Penn Station: A Walkthrough of Renovations and Access

Penn Station's renovations aim to improve accessibility and modernize the experience for millions of commuters.

### Exploring New York City's Penn Station: Renovations and Updates
* 🚉 Today, October 17th, 2023, at around 2:45 p.m., I took a walk through Penn Station, the **busiest train station in New York City**, which serves multiple transit systems including **Amtrak and New Jersey Transit**.
* 🏗 The ongoing renovations aim to **improve access and facilities**, with a new building planned on the site of the demolished **Pennsylvania Hotel** across the street.
* 🏟 Madison Square Garden, home to the New York Knicks, remains a contentious neighbor, as the state wishes for its **relocation due to construction disruptions**.
* 🔍 The original grand Penn Station was replaced with a **less appealing structure**, leading to the creation of the **Landmarks Preservation Commission** to protect historic sites like **Grand Central Terminal**.
* 🚉 I highlighted the confusing layout of the station, noting that the **New Jersey Transit entrance on 7th Avenue is more accessible** than that on 8th Avenue, which is better for **Amtrak**.
* 💡 The Moynihan Train Hall, built atop the original Penn Station, has been a source of confusion, as many mistake it for a **new train station** rather than an **extension of the existing one**.
* 🍕 The new food hall in Moynihan features various dining options, although seating remains **limited**, and there are still many retail spaces yet to be **filled**.
* 👋 I wrapped up my tour by encouraging viewers to **like and subscribe for more updates**, expressing hope for the station's **continued improvements and vibrancy**.

What's up, everyone? Today I'm going to take you on a walk through New York City's Penn Station, named after the Pennsylvania Railroad that used to be here. Today's date is Tuesday, October 17th, 2023. The time is about 2:45 p.m., and it's 61°F (16°C).

Penn Station is the busiest train station in New York City, serving two branches of the New York City subway, Amtrak, New Jersey Transit, and the Long Island Railroad. This is what will eventually be here; you can see part of it is already...

[Music] finished. The state's been busy renovating this entire area. Across the street used to be the Pennsylvania Hotel, but that's been knocked down, and a new building is going to be built on top of it. Madison Square Garden, the home of the

New York Knicks basketball team, is right behind this construction site. It's also been a major headache for the state because they really want Madison Square Garden to move – getting allergic to the construction dust here – but the owners of Madison Square Garden don't want

[Music] to.  Access is open during construction; there's an entrance to Penn Station that way and also this way. Many people got very bitter when the original grand Penn Station got torn down, but that led to the creation of the Landmarks Preservation Commission, and Grand Central Terminal

got saved. And what we got instead was just a bunch of buildings built on top of the really bad replacement Penn Station. All the tracks were still underneath, a complete maze of tunnels that was so confusing, people didn't really know where they

We're going down there. This is the entrance to Madison Square Garden, and here's Penn Station. There used to be a big entrance to Penn Station on 7th Avenue. I have a feeling this video is going to be very helpful for people, because already

there was one person asking questions, confused where they were going. Actually, I should give my knowledge now. If you want New Jersey Transit, it's actually closer to enter at 7th Avenue than 8th Avenue. Long Island Railroad as well; 7th

Avenue is better, although you can get the Long Island Railroad at 8th Avenue, it's just that the platform is much longer closer to 7th Avenue. And Amtrak; 8th Avenue is better. The main facility for Amtrak is the Moynihan

Train Hall, which is part of Penn Station. I think many people get confused because that's all it is—it's a train hall. People thought it was a brand new train station, but it's just on top of Penn Station. Penn Station is the actual

train tracks. So this is where New Jersey Transit is. It's still very much a maze of tunnels on the New Jersey Transit side, and a lot of construction over [Music] here. Not going to turn around [Music]. And this is one of the problems with

Penn Station: there's only one entrance here, and everyone has to squeeze through this narrow entrance, which is what they're hoping to change with all these renovations. I don't really think New Jersey Transit is going to get too many new improvements.

Though it's more so for the Long Island Railroad and Amtrak, this is the last call for New Jersey Transit's 2:11 p.m. Montclair line, en route to Montclair State University with intermediate stops.  Proceed.

The track level—is this even open? Yep. Just to see the New Jersey Transit train that these people are boarding, because what's New York Penn Station without seeing some trains, at least? There's an Amtrak track. It's very hot down here. [Music]

Now I'm going to show you the Long Island Railroad side and what they've been doing to improve access and accessibility there. Please... This is a boarding call for East End [Music] Airport car, Washington, Alexandria, Woodbridge. Here's the Long Island Railroad

side. I have to do a double take, because even I got confused a little bit. And as you can see, a complete difference: modern lighting. Now it doesn't feel like you're cramped in... What I showed you was pretty much the old Penn Station, and to be honest, the city really

needs these improvements. I love this mosaic of New York City, right, with the skylight. There's also Long Island Rail Road as well. Everyone... There's not much retail here yet, if any.  Taco Bell's coming soon, Raising Cane's... There's the customer service center for

Long Island Rail Road. But what I'm really shocked at is the lack of seating here. This is pretty much what old Penn Station used to look like on this side: just a bunch of really narrow hallways and passageways like this, and not very aesthetically

Please, it really feels cramped and dark in here, but I'm glad they really improved it a lot. It's a lot more lighting, a lot more space now.  Jamaica Park... they even put in a fake sky. [Music] Here, this is the 8th Avenue New York City

subway branch served by the A, C, and E trains. And if you go this way, this will actually take you underneath 8th Avenue to the other side, and we'll be able to enter Moynihan Train Hall, which is the uh, most impressive new

building that's constructed on Penn Station. Yet, I don't know where we need fire... Okay, now we are on the Moynihan Train Hall side of Penn Station. One big criticism that I have of the Moynihan Train Hall is that it's out of the

way, because a lot of the public transit they take you over to the 7th Avenue side. And there's one avenue [Music] over any sessions today. Also, again, lack of seating unless you go to the ticketed waiting area and you have to show your

train ticket. This entire area used to be part of the U.S. Post Office, which is still here, but a lot of the post office space was used to make this train hall. I've actually used this train hall multiple times, primarily to take the Northeast Regional and Amtrak

trains to Boston. It's right here, five and six. He said I like to head over to the back here because the last time I was here there were a few empty spaces. I know the food hall is pretty much established. Attention please.  Track silver medal train...

Train 97 from New York, continuing to Miami, is now approaching the station. Please stand by for boarding, which will begin momentarily. It looks like pretty much all these spots are occupied now. Everything from bagel shops to yummy Italian food and salads, and it looks great to be...

Honest Burgers. Please check with the ticket office for baggage assistance or ticket transactions. Let's go around here and see what options are available along the perimeter. $5 for a slice of pizza here at Joe's Pizza, which is...

$4 a slice. The pizza looks very thin to me; it doesn't even look like a proper pizza crust. Ramen, Jacob's Pickles, Southern comfort food, and NAA Middle Eastern food. So something, uh, a little bit of something for everyone here in this food...

hall. And you can't forget the Irish exit! Let's see what stores are open now towards the back of the train hall. I remember there was a lot of vacant space there. Are... it's still... yeah, I do... This is... It's action, kid! I do like neighborhood tours and...

walks. Today I'm covering Penn Station. Yeah, this guy was telling me about how he, like him and a few people, this building, like, you know, from start to what it is now, and it's going to be like a... Yeah, they're trying to turn it into that, but I...

don't really see too many stores here still. Yeah, there will be... Yeah, I see one store here in the back.  Opening soon: Malin + Goetz, Urban Pops. So at least there's something here; it isn't completely vacant.

Like last time, so it adds a little bit more life to this area. Let's check this upper level, too, and see what else is open. Maybe they could turn this space into an area that people would want to visit and take people away from the Seventh Avenue side. That's how they can

do it. Westfield Pass should proceed to Track 14. That's what the outside of the train hall looks like, and eventually they want to open up a space on the rooftop there. It's starting to come together, as you can see. Still a very slow rollout, and more of these construction

panels are coming off. At least we could see what's here now. This could be a big, um, retail space. I would think something like an Apple Store would do very well here, but they're also in Grand Central Terminal. Call for the 309, Track 18. Call Track

18 is the Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge. Only if you pay for a premium ticket can you use this; otherwise, you have to use the general waiting area. Restrooms are over here and on the first [Music] floor.  ATT passengers should proceed to Track 14. There's Magnolia

Bakery over here. All right, everyone. I hope you all enjoyed that walk-through of New York City's busiest train station. Hit the like button if you enjoyed it; subscribe if you haven't already to the channel, and I'll see you next time. Bye, everyone. Take

Walking NYC Penn Station & Moynihan Train Hall | October 2023

ActionKid

Introduction to Penn Station and its History

Introduction to Penn Station, its name origin, and the date and time of the video.

Penn Station's significance as NYC's busiest station, serving various transit lines.

Ongoing renovations and the demolition of the Pennsylvania Hotel.

Madison Square Garden's proximity and the challenges related to its relocation.

The controversy surrounding the original Penn Station's demolition and the creation of the Landmarks Preservation Commission.

Navigating Penn Station: Access and Transit Lines

Guidance on accessing different transit lines (NJ Transit, Long Island Railroad, Amtrak) from various entrances.

Specific recommendations for entering Penn Station based on the desired transit line.

Clarification on the relationship between Penn Station and Moynihan Train Hall.

Challenges with New Jersey Transit access due to limited entrances and ongoing construction.

Focus on planned improvements for Long Island Railroad and Amtrak, contrasting with limited improvements for New Jersey Transit.

Observations of Train Activities and Track Levels

Observation of a New Jersey Transit train departing.

Showcase of improvements and accessibility upgrades on the Long Island Railroad side.

Comparison of the old and new Long Island Railroad areas, highlighting improvements in lighting and space.

Description of the current retail options and the lack of seating in the renovated area.

Exploring Moynihan Train Hall and its Features

Access to the 8th Avenue NYC subway branch (A, C, and E trains).

Entering Moynihan Train Hall from the 8th Avenue side.

Critique of Moynihan Train Hall's location and limited accessibility from public transit.

Discussion of seating limitations and the hall's history as a former post office.

Personal experience using Moynihan Train Hall for Amtrak travel.

Moynihan Train Hall Food Hall and Amenities

Observation of train arrivals and departure announcements.

Description of the food hall's variety of dining options.

Price and description of pizza at Joe's Pizza.

Overview of diverse food options available in the food hall.

Exploration of retail spaces and their current status.

Concluding Remarks and Future Development

Suggestions for improving the train hall and attracting visitors.

Observations on the ongoing construction and potential for future retail spaces.

Discussion of potential retail tenants and access to the Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge.

Mention of amenities like restrooms and Magnolia Bakery.

Concluding remarks and call to action for viewers.