appropriation allowed Amtrak to restore
tracks and to partner with public and
private entities to resuscitate a number
of important stations in this heavily
trafficked region.
At a minimum, restoration included repair and reconstruction of
the station’s original architectural
details. Sometimes, as in the case of
Union Station in Washington, D.C.,
the facility was transformed into a hub
of activity—both related and unrelated
to train travel—that far exceeded what
it once was.
The future of these great train stations now seems secure, but improvements are ongoing, and the depots
must continue to adapt to the changing
desires of their communities. The good
news is that progress is still being made.
In New York, for example, plans are
under way to create a new Penn Station
designed to bring back the old grandeur
while meeting modern needs. That
means travelers to America’s busiest
station may once again experience one
of the greatest joys of train travel, the
wonderful feeling that they have arrived.
Here are a few of our favorite train station success stories from the past 20 years:
30th Street Station
PHILADELPHIA
The largest existing and second-most-
active station in the country, the 30th
Street received a much-needed facelift in
the 1980s, which brought its neoclassical
glory back to life. A striking edifice featur-
ing 71-foot-high Corinthian columns and
a bronze World War II memorial sculpture,
this station is a favorite among train his-
tory buffs because, despite the addition
of restaurant and retail space, the waiting
area has not been reconfigured and
remains exactly the same as it was when
the station was built.
rld War
emorial
nds in
y’s 30th
t Station
