Moynihan Train Hall

[Chatter163]

I, too, was in Moynihan Train Hall last week, and used the lounger, though this was my second trip through there this year. Upon arrival in NYP I simply went up the escalator into the train hall. When I departed NYP, I used the lounge. If you need red cap service, ask at the front desk when you check in, just as in the old lounge. It is true that there is no longer an advance boarding announcement in the lounge; I don't know why that is.

 

[Manny T]

Correct, my experience was similar. I was in Moynihan two weeks ago and the red cap situation was this: If you need one from the lounge, you tell the person at the desk when you first check in to the lounge. Then prior to departure there is a name call of persons who requested red caps to return to the desk where there is a seating area by the escalator. A few minutes later the red caps came up the escalator with their hand trucks, took the waiting folks' luggage, escorted them down to the tracks and from there they boarded the train.

I also observed that in Moynihan Hall itself there was an Amtrak agent seated at a small table or desk against one of the walls with a walkie-talkie who was able to obtain red caps for passengers boarding directly from MH (i.e. not using the lounge).

 

[Rambling Robert]

Here are plan views and more information regarding NYP Station:
https://jasongibbs.com/pennstation/

 

[truncated]

I, too, was in Moynihan Train Hall last week, and used the lounger, though this was my second trip through there this year. Upon arrival in NYP I simply went up the escalator into the train hall. When I departed NYP, I used the lounge. If you need red cap service, ask at the front desk when you check in, just as in the old lounge. It is true that there is no longer an advance boarding announcement in the lounge; I don't know why that is.

I was in the lounge the Friday after Thanksgiving and they were announcing tracks in advance / before the general boarding calls in the rest of the station, so maybe it's dependent on the front desk agent if they want to do it or not?

But also now with reserved seating on the Acela knowing the track number in advance doesn't really matter — I guess it would still be helpful for those traveling coach on the regionals though.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

But also now with reserved seating on the Acela knowing the track number in advance doesn't really matter..

Except there are people who either don’t know they have an assigned seat or they ignore it and sit where they d*** well please. That has happened to me on both Acela & BC on a regional.

 

[Exvalley]

I was in the lounge the Friday after Thanksgiving and they were announcing tracks in advance / before the general boarding calls in the rest of the station, so maybe it's dependent on the front desk agent if they want to do it or not?

That was my experience in October on the Lake Shore Limited. They announced the track first in the lounge so we were able to line up next to the escalator before anyone else.

 

[Rambling Robert]

Also,
Amtrak employees congregate around the next track # - I noticed this and from the NYP/MTH waiting room I walked over and was sixth in line.

The waiting room is very mince, beverages to buy and they check your ticket before entering.

 

[Chatter163]

I was in the lounge the Friday after Thanksgiving and they were announcing tracks in advance / before the general boarding calls in the rest of the station, so maybe it's dependent on the front desk agent if they want to do it or not?

Must be, as I was there the next day, on the Crescent.

 

[MARC Rider]

Except there are people who either don’t know they have an assigned seat or they ignore it and sit where they d*** well please. That has happened to me on both Acela & BC on a regional.

Me too

 

[danasgoodstuff]

For Moynihan Train Hall Project, Refinanced TIFIA Loan - Railway Age

 

[Mailliw]

Is the Food Hall open yet?

 

[AmtrakBlue]

Per their website, not yet. Explore, Shop & Dine - Moynihan Train Hall NYC

 

[zephyr17]

Is the Food Hall open yet?

It wasn't on November 13th when I was there.

 

[Chatter163]

No, I was last there on 20 and 27 November. I was not surprised to see that nothing had changed from the summer, in terms of what the public could see.

 

[Brian Battuello]

Except there are people who either don’t know they have an assigned seat or they ignore it and sit where they d*** well please. That has happened to me on both Acela & BC on a regional.

I'm sure this happens all the time, but fortunately I had the opposite experience a few months ago on the DownEaster. I had a group of 6 in business class, with assigned seats. When we got on there was a large piece of paper on each seat with my name on it. As I said in another post, the DownEaster is a small route Amtrak hasn't messed up yet.

 

[Bob Dylan]

I'm sure this happens all the time, but fortunately I had the opposite experience a few months ago on the DownEaster. I had a group of 6 in business class, with assigned seats. When we got on there was a large piece of paper on each seat with my name on it. As I said in another post, the DownEaster is a small route Amtrak hasn't messed up yet.

That's because it's funded by the State of Maine and also the Cafe Car LSA is a State employee and the Menu is much better than the National Cafe Menu.( not sure about the T&E Crew, I think they are Amtrak Employees??)

 

[user 14106]

Moynihan had the unfortunate circumstance of opening during the pandemic - as a result I am sure businesses that would consider opening in the train hall are probably very hesitant to open at the moment with the uncertainties. I think had it not been for Covid a lot more would be available.

 

[PVD]

The agency that "owns" the Downeaster has always been comfortable losing money on food service since they believed that it was valuable in establishing the overall value of the service, attracting more passengers, at a higher price point thereby having a positive effect on the bottom line. That was not possible for Amtrak for many years.

 

[user 14106]

The lack of the food hall also limits the amount of seating available in the station to just the limited ticketed waiting area - in many large stations the food court areas relieve some of the demand for the waiting area seating - and in some stations the food court is the ONLY seated waiting area.

 

[Palmland]

We were in Moynihan yesterday. I liked the ticketed seating area with its separate areas that were nicely done with wood trim and cushioned seats. There was an agent at each entrance and ours was quite helpful. While crowded, no one was standing and at about the same time the Pennsylvanian, Silver Star, 95, and an Acela were about to board.

The food hall had a Starbucks and a fresh salad take out- Chopt. On another side was a Bagel place and another coffee stand. More were being worked on. We crossed 8th Av to get into the building from our arrival on NJT as no one in old Penn Station could direct us to the underground passage. I eventually found it, but it was something of a maze to negotiate.

It seemed much simpler boarding then Penn. as it was just one long escalator ride from the center of the train hall. However the announcements were hard to hear because of the echo and it was less than 10 minutes before departure when they finally boarded.

I was surprised by how many passengers there were in the Hall after hearing prior reports but it didn’t seem crowded. Definitely a much nicer experience then old Penn station.

The last photo was changing engines at 30th St. on the Pennsylvanian.

 

[joelkfla]

It seemed much simpler boarding then Penn. as it was just one long escalator ride from the center of the train hall. However the announcements were hard to hear because of the echo and it was less than 10 minutes before departure when they finally boarded.

Yeah, the acoustics in the train hall are terrible. You would think that with modern technology they'd be able to design some sort of directional sound system that could avoid the echo.

 

[truncated]

The Amtrak staff in Moynihan seem to have borrowed the approach from the old Penn station of cordoning off the escalators to the tracks prior to a train's departure, and having everyone line up even before the track is officially announced:

Which of course is annoying if you have access to the Metropolitan lounge and defeats the point of the lounge announcing the track in advance (which they seem to be doing more consistently now).

But that said the West End Concourse remains open and unblocked, and although this isn't signed properly as you exit the escalators coming down from the lounge just go down this staircase that takes you to the West End Concourse and you can board your train before everyone else (I beat everyone coming from the train hall by about 5 min):

 

[JaneH.]

The only way to widen the platforms at Penn Station would be to sacrifice some track(s). That is not going to happen, unless they can finish the 'gateway' project our otherwise find a way to expand the station. The platforms are more crowded now then they were before the big rebuild in the '60's when they added support columns for the Madison Square Garden above. Not to mention, a lot more people use the station now...

The other day I booked a train from NY to Philadelphia and had to walk quite a way down the platform at Moynihan to the waiting train. It was nowhere near the entrance from the escalator. The problem with the design is that there are two narrow platform passage ways along the platform where you are pass a wall on your right from something constructed in the middle of the platform, one was possibly another escalator and it is very scary if you have luggage to pass by there with the tracks close by on your left. Especially if you are not completely sure footed. I am going to have to pay for assistance next time. It is a poor design. I never had that issue at Penn Station. I take subways and busses and walk in NYC with luggage, but this was too difficult to navigate. Luckily someone helped with my main suitcase, but I was terrified.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

The other day I booked a train from NY to Philadelphia and had to walk quite a way down the platform at Moynihan to the waiting train. It was nowhere near the entrance from the escalator. The problem with the design is that there are two narrow platform passage ways along the platform where you are pass a wall on your right from something constructed in the middle of the platform, one was possibly another escalator and it is very scary if you have luggage to pass by there with the tracks close by on your left. Especially if you are not completely sure footed. I am going to have to pay for assistance next time. It is a poor design. I never had that issue at Penn Station. I take subways and busses and walk in NYC with luggage, but this was too difficult to navigate. Luckily someone helped with my main suitcase, but I was terrified.

It’s the same platform. Maybe you need to access the platform from the Penn Station side to shorten your walk.

 

[user 14106]

The other day I booked a train from NY to Philadelphia and had to walk quite a way down the platform at Moynihan to the waiting train. It was nowhere near the entrance from the escalator. The problem with the design is that there are two narrow platform passage ways along the platform where you are pass a wall on your right from something constructed in the middle of the platform, one was possibly another escalator and it is very scary if you have luggage to pass by there with the tracks close by on your left. Especially if you are not completely sure footed. I am going to have to pay for assistance next time. It is a poor design. I never had that issue at Penn Station. I take subways and busses and walk in NYC with luggage, but this was too difficult to navigate. Luckily someone helped with my main suitcase, but I was terrified.

You do not need to pay for assistance. You could board from the old side as previously suggested or ask a red cap for assistance at Moynihan - assistance is complementary. Tips for red caps are appreciated (not required) but there’s no fee. It also varies by train/platform. They sometimes do stop the trains more convenient to the Moynihan entrance - other times not.