Nothing will be more beautiful than the old Penn Station. But Moynihan Train Hall gives a great glimpse of what the old Penn Station looked like. Nice to see that we’re trying to replicate the past.
Plus, it still doesn’t solve the organizational problems underlying the station, namely that the Long Island Rail Road and New Jersey Transit, the other major users of Penn, treat it as more of a terminal for their services than Amtrak does-essentially, there’s plenty of unnecessary bottlenecking at the ends of the station. Direct coordination of schedules, trainset sharing, and one-seat through services that start in Jersey and end in Connecticut/Long Island and vice versa would greatly help. Of course, that’s before you take into account the fact that the owners of Madison Square Garden and the rest of Penn Plaza are different from the railroads and stubbornly holding on, which means rebuilding the top of the station above street level gets more difficult... But Moynihan Hall is still a great architectural addition nonetheless.
There are several high speed rail projects currently around the country, most notably California's but also the Pacific Northwest and Texas. The problem with high speed rail on the Northeast Corridor is train speeds are limited by curves, and this rail line between Washington DC and Boston is almost 200 years old and winds its way through places like Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, etc. High speed trains need lots of straight track with very broad curves, and the Northeast is so built up that it makes it very challenging to build any new track. The Northeast Corridor can continue to be upgraded to a point to maximize the speeds physically allowed, but it won't be high speed by global standards like HSR systems in Europe and Asia. With regards to Amtrak, their role was to resurrect what was left of the American passenger rail network and bring it into the 21st century. The NE Corridor is Amtrak's big money maker, as are some of the state-run routes like the Pacific Surfliner and Capitol Corridor in California and regional services in Chicago. The long distance trains are like Greyhound on rails, meaning they serve the areas between big cities that don't necessarily have easy access to interstate highways or airports, and are a big financial drain on Amtrak but absolutely vital for rural America. America's high speed rail ambitions might best be left to private companies like Brightline or publicly funded projects like California High Speed Rail to create corridors between 100 and 500 miles long connecting two or more major cities that see lots of annual intercity traffic. Amtrak would retain connecting the small communities with the big cities while high speed rail would focus on connecting those big cities in a corridor together.
@@ChrisJones-gx7fc Honestly, Amtrak and rail will only be competitive in 300 mile radiuses and if it has quality infrastructure..... I wish amtrak would focus sometimes more outside the Northeast. I think Atlanta could be a huge hub for the south and the texas triangle is the some of the best areas for high speed rail. Florida is already getting the Brightline expanded throughout the state. Hopefully, after Covid it can be a model for the private mid speed passenger train industry.
@@Frisbeeninja2 yeah it absolutely does. I believe this new train hall is part of a much larger ambition to rebuild the original Penn Station in all its glory but with modern touches. www.rebuildpennstation.org
As the old saying goes, "When business is slow, paint the store." This is the time to totally revamp infrastructure. It's what FDR spearheaded in the 1930s heling to refuel massive growth in subsequent years.
Exactly and its so sad that this country has the mechanisms to rebrand itself and rebuild its infrastructure but a hard headed government that won’t do it.
@@Pmp174 I think now is the time we finally get an infrastructure bill passed. Third time’s a charm and the past 2 presidents promised a bill and never went through on that promise. Finger crossed🤞🏽
Transport is one of the most neglected sectors in this country, so now is the perfect time to swoop in and update everything. Invest in it and people will use it!
I've never been much of a train guy (much to my engineer uncle's dismay) but I have to say, I took amtrak in october to see family, and I had a whole car to myself! It wasn't a first class ticket or anything, but WOW the accommodations were excellent, I got a beer and a roast beef sandwhich right on the train in the dinner car, and the ride was smooth as butter. A lot quicker of a ride than I anticipated, as well. I had brought a lot of entertainment material and I almost wasn't ready to leave the train by the time we got there, but I guess that's a good "problem" to have. Will be riding Amtrak again in the future, that's for sure.
Your country has the largest railway network in the world. Yes, prioritising passenger services, nationalising, electrifying tracks, reconstructing, it won't be easy, but you can do it!
@@smb6995 I don't think we should prioritize electrifying our trains. We should prioritize making them reliable, faster than cars, and making it an enjoyable and convenient experience.
@@Cal90208 good point, but I think this can be done simultaneously, because electric trains are generally faster, more reliable and comfortable. Either way diesel trains are still a lot more efficient and ecofriendly than diesel buses, for example, especially if you use modern European DMUs
I’m in my 30s and have been all over the world. One thing about great cities such as London, Paris and Tokyo have in common is that they all have great central train stations. I visited NYC for the first time in 2019. The first place I saw in Manhattan was Penn Station after taking the LIRR from JFK International Airport. After getting off the train I literally felt like I was in a claustrophobic, run down underground shopping mall. It was extremely confusing just to get out of there and find where the subway station was that I needed to get to. I was totally shocked that a world class city like NYC would have it’s main train station in such bad condition. This is definitely a step in the right direction.
To be fair renovations are difficult. New York (Manhattan to be specific) is squished on a tiny island. People rely on Penn station every day and any shutdowns or a complete overhaul for renovating aren’t really and option. Property is also super expensive and air rights need to be bought. Any projects are very difficult to undertake.
New York is a world class, trashy city. The epitome of American urbanity. It's a paradox of contemporary wonder alongside aged decay. It's a new city, mostly 20th century buildings, built quick and cheap but with beautiful facades. Makes it easy to tear the city down and rebuild it every 50 years.
@ feartactics Totally agree with you about the Old Pennsylvania station! Edit to add: "Old New York Penn Station Past and Present: 1911 vs. 2019" th-cam.com/video/_vby82-Z60s/w-d-xo.html
British tourist here. Came into Penn when we were there on a holiday and hated the station. It was so confusing and crampt with low ceilings. Glad to see this beautiful replacement.
My company did the fireproofing (PAL Environmental) for this train hall and I did the logistics for the deliveries to this station so the workers and unions got their stuff. Im proud to have been involved in such an amazing project!
The tracks are only for Amtrak and some LIRR trains, but they will renovate the the older part soon and even add an extra extension to it so it is far from done.
I’m happy about this. They weren’t lying when they described the old Penn station. It was dark, claustrophobic and a maze to go through. One thing I noticed was the upholstery waiting rooms... that area better be for ticketed passengers only!
I was there in April, for a consult with a Dr up there, I took a train from Richmond up and I had a great ride. Going by air sucks, the train had a cafe car and I could move about when ever I wanted. The train took me right to the heart of NYC. I loved it. Plus I picked up on a sale, total round trip was $38.00 for the train, That was great!
50% of it is still dark and grubby, it's not like old Penn station doesn't exist anymore. It even says in the piece that Amtrak is the biggest beneficiary since they're moving out of old Penn station and into the Moynihan tracks... which means that the local commuters who take the LIRR still use tracks 1 through 21. This billion dollar project is very clearly benefiting tourist dollars to bring people from out of state into New York City, not someone coming in from LI or a local subway track.
@@stringztoo I guarantee you that the planners want to be nerding out over completely renovated tracks that have full through traffic but that is extremely expensive while also being disruptive to operations. The laundry list of structural issues that exist in NY-area trains is myriad. Unfortunately internal improvements with price tags in the tens of billions are just a hard sell to voters when compared to flashy stuff like this. Hopefully the expanded station allows for more flexibility for future construction.
As a Chicagoan, I feel so proud of our monumental Union Station that every Chicagoan loves. So happy to see my mother's hometown, New York City, finally has a proper entrance. First, they revamped LaGuardia, and now Penn Station! Next project: the subway.
I wouldn’t get my hopes up about Subway . MTA is nothing but a criminal syndicate. they should really clean up all the garbage. City is drowning in trash, its disgusting
Things like this is why I became an Architect and urban planner. I envision a much more beautiful, connected, sustainable nation. Having lived in Boston for a few years (from the midwest as well) train travel beats car and plane for me. Its a much more seamless and spacious ride. I always love going to the cafe car or getting a table seat and working on a sketch or my computer. I'm telling you all, trains are where its at!
The beauty & grace that was once Penn Station would be incredibly expensive to rebuild, it should never have been knocked down in the first place. FLY NAVY!!!
Its also just more relaxing. :) I've done cross country around 8 times, and would gladly do it again. The train crews are nice, the scenery spectacular, and was overall a pleasant experience.
Modern high-speed rail is the future, China has spent billions developing their rail network. Europe has railway system that is the envy of the world, meanwhile the 20th century U.S. railroad system might be great for moving frieght but not people...
Some of my most favorite trips have been by train. I live in New York, and one of the best trips I ever made was to Philadelphia for their marathon. Of all the races I’ve traveled, that one by far was the one I enjoyed the most. Going there by train was calming and relaxing, taking in the scenery. More people should travel that way. It allows you to be more patient while taking the time to just take it all in.
No one is going to trade a 4 hour flight with a 25 hour train trip. Trains are for regional transport only for travel between cities 200 miles or less apart.
For the last 20 years or so there has come a recognition to preserve and revamp/repair the intercontinental train network in just about every state. Much progress has been made.
I like it, but it doesn’t have the same grandeur as the original. It’s too modern and feels like a mall with some decorative trusses, not like a recreation of the beautiful structure that used to be there
Man I go through Penn Station everyday, I’ve missed trains by seconds, Ive sprinted through the seemingly narrow tunnels of Penn. And I will say, this is much better than what we had and I will take it any day over Penn’s underground dugout. We would stand in crowds, all staring at one board with a list of train times waiting for our track to be called, even if you missed your train you’d sometimes be waiting there for 40-60 mins, and now that there’s an actual place to sit, and even just get some space and sunlight, the experience is far better than what was. If yall want grandeur then check out Grand Central
@@tbestig4164 Yeah I get that but I’m just saying even if this is just a “knock off” modern version, I’ll take it especially since places like GCT have been preserved.
I wholeheartedly agree, I don't like it much and thought it looked like just another generic shopping mall or soulless airport. Soulless airports I can stand and have no issue with, however a train station is apart of the actual city and often is the first introduction to the city by the visitor.
As a former New Yorker (now living in L.A.) it's very nostalgic to see some of the city's old grandeur recaptured like this. And as I've grown older, I've come to feel that the loss of the old Penn Station is what saved Grand Central from a similar fate. However stations are just one piece of the rail travel puzzle. When I lived in New York, I rode the trains all the time. But I haven't been on one since I've lived on the west coast. Amtrak has to find a way to get me traveling by train again.
@@23chnge I like the fact that you need a ticket to get a seat in the waiting rooms, also the fact they have charging stations to charge your phones there.
That doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be done, if China/Europe/Japan/S Korea can have a high speed rail network, so can we. Our infrastructure is not 1st World.
No it wouldn’t, we literally have it so easy to design things compared to 100 years ago. That’s a myth. Plus glass buildings are the least energy efficient buildings in existence.
The corporate leaders of the Gilded age 1904 tunnels and train station didn't have income taxes to worry about, and their workers were paid much less than today's union wage/benefit package. They could afford to borrow or take from operating revenues huge sums to build big. That world is long gone. Even pro sports get their stadia and arenas on the public dime these days, though the owners ae often multi-millionaires or even billionaires.
As a born New Yorker, Grand Central Station was (is) a historic monument. Penn Station was always just a dark hole in the ground that led to trains. At least the new station has added some airyness and light to the black hole in the ground.
The room is a nice gesture, but Penn Station had much superior class, innovation, and worthiness of a timeless New York landmark. But this a nice gesture, though 60 years late. (The loss of Penn Station hurts even those born long after the crime.) I still look forward to walking through that space.
Its not ornate per say, but I love the design. It is a beautiful mix between sleek modern design and a tad of elegant classicism. Hope more modern structures will be built in this style.
I'd have to respectively disagree with ya there. I'd say the old Southern Pacific Third and Townsend terminal was San Fran's equivalent to Penn. It got torn down in '73 and replaced with the smaller Fourth and Townsend terminal that CalTrain still uses nowadays. I mean, some of the SP's most well known trains called at Third and Townsend like The Lark, Coast Daylight, and their Peninsula Commute trains, the same as how a number of the Pennsylvania Railroad's most well known trains called at Penn. But, on the other hand, the loss of *ANY* historic building is a huge blow no matter what, and understandably lamentable.
@@justahillbilly7777 If one compares only train stations with train stations, then yes. However with what little I can find of any interior photos of Third and Townsend, it does not have the opulence of the interiors of Penn Station and the Fox Theater. I was alive during the time of its demolition in 1975-1976 (not 1973) and there was no mention of any resistance or protest of its demise in the news. That entire block between Third and Fourth became an RV park for decades before the current building there.
This basically restored Penn Station back to its former glory since the original building was open air with stairs and elevators leading to the platforms under a huge trainshed which was later covered up.
@ Peter This is ridiculous, I’ve lived in several major cities including NYC, the suburbs and rural areas and as much as I love Public transportation and Amtrak there is no comparison to being able to drive directly from point A to point B. Both the time saving and freedom to go wherever you want on your own schedule. Public transit and rail has its place but less densely populated areas are better served by cars.
I have ridden into the old station once and out of it twice in my Amtrak travels. Yes it was a subterranean dump. Looking forward to experiencing this new one
What really needed is the new tunnel between New Jersey and Manhattan. It is easy to build a new terminal but years if not decades to build a new tunnel!
Next stop, build a new tunnel across the Hudson River, build South Penn, bring Metro North trains to Penn, move Madison Square Garden and re-Build Penn Station to it's former glory. To those who say that we no longer have the craftsmanship to build a new Penn Station, please look around and see what is being accomplished throughout the world. We're in the middle of a golden age of world building. A new Penn Station would look the same but not be built like the old Penn, just like the old Penn did not apply the same building techniques as the Romans and Greeks did to their structures. A new Penn would cost a lot of money, but it would be a wonder to behold.
@@chrisinnes2128 those are not the only 2 buildings in the uk tho i didnt say every single building. we have alot more than we've gotten rid of. unless you trollin then carry on.
I took to the Train into NYC for the first time since before the pandemic and I was in awe and shock over this place... I had no idea this was happening and honestly thought I'd gotten off at the wrong train station lol. What they have built is truly magnificent!
I literally just took amtrak this week and it let me off at the same old depressing and gross Penn Station. I thought this was open January 1st but hopefully my next train into nyc will let me off here.
My girlfriend and I are from Boston and we’re planning on taking the train to NYC and spending a weekend there once Covid is over. We initially planned on taking Metro North to Grand Central, but now we’re planning on taking Amtrak instead so we can check out the new Penn Station.
2:01, looks like an actual toilet, with MSG as the bowl, and penn plaza tower as the tank, makes sense that we are the rats and turds running through the stinky bottoms and tubes below.
This looks quite decent and pleasant. I hope it will work well as a station, which means clarity for people who have never been there, short ways, no long waiting lines for anything, and good connectivity with other modes of transport. At 5:25 the platform level can be seen. Still a dark basement hole kind of feel. Not pleasant at all. I wonder if it could be improved with a better lighting concept and white ceilings.
Used to travel from Philly 30th to Penn Station regularly and also sometimes from Penn Station to Washington's Union Station. Always wondered why Philly's station was so much grander (when Philly itself not in great shape) but Penn Station was so bad.. So much better..
A similar thing happened in London in the '60s. They tore down Euston station despite protests, then they wanted to destroy St. Pancras (an amazing building). Luckily because of the Euston protest they didn't!
I'm really glad to see this. In normal years I travel up to the Hudson Valley in the fall and the last couple of years have taken the train up. Penn Station was a pit, literally and figuratively. Hopefully this year I'll be going back up there again and will be able to experience the new station. Two other points, they talked about train service between Charlotte and Raleigh, there is already train service between Charlotte and Raleigh, then the Carolinian continues to New York. Other point, I take the train up there, but rent a car once I arrive and drive the car back to North Carolina because you can't take a train from Poughkeepsie to Raleigh without spending a night in New York, which is STUPID expensive.
I applaud this long overdue renovation and replacement of the old rat hole under Madison Square Garden. However, in order to bring in high-speed trains, we, as a nation, need to invest in new track infrastructure and straighter Rights of Way. I doubt Amtrak is the agency to blaze that trail. To my point, they stubbornly ignore maglev technology, a technology that would truly transform American mobility. Shanghai started construction of its 267mph 19-mile maglev 20 years ago this month and completed it in only two years. It's been running everyday in commercial operations, without fail, since March of 2004 and with remarkably low maintenance costs. We still muddle along with slow high maintenance Acela trains that we call "fast." At least, this station is a small step in the right direction.
Senator Moynihan started the planning in 1990. The underground work was financed by the Recovery funds released after the 2008 financial crisis. Work on the hall itself started 5 years ago.
Hopefully this can coincide with an increase in train travel in the coming years! We must revitalize Amtrak and all existing rail infrastructure and make it easier to get from place to place by train than by car or plane. Then, our emissions will go down (not enough, but a considerable amount) and our impact on the climate emergency will be mitigated substantially. Besides, trains are cool! People will start riding them more once it's possible and convenient for them to do so.
I am pleased to see this development. I also see this as a home for the new MAGLEV. A system that will allow 300 MPH trains to get new Yorkers to Chicago inelegant comfort within 3 hours. Ernie Fazio
Tearing down the original Penn Station was an absolute tragedy, and while the new train station is a great improvement on the terrible Penn Station it replaces, it completely pales in comparison to the original. And I think for $1.6 billion dollars they could’ve done a lot more than a skylit lobby and some marble facade...
stuff costs way too much these days, usually cuz extreme unions and bad management, look at cali's hsr project, i believe its a 8 billion$ right now and still nowhere near finished
I'm actually going to look forward to a trip to the NYC office that's coming up in about a month. Penn was depressing enough to arrive at, but even worse to have to wait for a train in when it was time to leave.
@@CrazyDash9 He means the tunnels between New Jersey and Manhattan, not the station itself. That there's only two single-track tunnels which have been there for over 100 years and need significant repair since they were completely filled with water during Hurricane Sandy is a critical infrastructure issue. If even one fails, the problems will be enormous for the entire country. The plan is to add two additional tracks, then use the new flexibility to repair the existing tunnels (and also to replace the worn out drawbridge over the Hackensack River just to the west of those tunnels). It's absolutely needed, and hopefully with a much more train friendly administration (Biden having been a regular train traveler back in his senate days to the point where he was nicknamed the "Senator from Amtrak") it will finally get done.
If this doesn't spark more interest to ride and travel the country by train, then I'd be shocked. After seeing this, I would most certainly visit NYC just to see this station.
The architects made a daring step of choosing modern details to inhabit the classical space designed by Mead, McKim and White. It's almost like 53 years of history have been erased and we see what Penn would have looked like today.
I was very excited about this, but now that I see it, I'm not so sure. I feel like there are two opposing styles/details that weren't carried through in order to create a cohesive space. The atrium is really neat looking, but I don't see any of that repeated on the ground level. I've worked on MMW projects myself and I don't think this was successful.... t's just strange to me. Maybe I just have to see it in person.
@@TreebeardWood I understand your point. However, the aesthetic fits the style common in European stations of similar vintage: Modern details in an older structure. From a form follows function standpoint, the design is excellent. Passengers can easily find their train on the departure board, and then find the correct escalator to get to it. It is also superior to Penn or WAUS in that you dont have to walk past acres of stores and restaurants before reaching the train concourse. Clean and functional, with direct connections to the 8th Avenue subway.
@@HSMiyamoto I totally get it. I just wish they tied in some of the ornamental steel detail on the ground plane is all. It doesn’t seem balanced to me.
I went to penn station last year. it was still underground. I guess the track destinations were moved? maybe I'll visit NY again in a few years when the world is normal again. if only for their pizza. :)
Wow man N.Y.C. has Grand Central Station, a realm train station where Amtrack wanted to move to and would have payed for the move. This is a commuter stop( subway and L.I.R.R.)and commuters do not have the time nor patience to enjoy new terminal.
Love trains and YES, the USA deserves more intra- and inter-city trains and light rail! Public transportation (frequent, reliable, comprehensive, and well-funded) FOR THE WIN!
Imagine demolishing a majestic train terminal for a sports arena
Penn Station needed this upgrade. It's not Grand Central, but it's getting there
@Stranded NYer Well now you know why Penn Central lost the bid to tear down Grand Central.
Literally the most famous sports arena on earth
@@jaredpatane The Roman Coliseum would argue with that.
@@JeffDeWitt Highly doubtful anyone today would mention the Coliseum when asked to name the most famous sports arena.
@@jaredpatane That's a very US-centric view. Most people outside of the US have not even heard of this stadium.
Nothing will be more beautiful than the old Penn Station. But Moynihan Train Hall gives a great glimpse of what the old Penn Station looked like. Nice to see that we’re trying to replicate the past.
True. They clearly took designs from the old Penn to craft the Moynihan Hall
Now it’s time for them to expand Penn and build the Gateway tunnels. Prepare the Northeast Corridor for the next 100 years.
Except that its functionality is so limited, serves only one line of trains.
Plus, it still doesn’t solve the organizational problems underlying the station, namely that the Long Island Rail Road and New Jersey Transit, the other major users of Penn, treat it as more of a terminal for their services than Amtrak does-essentially, there’s plenty of unnecessary bottlenecking at the ends of the station. Direct coordination of schedules, trainset sharing, and one-seat through services that start in Jersey and end in Connecticut/Long Island and vice versa would greatly help. Of course, that’s before you take into account the fact that the owners of Madison Square Garden and the rest of Penn Plaza are different from the railroads and stubbornly holding on, which means rebuilding the top of the station above street level gets more difficult...
But Moynihan Hall is still a great architectural addition nonetheless.
Agreed. It's good lipstick, but that's it. At least it's decent lipstick.
This was good.
Hola Johnny 👋
Hello Johnny boy
Didn’t expect you here
@johnny Harris can we expect a video on NYC railroads and the history with the maps??
Hello Johnny, do a video on train maps.
Now Amtrak needs to get high speed trains running!!
Yes, and dedicated lines for passenger trains only.
There are several high speed rail projects currently around the country, most notably California's but also the Pacific Northwest and Texas. The problem with high speed rail on the Northeast Corridor is train speeds are limited by curves, and this rail line between Washington DC and Boston is almost 200 years old and winds its way through places like Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, etc. High speed trains need lots of straight track with very broad curves, and the Northeast is so built up that it makes it very challenging to build any new track. The Northeast Corridor can continue to be upgraded to a point to maximize the speeds physically allowed, but it won't be high speed by global standards like HSR systems in Europe and Asia. With regards to Amtrak, their role was to resurrect what was left of the American passenger rail network and bring it into the 21st century. The NE Corridor is Amtrak's big money maker, as are some of the state-run routes like the Pacific Surfliner and Capitol Corridor in California and regional services in Chicago. The long distance trains are like Greyhound on rails, meaning they serve the areas between big cities that don't necessarily have easy access to interstate highways or airports, and are a big financial drain on Amtrak but absolutely vital for rural America. America's high speed rail ambitions might best be left to private companies like Brightline or publicly funded projects like California High Speed Rail to create corridors between 100 and 500 miles long connecting two or more major cities that see lots of annual intercity traffic. Amtrak would retain connecting the small communities with the big cities while high speed rail would focus on connecting those big cities in a corridor together.
@@ChrisJones-gx7fc Honestly, Amtrak and rail will only be competitive in 300 mile radiuses and if it has quality infrastructure..... I wish amtrak would focus sometimes more outside the Northeast. I think Atlanta could be a huge hub for the south and the texas triangle is the some of the best areas for high speed rail. Florida is already getting the Brightline expanded throughout the state. Hopefully, after Covid it can be a model for the private mid speed passenger train industry.
@@ChrisJones-gx7fc Also, the new penn station looks amazing.
@@Frisbeeninja2 yeah it absolutely does. I believe this new train hall is part of a much larger ambition to rebuild the original Penn Station in all its glory but with modern touches. www.rebuildpennstation.org
As the old saying goes, "When business is slow, paint the store." This is the time to totally revamp infrastructure. It's what FDR spearheaded in the 1930s heling to refuel massive growth in subsequent years.
Exactly and its so sad that this country has the mechanisms to rebrand itself and rebuild its infrastructure but a hard headed government that won’t do it.
Job growth
@@Pmp174 I think now is the time we finally get an infrastructure bill passed. Third time’s a charm and the past 2 presidents promised a bill and never went through on that promise. Finger crossed🤞🏽
Transport is one of the most neglected sectors in this country, so now is the perfect time to swoop in and update everything. Invest in it and people will use it!
this is exactly right
I worked on the new Moynahan station for the last yr and a half 💪🏽
Good job!
It's beautiful. You should be proud that your work will always be on display for the public to see and use.
Thank you!!
Must have been really cool to work on
You and your crew did a great job.
I've never been much of a train guy (much to my engineer uncle's dismay) but I have to say, I took amtrak in october to see family, and I had a whole car to myself! It wasn't a first class ticket or anything, but WOW the accommodations were excellent, I got a beer and a roast beef sandwhich right on the train in the dinner car, and the ride was smooth as butter. A lot quicker of a ride than I anticipated, as well. I had brought a lot of entertainment material and I almost wasn't ready to leave the train by the time we got there, but I guess that's a good "problem" to have. Will be riding Amtrak again in the future, that's for sure.
I've been riding Amtrak since 2001. you'll love it.
❤️
I've travelled about 20,000 miles by train. I love it!
@@Cal90208 Over 100,000 miles here.
I would love to have trains more available across the country.
Your country has the largest railway network in the world. Yes, prioritising passenger services, nationalising, electrifying tracks, reconstructing, it won't be easy, but you can do it!
@@smb6995 I don't think we should prioritize electrifying our trains. We should prioritize making them reliable, faster than cars, and making it an enjoyable and convenient experience.
@@Cal90208 good point, but I think this can be done simultaneously, because electric trains are generally faster, more reliable and comfortable. Either way diesel trains are still a lot more efficient and ecofriendly than diesel buses, for example, especially if you use modern European DMUs
@@smb6995 Mhm, and I’ve always been comfortable in diesel trains so.
@@Cal90208 modern trains are quite comfortable regardless of the engine, I think
I’m in my 30s and have been all over the world. One thing about great cities such as London, Paris and Tokyo have in common is that they all have great central train stations. I visited NYC for the first time in 2019. The first place I saw in Manhattan was Penn Station after taking the LIRR from JFK International Airport. After getting off the train I literally felt like I was in a claustrophobic, run down underground shopping mall. It was extremely confusing just to get out of there and find where the subway station was that I needed to get to. I was totally shocked that a world class city like NYC would have it’s main train station in such bad condition. This is definitely a step in the right direction.
That's what NYC is. That's the real New York. Its dirty, and gritty. Not the glitz and glamour of the movies.
To be fair renovations are difficult. New York (Manhattan to be specific) is squished on a tiny island. People rely on Penn station every day and any shutdowns or a complete overhaul for renovating aren’t really and option. Property is also super expensive and air rights need to be bought. Any projects are very difficult to undertake.
New York is a world class, trashy city. The epitome of American urbanity. It's a paradox of contemporary wonder alongside aged decay. It's a new city, mostly 20th century buildings, built quick and cheap but with beautiful facades. Makes it easy to tear the city down and rebuild it every 50 years.
Singapore's Woodlands Train Checkpoint has entered the chat?
We have grand central
The original Penn Station looked so gorgeous even from the few seconds of footage shown. What happened was a travesty.
Even old buildings in chicago make me tear up after they are being torn down.
@ feartactics
Totally agree with you
about the Old Pennsylvania
station!
Edit to add:
"Old New York Penn Station Past and Present: 1911 vs. 2019"
th-cam.com/video/_vby82-Z60s/w-d-xo.html
British tourist here. Came into Penn when we were there on a holiday and hated the station. It was so confusing and crampt with low ceilings. Glad to see this beautiful replacement.
I'm glad to see the new Pennsylvania Station was finally finished and now there is again a monumental entrance to New York by train.
My company did the fireproofing (PAL Environmental) for this train hall and I did the logistics for the deliveries to this station so the workers and unions got their stuff. Im proud to have been involved in such an amazing project!
This is great. I loathed going into Penn Station before. It was depressing and even scary. This is wo wonderful.
The tracks are only for Amtrak and some LIRR trains, but they will renovate the the older part soon and even add an extra extension to it so it is far from done.
Same. It was awful. I'm glad the new train hall is finished.
@@ethankarp4309 they have a couple NJT trains that go there as well
@@Sylveonkpopnyct pretty wrong, because the entrance to the station say only LIRR and Amtrak
@@ethankarp4309 yeah but on twitter someone posted a njt train that stopped on track 14 (which is part of moynihan)
I’m happy about this. They weren’t lying when they described the old Penn station. It was dark, claustrophobic and a maze to go through. One thing I noticed was the upholstery waiting rooms... that area better be for ticketed passengers only!
@Jenny Lee ur an internet troll
A lot of cities are revamping their train stations. It's nice
gotta check out Denver. they did a great job, Detroit is working on theirs
Atlanta needs to do theirs. They raised Grand Central and Terminus Station in the 70’s.
Amtrak Atl great idea, we had so many fantastic and gorgeous ones that were either bulldozed or at best turned into museums
@@amtrakatl They've been talking for decades about building an intermodal at five points where Union Station was located, lol.
St. Pancras in London is a great example of what a train station should be, I hope the renovations of D.C. Union Station exceed expectations!
I was there in April, for a consult with a Dr up there, I took a train from Richmond up and I had a great ride. Going by air sucks, the train had a cafe car and I could move about when ever I wanted. The train took me right to the heart of NYC. I loved it. Plus I picked up on a sale, total round trip was $38.00 for the train, That was great!
It was so grubby and dark before, great endeavor, Jackie Kennedy would be happy.
50% of it is still dark and grubby, it's not like old Penn station doesn't exist anymore. It even says in the piece that Amtrak is the biggest beneficiary since they're moving out of old Penn station and into the Moynihan tracks... which means that the local commuters who take the LIRR still use tracks 1 through 21. This billion dollar project is very clearly benefiting tourist dollars to bring people from out of state into New York City, not someone coming in from LI or a local subway track.
@@stringztoo NJ Transit is also still relegated to the rat's nest.
@@stringztoo Exactly, hopefully they still upgrade the LIRR commuter side. All we got was that new fancy escalator.
@@stringztoo pretty sure it's still step one. Other corriders are probably going to get renovated to look like the West end corridor.
@@stringztoo I guarantee you that the planners want to be nerding out over completely renovated tracks that have full through traffic but that is extremely expensive while also being disruptive to operations. The laundry list of structural issues that exist in NY-area trains is myriad. Unfortunately internal improvements with price tags in the tens of billions are just a hard sell to voters when compared to flashy stuff like this. Hopefully the expanded station allows for more flexibility for future construction.
As a Chicagoan, I feel so proud of our monumental Union Station that every Chicagoan loves. So happy to see my mother's hometown, New York City, finally has a proper entrance. First, they revamped LaGuardia, and now Penn Station! Next project: the subway.
I wouldn’t get my hopes up about Subway . MTA is nothing but a criminal syndicate. they should really clean up all the garbage. City is drowning in trash, its disgusting
@@njnikusha not to mention New York subway is just massive I doubt they will clean all of it lol
As a native Chicagoan who now calls NYC home, Union Station is trash. And the L there isn't much better.
When I actually have a reason to go outside again it's gonna be wild to explore all the new places that have opened and places that have closed...
Things like this is why I became an Architect and urban planner. I envision a much more beautiful, connected, sustainable nation. Having lived in Boston for a few years (from the midwest as well) train travel beats car and plane for me. Its a much more seamless and spacious ride. I always love going to the cafe car or getting a table seat and working on a sketch or my computer. I'm telling you all, trains are where its at!
The beauty & grace that was once Penn Station would be incredibly expensive to rebuild, it should never have been knocked down in the first place. FLY NAVY!!!
Why travel by train? To appreciate this nation's natural scenery
Its also just more relaxing. :) I've done cross country around 8 times, and would gladly do it again. The train crews are nice, the scenery spectacular, and was overall a pleasant experience.
if you try to take Amtrak California Zephyr san to chi ,you know why
Modern high-speed rail is the future, China has spent billions developing their rail network. Europe has railway system that is the envy of the world, meanwhile the 20th century U.S. railroad system might be great for moving frieght but not people...
Some of my most favorite trips have been by train. I live in New York, and one of the best trips I ever made was to Philadelphia for their marathon. Of all the races I’ve traveled, that one by far was the one I enjoyed the most. Going there by train was calming and relaxing, taking in the scenery. More people should travel that way. It allows you to be more patient while taking the time to just take it all in.
No one is going to trade a 4 hour flight with a 25 hour train trip. Trains are for regional transport only for travel between cities 200 miles or less apart.
Thank you to the people who designed, built, and keep this station going for the benefit of so many people everyday
For the last 20 years or so there has come a recognition to preserve and revamp/repair the intercontinental train network in just about every state. Much progress has been made.
I like it, but it doesn’t have the same grandeur as the original. It’s too modern and feels like a mall with some decorative trusses, not like a recreation of the beautiful structure that used to be there
Man I go through Penn Station everyday, I’ve missed trains by seconds, Ive sprinted through the seemingly narrow tunnels of Penn. And I will say, this is much better than what we had and I will take it any day over Penn’s underground dugout. We would stand in crowds, all staring at one board with a list of train times waiting for our track to be called, even if you missed your train you’d sometimes be waiting there for 40-60 mins, and now that there’s an actual place to sit, and even just get some space and sunlight, the experience is far better than what was. If yall want grandeur then check out Grand Central
@@zetax7397 We’re talking about the original penn station, not the crappy one after they knocked down the original structure
@@tbestig4164 Yeah I get that but I’m just saying even if this is just a “knock off” modern version, I’ll take it especially since places like GCT have been preserved.
I wholeheartedly agree, I don't like it much and thought it looked like just another generic shopping mall or soulless airport. Soulless airports I can stand and have no issue with, however a train station is apart of the actual city and often is the first introduction to the city by the visitor.
As a former New Yorker (now living in L.A.) it's very nostalgic to see some of the city's old grandeur recaptured like this. And as I've grown older, I've come to feel that the loss of the old Penn Station is what saved Grand Central from a similar fate. However stations are just one piece of the rail travel puzzle. When I lived in New York, I rode the trains all the time. But I haven't been on one since I've lived on the west coast. Amtrak has to find a way to get me traveling by train again.
Shame the west coast has horrible passenger rail network.
@@23chnge I like the fact that you need a ticket to get a seat in the waiting rooms, also the fact they have charging stations to charge your phones there.
That's what I call a good news story - I hope that I get to see this some day and catch a train there - Happy New Year to AMTRAK from UK.
To built something like the old Penn station today would cost a lot more than this
Billions and probably couldn't find people that are trained craftsmen
That doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be done, if China/Europe/Japan/S Korea can have a high speed rail network, so can we. Our infrastructure is not 1st World.
No it wouldn't. We can prefabricate things and make them with cheaper materials.
No it wouldn’t, we literally have it so easy to design things compared to 100 years ago. That’s a myth. Plus glass buildings are the least energy efficient buildings in existence.
The corporate leaders of the Gilded age 1904 tunnels and train station didn't have income taxes to worry about, and their workers were paid much less than today's union wage/benefit package. They could afford to borrow or take from operating revenues huge sums to build big. That world is long gone. Even pro sports get their stadia and arenas on the public dime these days, though the owners ae often multi-millionaires or even billionaires.
As a born New Yorker, Grand Central Station was (is) a historic monument. Penn Station was always just a dark hole in the ground that led to trains. At least the new station has added some airyness and light to the black hole in the ground.
We need nationwide high speed rail!
Distances are too great. Just fly and get to your destination hours in advance.
@@1320fastback if china can do it we damn sure can no more excuses...
Not practical at all
@@WARREN-ys7sc warren supporter talking about practicality lol
@@wrong1029 ?
The room is a nice gesture, but Penn Station had much superior class, innovation, and worthiness of a timeless New York landmark. But this a nice gesture, though 60 years late. (The loss of Penn Station hurts even those born long after the crime.) I still look forward to walking through that space.
Amazing documentary! Beautiful! I knew all this already but millions more knowing the story behind makes me happy.
Its not ornate per say, but I love the design. It is a beautiful mix between sleek modern design and a tad of elegant classicism. Hope more modern structures will be built in this style.
This report was excellent!
I somehow found myself in that portion of Penn Station a few months back it's AWESOME and should be expanded into the current Penn Station
The grand Fox Theater was San Francisco's counterpart to New York's original Penn Station. It was a travesty seeing it demolished in 1963.
I'd have to respectively disagree with ya there. I'd say the old Southern Pacific Third and Townsend terminal was San Fran's equivalent to Penn. It got torn down in '73 and replaced with the smaller Fourth and Townsend terminal that CalTrain still uses nowadays. I mean, some of the SP's most well known trains called at Third and Townsend like The Lark, Coast Daylight, and their Peninsula Commute trains, the same as how a number of the Pennsylvania Railroad's most well known trains called at Penn. But, on the other hand, the loss of *ANY* historic building is a huge blow no matter what, and understandably lamentable.
@@justahillbilly7777 If one compares only train stations with train stations, then yes. However with what little I can find of any interior photos of Third and Townsend, it does not have the opulence of the interiors of Penn Station and the Fox Theater. I was alive during the time of its demolition in 1975-1976 (not 1973) and there was no mention of any resistance or protest of its demise in the news. That entire block between Third and Fourth became an RV park for decades before the current building there.
So proud of NY and look forward to using it.
I often take the lirr to the city and I always envied the people on the metro north travelers who went to grand central. Not anymore.
Ben Rosner I take the NJT
I LOVE going into Grand Central!
yo ben it's levi lmfaooo
@@gunarr6 Lmao how does an Idahoan stumble upon a Penn Station video?
@@jeromefitzroy bruh nj transit is always the one left behind
I haven't been to NYC in over 20+ years. Its going to be an eye opener when the day comes I finally go back home.
This basically restored Penn Station back to its former glory since the original building was open air with stairs and elevators leading to the platforms under a huge trainshed which was later covered up.
Not even close
@@jessewintermute8031 I know unfortunately
Gotta love travelling on train in the U.S.! - Love from a Brit!
@Pete Melon not prefer but can only.
@Pete Melon show me the train going from New York to Dallas.
@ Peter
This is ridiculous, I’ve lived in several major cities including NYC, the suburbs and rural areas and as much as I love Public transportation and Amtrak there is no comparison to being able to drive directly from point A to point B. Both the time saving and freedom to go wherever you want on your own schedule.
Public transit and rail has its place but less densely populated areas are better served by cars.
@@QueenetBowie yes that’s why people can only use cars.
I was there the day it opened. Really stunning.
Wth, Penn Station actually looks good now.
I have ridden into the old station once and out of it twice in my Amtrak travels. Yes it was a subterranean dump. Looking forward to experiencing this new one
What really needed is the new tunnel between New Jersey and Manhattan. It is easy to build a new terminal but years if not decades to build a new tunnel!
Next stop, build a new tunnel across the Hudson River, build South Penn, bring Metro North trains to Penn, move Madison Square Garden and re-Build Penn Station to it's former glory. To those who say that we no longer have the craftsmanship to build a new Penn Station, please look around and see what is being accomplished throughout the world. We're in the middle of a golden age of world building. A new Penn Station would look the same but not be built like the old Penn, just like the old Penn did not apply the same building techniques as the Romans and Greeks did to their structures. A new Penn would cost a lot of money, but it would be a wonder to behold.
Absolutely gorgeous
watching this makes me appricate the work the uk takes to keep old buildings/infrastucture refurbished rather than just getting rid of them
But we didn't Glasgow lost two railway stations st enoch and Buchanan street
@@chrisinnes2128 those are not the only 2 buildings in the uk tho i didnt say every single building. we have alot more than we've gotten rid of. unless you trollin then carry on.
This is awesome. Thank you.
Fantastic! Glad to see it done
This was a dream in the making.
Now we have to rebuild penn station.
5:46 I agree
I took to the Train into NYC for the first time since before the pandemic and I was in awe and shock over this place... I had no idea this was happening and honestly thought I'd gotten off at the wrong train station lol. What they have built is truly magnificent!
You have to travel the work more, you would be shocked at other train stations.
I literally just took amtrak this week and it let me off at the same old depressing and gross Penn Station. I thought this was open January 1st but hopefully my next train into nyc will let me off here.
They're the same tracks. This concourse is at the west end of those tracks, so you need to take the escalators up from the west end of the platforms.
@@davezanko9051 thank you so much for this clarification, gonna try this next time!
My girlfriend and I are from Boston and we’re planning on taking the train to NYC and spending a weekend there once Covid is over. We initially planned on taking Metro North to Grand Central, but now we’re planning on taking Amtrak instead so we can check out the new Penn Station.
2:01, looks like an actual toilet, with MSG as the bowl, and penn plaza tower as the tank, makes sense that we are the rats and turds running through the stinky bottoms and tubes below.
Explains the Knicks always flushing down each season. 😂
Knicks are getting better now.
This looks quite decent and pleasant. I hope it will work well as a station, which means clarity for people who have never been there, short ways, no long waiting lines for anything, and good connectivity with other modes of transport.
At 5:25 the platform level can be seen. Still a dark basement hole kind of feel. Not pleasant at all. I wonder if it could be improved with a better lighting concept and white ceilings.
If this keeps going, passenger rail in America might make a comeback.
Ehh, stations are one thing. Rail lines themselves are another
@@zackcascio5652 Long way to go. But you gotta start somewhere.
@@ainahko16 oh I’m all for the comeback, I just wanted to put a realistic tone on things
@@zackcascio5652 Same here.
It won’t
Beautiful building
Next step for Amtrak: Assigned seats. They do it in Europe and its much better. No need to wait in a huge line and rush to find seats.
No. I like being able to choose where I sit
@@WesternOhioInterurbanHistory you usually can online
We absolutely need a new frontier of rail not just in this country but in the world, and the new Penn Station is a fantastic start
Used to travel from Philly 30th to Penn Station regularly and also sometimes from Penn Station to Washington's Union Station. Always wondered why Philly's station was so much grander (when Philly itself not in great shape) but Penn Station was so bad.. So much better..
amazing station amazing story
I love the ride from nj to nyc it is easier and it is beautiful. Great job rebuilding Amtrak and penn station
We need more train halls idk why it isn’t a thing
I am a train and I approve this footage.
I like tram
A similar thing happened in London in the '60s. They tore down Euston station despite protests, then they wanted to destroy St. Pancras (an amazing building). Luckily because of the Euston protest they didn't!
St. Pancras is a gorgeous example of what a train station should be, if only the U.S. had a rail system like Europe!
@@timnewman1172 It is. We nearly lost it though, thanks to 1960s modernism!
I cannot even imagine if they had torn down St. Pancras. Euston is great example of what not to do, hence why they're having to build a new one.
I'm really glad to see this. In normal years I travel up to the Hudson Valley in the fall and the last couple of years have taken the train up. Penn Station was a pit, literally and figuratively. Hopefully this year I'll be going back up there again and will be able to experience the new station.
Two other points, they talked about train service between Charlotte and Raleigh, there is already train service between Charlotte and Raleigh, then the Carolinian continues to New York.
Other point, I take the train up there, but rent a car once I arrive and drive the car back to North Carolina because you can't take a train from Poughkeepsie to Raleigh without spending a night in New York, which is STUPID expensive.
I applaud this long overdue renovation and replacement of the old rat hole under Madison Square Garden. However, in order to bring in high-speed trains, we, as a nation, need to invest in new track infrastructure and straighter Rights of Way. I doubt Amtrak is the agency to blaze that trail. To my point, they stubbornly ignore maglev technology, a technology that would truly transform American mobility. Shanghai started construction of its 267mph 19-mile maglev 20 years ago this month and completed it in only two years. It's been running everyday in commercial operations, without fail, since March of 2004 and with remarkably low maintenance costs. We still muddle along with slow high maintenance Acela trains that we call "fast." At least, this station is a small step in the right direction.
Gonna head to work via Amtrak in a week - will get to see it.
It's beautiful.
Thank you❤️✨ May the US and the world be blessed with liberty and freedom.
I'm really excited
Whoever saw the opportunity for renovation works during the pandemic and started planning is a genius
Senator Moynihan started the planning in 1990. The underground work was financed by the Recovery funds released after the 2008 financial crisis. Work on the hall itself started 5 years ago.
Glad to have this as part of the city.
Yes!! I would die for a train from Atl to FL
Excellent story!
More train access, clean energy cars and buses!
Last time I took the train from Penn station was to Toronto in about 2010. I had no idea they remodelled it
Hopefully this can coincide with an increase in train travel in the coming years! We must revitalize Amtrak and all existing rail infrastructure and make it easier to get from place to place by train than by car or plane. Then, our emissions will go down (not enough, but a considerable amount) and our impact on the climate emergency will be mitigated substantially. Besides, trains are cool! People will start riding them more once it's possible and convenient for them to do so.
I am pleased to see this development. I also see this as a home for the new MAGLEV. A system that will allow 300 MPH trains to get new Yorkers to Chicago inelegant comfort within 3 hours.
Ernie Fazio
Tearing down the original Penn Station was an absolute tragedy, and while the new train station is a great improvement on the terrible Penn Station it replaces, it completely pales in comparison to the original.
And I think for $1.6 billion dollars they could’ve done a lot more than a skylit lobby and some marble facade...
I couldn’t agree more
Knowing America, corruption probably accounted for the $1.6 billion
stuff costs way too much these days, usually cuz extreme unions and bad management, look at cali's hsr project, i believe its a 8 billion$ right now and still nowhere near finished
I'm actually going to look forward to a trip to the NYC office that's coming up in about a month. Penn was depressing enough to arrive at, but even worse to have to wait for a train in when it was time to leave.
Fix those tunnels. That’s what’s important
That’s the most unique part of the station lol.
@@CrazyDash9 He means the tunnels between New Jersey and Manhattan, not the station itself. That there's only two single-track tunnels which have been there for over 100 years and need significant repair since they were completely filled with water during Hurricane Sandy is a critical infrastructure issue. If even one fails, the problems will be enormous for the entire country. The plan is to add two additional tracks, then use the new flexibility to repair the existing tunnels (and also to replace the worn out drawbridge over the Hackensack River just to the west of those tunnels). It's absolutely needed, and hopefully with a much more train friendly administration (Biden having been a regular train traveler back in his senate days to the point where he was nicknamed the "Senator from Amtrak") it will finally get done.
This is awesome! All Aboard!!!
A little too gray for me, but still a huge improvement over what was there before!
If this doesn't spark more interest to ride and travel the country by train, then I'd be shocked. After seeing this, I would most certainly visit NYC just to see this station.
I hate that entire complex . Madison Square Garden is an awful , cold hulk of a thing , a concrete venue for a concert , unless you have front seats.
Not into sports, eh?
I can finally not get losted in Penn Station! 🚉😂
can't wait to get back to NYC and see it.
The architects made a daring step of choosing modern details to inhabit the classical space designed by Mead, McKim and White. It's almost like 53 years of history have been erased and we see what Penn would have looked like today.
I was very excited about this, but now that I see it, I'm not so sure. I feel like there are two opposing styles/details that weren't carried through in order to create a cohesive space. The atrium is really neat looking, but I don't see any of that repeated on the ground level. I've worked on MMW projects myself and I don't think this was successful.... t's just strange to me. Maybe I just have to see it in person.
@@TreebeardWood I understand your point. However, the aesthetic fits the style common in European stations of similar vintage: Modern details in an older structure.
From a form follows function standpoint, the design is excellent. Passengers can easily find their train on the departure board, and then find the correct escalator to get to it. It is also superior to Penn or WAUS in that you dont have to walk past acres of stores and restaurants before reaching the train concourse. Clean and functional, with direct connections to the 8th Avenue subway.
@@HSMiyamoto I totally get it. I just wish they tied in some of the ornamental steel detail on the ground plane is all. It doesn’t seem balanced to me.
Great station, looks very beautiful
I went to penn station last year. it was still underground. I guess the track destinations were moved? maybe I'll visit NY again in a few years when the world is normal again. if only for their pizza. :)
All over Europe, China and other parts of Asia, there are so many great train stations. I am do happy that NY now has Moynahan Station.
Wow man N.Y.C. has Grand Central Station, a realm train station where Amtrack wanted to move to and would have payed for the move. This is a commuter stop( subway and L.I.R.R.)and commuters do not have the time nor patience to enjoy new terminal.
@@davidwadsworth8982 I agree but even commuters deserve a nice environment for daily travel.
Love trains and YES, the USA deserves more intra- and inter-city trains and light rail! Public transportation (frequent, reliable, comprehensive, and well-funded) FOR THE WIN!
That was touching! Got goose bumps. Jeff is a great writer
I hope they made room to accommodate future high speed trains
Great vid!!!
high speed trains are gonna be back in service