After decades of planning and three years of construction, Manhattan’s Moynihan Train Hall has finally opened its doors today for passengers. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the 255,000-square-foot redevelopment of the historic James A. Farley Post Office building shines with a grand new hall for Amtrak and Penn Station’s Long Island Railroad, filled with a 92-foot tall glass atrium that goes back to the original terminal. The new space, which was inaugurated on Wednesday by Governor Cuomo, will help to alleviate passenger congestion and improve train scheduling and capacity.
The facility is located across from Penn Station on Eighth Avenue and offers direct access to Amtrak, Long Island Rail Road and six existing subway lines serving the area. The project also included the addition of eight new train tracks, expanded tickets and luggage check-in areas, lounge areas for premium customers, a business center and free Wi-Fi throughout the property.
Exterior view of the Moynihan station. Photo: New York State
Passenger waiting area at Moynihan Train Hall. Photo: New York State
Interior view of the Moynihan Train Hall. Photo: New York State
The most impressive component of the installation is its glass roof, which features four arched vaults, each consisting of 500 panels within an elegant metal structure. This well-lit corridor is an incomparable improvement over the cramped labyrinthine corridors of the underground Penn Station, and will make walking through one of the busiest corners of New York City a sunnier event.
Interior view of the Moynihan Train Hall. Photo: New York State
Interior view of the Moynihan Train Hall. Photo: New York State
Public-private redevelopment was led by a consortium of entities including Empire State Development, Vornado Realty Trust, Related Companies, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Amtrak and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Skanska served as the project’s construction manager, which opened in 2017.
Eighth Avenue subway entrance at Moynihan station. Photo: New York State
Eighth Avenue subway entrance at Moynihan station. Photo: New York State
The hall is part of a $ 1.6 billion project that will include additional tickets, subway tickets and a variety of retail and restaurant options for waiting passengers.
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