employees who did not seem to be in a rush to move anywhere. There is a Dunkin and Subway, but very few outlets for charging when your stuck! read more

This is a review based solely on the Bus terminal staff. I just witnessed this while waiting to board my bus. A woman wanted to help her elderly grandmother onto the bus and make sure that she was seated safely and knew how everything was going to work. The attitude she was given by the person checking the tickets was unbelievable. I understand if your policy is not to let people on the bus without tickets, but how about being a little flexible OR AT LEAST FRIENDLY AND POLITE in a situation like this. Instead of apologizing for the inconvenience and politely explaining the policy and maybe offering to help the elderly woman herself, the staff member just kept on repeating with a rude attitude "no, you can't go on the bus without a ticket" while the woman was trying to explain politely that she didn't want a free ride, but just wanted to make sure her grandmother, who clearly was having trouble understanding how the whole bus thing was going to work, felt as safe and comfortable as possible. Again, I understand the policy, but please train your staff to execute it more politely, this was unnecessarily rude. read more

What a dump. Can't park anywhere to pick anyone up. Busses honking and pushing cars out of the way. This is chaotic at best. And it's 10PM! I prefer to take MetroNorth when I go to NYC, and this is why. Union Station is in a very dark and seemingly not so desirable part of Hartford (but what part really is?). It's small, unorganized and seriously inadequate. Why can't I efficiently pick up someone who is arriving? Why is there no place to temporarily park to meet a passenger who is just getting in? Why is it so dark? Find any other way to get to use trains or buses. Don't use Union Station. You're stress levels and blood pressure will thank you. One star due to requirements. Ugh. What a dump. read more

Hartford's Union Station has an identity crisis. On one hand, it's an uncrowded, gorgeous, relaxing Amtrak terminal that is often the bunker of choice for weary travelers and wandering vagabonds. On the other hand, it's a far-too-small Greyhound terminal that often lacks sufficient seating and people with manners. And let's not mention the aggressive taxi drivers that wait outside the station's western wing. Even though I live close enough to Union Station to walk home, I somehow always manage to get yelled at by taxi drivers who can't understand why someone would even think of passing up on a cabbie's service in favor of the well-established bipedal alternative. It think it's a Connecticut thing. To be fair, Union Station is always sufficiently warm (which is no light undertaking) and has reliable free WiFi. But you will certainly never find me there unless I have to be. read more

I travel in and out of Union Station whenever I travel into New York City. It's clean, well lit at night, and has convenient and cheap parking (for Hartford). It's definitely convenient whether you're traveling by train or bus, though Amtrak is definitely the more luxurious of the two options. The display screens in the lobby make it easy to check if your bus or train is running on time. And with a Dunkin Donuts, Subway, and Bank of America ATM inside, everything you might need for your trip is within reach. read more

Meh, this is a fine, tiny station to catch a train out of (if you can find a train heading out at a convenient time). I know it's also a bus station, but I've only used the Amtrak services here-- although sometimes you do actually take a bus to the New Haven Amtrak station if you book an Amtrak ticket starting in Hartford-- look out for that! There is one quickscan kiosk and usually one manned window for Amtrak. There is a Dunkin Donuts and Subway that is open if you are there not too early and not too late. There are a few benches for sitting, and there is one track. I have trouble giving this less than 3 stars, because what more can you ask for with such a small station out of Harford? I've always had friendly, helpful service when I've needed assistance at the ticket window, and even at the Subway and Dunkin stands. And, it's kind of nice to have a small station with very little chance of getting lost, and not far to walk to your train. read more

Never had any problems here- but I've only ever taken Amtrak to NYC/Philly etc, and never the bus so I can't comment adequately on that service. The station itself has always appeared clean, fairly efficiently run, and with basic food/beverage options-- Dunkin' Donuts and Subway. Bummed that DD closes at 10. The Great Hall is pretty nice...I'd love to go to an event there sometime! (Saw they do rentals on the site). All in all, never a negative experience. A-OK. read more

This station coudl be so much more. A grand, yet empty, entry hall with beautiful staircases to.... a rotting disused platform. The main ticketing and waiting area is now downstairs underneath the tracks, with a Dunkin Donuts, Subway, ticket counters, and crazies begging for money. It's now a one-track station when once it had three. They're adding the oft-criticized #buswayboondoggle, which took a perfectly good track out. read more

Union Station - BYOFAK Lame-o security has no first aid kit. - Public Transportation Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

I have to say with the recent upgrades, Union Station has gotten a little better in recent years. The best addition has been that now there is some type of organization to the Express bus lines. Before it was utter chaos and line cutting, before they instituted their new system. There will always be those who don't know how to read the signage, but as long as I'm in the right line, and there is no way of anyone to cut, it's perfect. It's a small station, so if you're looking for tons of food options, you won't find it here. There is a Subway and a Dunkin Donuts. That's it. There is a small little convenience "store" that sells sodas, chips, and what not at 3x the price. I swear that same lady has been working there for over a decade. The pick-up/drop off passenger area is still a nightmare, but I'm not sure that can be helped. The street is very narrow, so you have people competing for parking spaces, idiots who try to pull a K-turn, dumbasses that double park, or the retards to park in the taxi stand area. It's also hard if you just want to park and meet your friend inside the station. You'd be risking a parking ticket if you leave your car. Kudos for the added benches though, for those of us who have to wait for our rides to circle the station in order to pick us up. read more

Bathrooms are fine, the staff is okay. There's only Subway or Dunkin' Donuts to choose from; if you want candy and magazines there's also a newsstand. Overall, it's a relatively clean station. My only complaint is that there isn't much room to wait in line for buses. read more

Stopped through here on my way back to Boston, I suppose it isn't technically the stations fault that the bus drivers like to shout out orders/"gate" numbers that contradict what the people inside or saying.. or maybe you shouldn't be parked at the wrong "gate" number Ms. Shout out wrong directions to customers. Boston at gate 8, no it's 4 and 5, why are you parked at 5, I said 4, no you said 8 about 10 minute ago and now inside says 5 and you say 4. Pick a number and stick with it. That was the internal argument in my head.. aggravation on a few peoples parts. It's small inside; the food options are not appealing (Subway and Dunks - no bagels..really). Someone advised me to go to Papa's and they weren't appealing either. I went hungry, which didn't help on the bus later with the guy slamming on the gas/break/gas/break.. The bathrooms, I didn't even try. Two stalls were out of commission due to their 'grossness factor,' and I turned right around and walked out. No one to clean on a Sunday, what I would think would be a busy day for traveling, that's not cool. read more

Not exactly a fan of outdoor bus stations. Coming from Port Authority in New York, all our stations are inside. This bus station is pretty clean though- stores with food and also the bus offices are right when you come in. Staff seems pretty friendly too. All the Greyhound and Peter Pan buses are outside. It seems kinda weird because a lot of times it will be silent with no buses pulling in at that time. Boarding the bus is great, as the staff is very helpful and tells you to look at your ticket number to see where you will sit. They were very nice, as compared to the people at port authority in new York who aren't as nice. Anyhow, lots of taxis there make your arrival ultra convenient as I wouldn't exactly walk anywhere by myself in a city I didn't know. read more

Got there around 9 pm to meet a friend and her Amtrak train. She ended up an hour late but was unable to get that information as the ticket counter was closed. They had a ticket kiosk but no visible information available. There were quite a few sketchy individuals enjoying the warmth. Not much to do inside though there is a Dunkin Donuts and a Subway inside. I was surprised to see the Dublin Donuts closed already. you'd think they'd be open 24 hours or at least a bit later. In spite of what I've read from others, it was pretty clean inside including the bathroom though it was hidden in the rear corner and no so easy to find. There is a parking lot across the street that charges $1.75 for 30 minutes. read more

Every time I take the bus it leaves a MINIMUM of 20 minutes after it's supposed to! The bus driver checks you in and then disappears. I have NEVER made it to my destination on time. If it's going to leave later then the time on the ticket should Be later to reflect that. I need to be able to plan accordingly!! read more

Just visit the station and board your train or bus. Don't do anything else. The station is not well maintained and the bathrooms are not cleaned properly. It is the main transit station in Hartford but they could have made it a great transit hub. read more