Moynihan Train Hall

[Rambling Robert]

The new MoynihanTrain Hall is very impressive especially in person but the Grand Central Terminal is still the crown jewel of NYC.

I discovered on a April 2921 night BOS to WAS that the Moynihan Train Hall was closed 1AM - 5AM prolly to keep our riff-rsff

The waiting room benches are comfortable and give good lumbar support. I did see there was soda and water for sale but I was looking forward to juice and a Jimmy Dean on board.

If you’re at the head LIRR train into NYP you’ll get a direct and classy escalator into Moynihan.

 

[jis]

I discovered on a April 2921 night BOS to WAS that the Moynihan Train Hall was closed 1AM - 5PM prolly to keep our riff-rsff

1am to 5am, not pm.

 

[Rambling Robert]

1am to 5am, not pm.

Typo corrected... but not my poor eyesight... haha. Thank you.

 

[hls7]

I agree that the Moynihan Hall is beautiful and so much of an upgrade from the old Penn Station. However, they really need better signs so that people actually get there. A lot of people go to the old station out of habit and miss out on all this.

 

[jis]

I agree that the Moynihan Hall is beautiful and so much of an upgrade from the old Penn Station. However, they really need better signs so that people actually get there. A lot of people go to the old station out of habit and miss out on all this.

Actually, many use the old station simply because it is more convenient to public transit, and would not go to the new station just for the fun of it.

 

[20th Century Rider]

I agree that the Moynihan Hall is beautiful and so much of an upgrade from the old Penn Station. However, they really need better signs so that people actually get there. A lot of people go to the old station out of habit and miss out on all this.

For sure... better signage is needed! Upon entering the hall from the train for the first time I was wow'ed. But then I started asking where I could find the Fairfield Inn and Suites which is just across the streets. No one could tell me... so I finally left the hall apparently on the opposite side and had to walk around the large complex to find it ... if you are staying there... it's the 33rd street exit. Next time I'll know... you may want to use google maps on your cell phone to orient yourself.

I hope in time they will improve signage

 

[AmtrakBlue]

For sure... better signage is needed! Upon entering the hall from the train for the first time I was wow'ed. But then I started asking where I could find the Fairfield Inn and Suites which is just across the streets. No one could tell me... so I finally left the hall apparently on the opposite side and had to walk around the large complex to find it ... if you are staying there... it's the 33rd street exit. Next time I'll know... you may want to use google maps on your cell phone to orient yourself.

I hope in time they will improve signage

Well, if you had checked the address of the hotel - it’s on your reservation - you would have known it was the 33rd St exit.
On my outbound trip while waiting to board 49, I scoped out a few things - which I had already done with Google maps before my trip. The hotel was the first thing I found since it right across the street from the 33rd street exit that I used. Now if I can just remember my orientation when I arrive tonight on 48.

 

[20th Century Rider]

Well, if you had checked the address of the hotel - it’s on your reservation - you would have known it was the 33rd St exit.
On my outbound trip while waiting to board 49, I scoped out a few things - which I had already done with Google maps before my trip. The hotel was the first thing I found since it right across the street from the 33rd street exit that I used. Now if I can just remember my orientation when I arrive tonight on 48.

It's all about orientation... and familiarization. I even had trouble finding the flagship Metropolitan Lounge first time around.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

It's all about orientation... and familiarization. I even had trouble finding the flagship Metropolitan Lounge first time around.

I did too - if only I had looked up.

 

[jis]

It is not unusual even for me sometimes to blame my own pilot error on everything else possible including signage. That is not to say that signage could not be improved. But the signage in the Moynihan Hall I found to be quite adequate. And since I am immensely familiar with the old station I am not qualified to criticize anyone else's comments about lack of quality of signage, since I seldom have to look at them to find anything there anyway

 

[hls7]

It is not unusual even for me sometimes to blame my own pilot error on everything else possible including signage. That is not to say that signage could not be improved. But the signage in the Moynihan Hall I found to be quite adequate. And since I am immensely familiar with the old station I am not qualified to criticize anyone else's comments about lack of quality of signage, since I seldom have to look at them to find anything there anyway

Oh I think the signs are fine once you get there, I was commenting on the lack of signs outdoors pointing you on how to get there in the first place.

 

[jis]

Oh I think the signs are fine once you get there, I was commenting on the lack of signs outdoors pointing you on how to get there in the first place.

Well depends on where you were looking for the signs I suppose

They could provide better signage in the old Penn Station pointing towards the Moynihan Train Hall. But as I mentioned earlier for New Yorkers the lack of signage is not what keeps them from going to the new Hall. For visitors it may be a problem if they dive into the old station without looking around above ground.

 

[Cal]

For sure... better signage is needed! Upon entering the hall from the train for the first time I was wow'ed. But then I started asking where I could find the Fairfield Inn and Suites which is just across the streets. No one could tell me... so I finally left the hall apparently on the opposite side and had to walk around the large complex to find it ... if you are staying there... it's the 33rd street exit. Next time I'll know... you may want to use google maps on your cell phone to orient yourself.

When I got there I found it (the exit for the hotel) fairly easily (with the help of my iPhone). On a different note, I really enjoyed the view from the hotel.

Also found the Metropolitan Lounge fairly easily.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

On the balcony wall opposite the lounge, in big letters, it says 8th Avenue & 33rd Street with an arrow pointing down - probably meant the hallway was below the balcony. I ended up following another sign that took me to the corner of 8th & 33rd. Not a big deal - since there isn’t a cross walk in the middle of 33rd.
Here’s the exit I was looking for from my hotel room

 

[AmtrakBlue]

The entrance/exit directly across from the hotel is on the same level as the lounge (a level above the train hall) but opposite side of train hall.

 

[joelkfla]

Has anyone arrived at Moynihan by taxi or Uber and gotten a Redcap?

How do you summon one? Do they hang around by the door? Is there a particular entrance that's best? Will they come out to the curb and take the luggage right from the taxi?

 

[PVD]

4. What address should I use for pick-up and drop off (i.e. Rideshare/Taxi service)? Moynihan Train Hall is located at 351 West 31st Street, New York, New York. The taxi area is located at mid-block on 31st Street between 8th and 9th Avenues (near the main entrance). Rideshare will be located mid-block on 33rd Street between 8th and 9th Avenues not sure about the red caps on the Moynihan side haven't used them yet

 

[joelkfla]

4. What address should I use for pick-up and drop off (i.e. Rideshare/Taxi service)? Moynihan Train Hall is located at 351 West 31st Street, New York, New York. The taxi area is located at mid-block on 31st Street between 8th and 9th Avenues (near the main entrance). Rideshare will be located mid-block on 33rd Street between 8th and 9th Avenues not sure about the red caps on the Moynihan side haven't used them yet

Thanks. What I meant was: Is there a specific entrance where the Redcaps hang out?

 

[PVD]

I never arrived by cab or ride share... The only time I got off a train on that side, it was only partially open, but I was going right onto the LIRR to a Jamaica, where a friend would meet me and drive me home. I've never used a red cap at Moynihan..

 

[zephyr17]

Thanks. What I meant was: Is there a specific entrance where the Redcaps hang out?

While I haven't used Moynihan yet, I never saw any Red Caps hanging out at the entrances at Penn Station. When I wanted a Red Cap at Penn, I went to the Red Cap desk in the Amtrak waiting area. If I could use Club Acela, I asked the lounge desk person when I checked in.

I doubt Moynihan is different, with Red Caps at the Amtrak waiting area, despite the official claim they're at station entrances. They said the same thing about Penn, too, btw.

 

[neroden]

The fact that Redcaps were never at any of the accessible old Penn Station entrances (although they were supposed to be) and also were not reliably summonable made it an unpleasant entrance for the mobility-impaired in need of assistance; you basically had to walk the whole way, and it was LONG, because the elevators were all way far away from the Amtrak area.

The much shorter, fully accessible path from the street into Moynihan should alleviate this massively.

 

[PVD]

The original drop off made it much easier but after they closed the center drive through/drop off, accessibility (and taxi service) suffered greatly.

 

[user 14106]

Aramark completely operates the F&B service at the Metro Lounge so options will defer from what’s offered on trains. Aramark is also who Amtrak outsources’s the operation of the commissaries that supply the trains.

 

[John Bobinyec]

I arrived at Moynihan Hall on train 48 on 11/26/2021 for the first time. It was a little confusing as to how to get to the Hall from the platform. There are signs, but they are small and they use icons (stairs versus escalator is subtle). Walking west we first came to stairs, then the down escalator and then the up escalator. The elevator was further west.

On Saturday, 11/27/2021, we boarded 91. We went to the first-class lounge. It was very nice. There were a couple of procedural problems, though. You get up there via escalator. I assume there was also an elevator, but it was not obvious where it was. When you enter the lounge each time, the attendant makes you get out your tickets and vaccination cards. The lounge in Chicago worked better where they do that once and then give you a color-coded card that you can flash at the attendant subsequently.

In the old lounge in NYP, they would take you down to board the train before then general call to load. And Red Cap service was offered just in case anyone needed help. When loading from the lounge in Moynihan, the announcement was made and then we lined up on the main floor at the escalator to the platform, along with everyone else. And the wait was about 15 minutes - standing there. And finally, there wasn't a Red Cap in sight and no Red Cap service was offered in the lounge.

jb

 

[denmarks]

It's beautiful but having the stairs empty in the middle of the hall instead of the sides will cause havoc when ridership increases. I've been there and I love it except for this one notable flaw.

I was also thinking about that but there is no way to move the platforms. That was probably the best design with what they had available.