US railroad company Amtrak has unveiled the transformed entrance at New York Penn Station.
Pennsylvania Station (more commonly known as New York Penn) is located beneath Madison Square Garden and is the busiest transportation facility in the western hemisphere.
The station’s busiest entrance on 7th Avenue and 32 Street is used by 600,000 customers each day, and work has now been completed to increase its width by 50 per cent.
In addition a new glass canopy has replaced the previous 1970s concrete overhang, and the station’s two original escalators have been replaced by two new ones connecting passengers with the mezzanine level.
A new ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)-compliant lift has also been installed – both to make the entrance fully accessible and to assist those with heavy luggage.
Amtrak said that “monumental illuminated Penn Station signage” would allow travellers to locate the stations’ entrances, and work is also ongoing to widen the pavements along the west side of 7th Avenue to relieve crowding and improve safety and navigation.
The work follows the unveiling of a refurbished waiting area at the station in 2020, featuring a new information desk, seats with power sockets and USB ports, and new ceiling LED lighting.
Amtrak unveils refurbished waiting area at New York Penn Station
Commenting on the news Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner said:
“We are proud to roll out the welcome mat to our new, modern entrance for the 600,000 daily New York Penn Station visitors.
“Having a direct, accessible entrance at 32nd and 7th will improve the customer experience for all passengers as they can now take an elevator, walk down wider stairs and have an added, third escalator to help them enter or exit the station.”
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