Getting between states wasn’t always easy in the US, so when Amtrak operated its first service in 1971 it was a game changer. Departing from New York City, the train didn’t stop until it hit Philadelphia.
Amtrak has been the heart of intercity rail travel in the country ever since. They have lines connecting more than 500 stations across 46 states. All thanks to the 21,000 miles of rail lines they’ve invested in. You can even reach three provinces in Canada.
More than 30 million passengers use their trains every year, most of them traveling from their busiest stations. Let’s take a closer look!
10. Albany-Rensselaer Station (899,048)
You’ll find this busy station, which is always bustling with rushing travelers, across the Hudson River from downtown Albany. The station has had a number of make-overs in its time. It was first built back in 1968 when it replaced the old Albany Union Station. But it was so busy that in 1980 it was replaced by a bigger building.
The station you see today, with its cute red-brick exterior and large clock tower, wasn’t finished until 2002. Incredibly, it’s the second busiest station in the state of New York.
Wondering where you can get to? Well, there are services that run all the way to Toronto and Niagara Falls from Albany-Rensselaer!
9. New Haven Union Station, New York (907,500)
As well as being one of the busiest Amtrak stations in the country, the Beaux Arts architecture of the building makes it stand out against other stations. Did you know it was designed by the architect behind the US Supreme Court Building? One of Cass Gilbert’s many masterpieces, the station was first opened in 1920.
Sadly after World War II it became a bit of a ruin, and not much of the original building was left. But it was brought back to life in the 1980s by an ambitious renovation project.
From the station, you can catch the popular Vermonter line, which travels through Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
8. Back Bay Station, Boston, Massachusetts (916,579)
There are only three Amtrak railway stations in Boston, and this is the second busiest (keep reading to find out more about the busiest, South Station). There’s been a station in the spot since 1899, but the current station building wasn’t built until much later in 1987. Inside, the station feels open and spacious thanks to the giant glass windows and tall ceilings.
One of the coolest things about Back Bay Station is the 9-foot-tall statue of A. Philip Randolph in the main hall. He was a civil rights activist and the leader of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, the first big African-American-led labor union.
7. Los Angeles Union Station, California (1,053,965)
From the exterior the building looks more like a Moorish castle than a railway station. Designed by the father-son duo John and Donald Parkinson, the building seamlessly blends Mission Revival, Art Deco, and Spanish Colonial architectural styles.
Opened in 1939, the station takes up 52 acres in downtown Los Angeles and is a gateway to the rest of the country. From the minute you set foot inside the Los Angeles Union Station you’ll see that it also doubles up as a cultural hub.
It’s decorated with award-winning pieces from the Metro Art collection which you can browse whilst you’re waiting for your train. They run station tours too!
6. Baltimore Penn Station, Maryland (1,301,274)
The Baltimore Penn Station looks like it’s straight out of Paris! The elegant Beaux-Arts building was built in 1911 and is nestled between two significant neighborhoods. To one side you’ve got the historic Mount Vernon district, and to the other the Station North Arts District. So if you’ve got a few hours to kill before your train why don’t you go for a wander?
Once you’re inside, it’s hard to miss the 51-foot-tall Male/Female sculpture by Jonathon Borofsky in the station’s main hall. The most notable train line that stops at the station is the Crescent service which runs from New York City to New Orleans.
5. South Station, Boston, Massachusetts (1,795,454)
This electric station is always full of travelers rushing from one platform to another. It serves the Northeast Corridor route, which is why it’s the busiest station not just in Boston but in the whole of New England. In 1913 alone 38 million passengers visited the station.
The neoclassical style of the station stands out against the surrounding modern tower blocks. Make sure you check out the eagle on top of the clock tower before heading inside!
It was built in 1899 and opened on New Year’s Day. They wasted no time, and on the very same day a train carrying 12 tons of newspapers set off from South Station to Newport.
4. Chicago Union Station, Illinois (3,011,972)
This stunning and imposing Beaux-Arts building was built in 1925. It survived World War II when the Great Hall’s skylight was blacked out to make it less visible to air raiders and even featured in movies like The Untouchables.
About 400 trains leave the station each day, operated by both Amtrak and Metra. It’s not usual for Amtrak stations to share with other train operators, so the Chicago Union Station is something special.
You can hop on services like the California Zephyr and Empire Builder if you’re looking for a cross-country adventure.
3. 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (5,060,770)
It’s hard to miss this grandiose Art Deco and neoclassical building. With its decadent pillars fit for a Greek temple, it stands out loudly against its surroundings. Each column is 71-feet tall and together they support an enormous portico.
Inside is no less magnificent – chandeliers, marble flooring, and cathedral-style windows were used to match the decadent facade. Curiously, it’s one of the few stations where trains depart in every direction.
Hoping to get out of the city? Then hop on one of the connections to places like Pittsburgh and Harrisburg.
2. Washington Union Station, D.C. (5,639,617)
The Washington Union Station was built as part of the city’s glow up during the City Beautiful movement that aimed to make Washington more striking. Designed by Daniel Burnham, it was finished in 1907. Quintessentially neoclassical, the station looks like it was plucked straight out of Rome.
One of the coolest things about Washington Union Station is that as you wander through the Main Hall you’ll walk beneath 46 sculptures of Roman soldiers. Each one represented one of the states in the Union when the station opened, and they haven’t updated the number of statues since.
1. New York Penn Station, New York (12,023,038)
With 12,023,038 annual passengers passing through, the New York Penn Station is the busiest Amtrak Station in the country. But the story doesn’t end there, as it’s also one of the busiests in the world.
Sadly the original Beaux Arts building which had been there since 1910 was demolished in 1963 when a big portion of the station was moved underground. But the new building has its own charm. It features 700 windows and a 92-foot-tall skylight which makes it feel like a Victorian greenhouse from the inside.
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