Massive Expansion to Union Station Coming Soon, Amtrak Says

Amtrak has some big plans for Union Station.

The rail service is moving forward with a major renovation of the intercity and commuter rail concourse at the station, adding 20,000 square feet of new passenger space, double what the concourse has now, according to an Amtrak statement.

Early action construction is set to begin this spring, with phased construction starting in 2017. It will cost up to $50 million, according to a Washington Post report.

"Design is underway to upgrade passenger amenities including new restrooms, boarding gates, seating and a ClubAcela lounge," the March 28 Amtrak statement reads. "The design will also include new architectural features and natural light elements to enliven the space for travelers. The result will be a vastly reconfigured, modernized and unified concourse that will improve the passenger experience by providing better accessibility, circulation, wayfinding and multimodal connectivity. Amtrak today unveiled two conceptual renderings of the renovation."

Amtrak pointed out that Union Station has been running beyond its capacity for a while now, especially during rush hour.

"The advancement of this project is a significant milestone for Union Station’s 2nd Century plan," Stephen Gardner, Amtrak’s Executive Vice President of Northeast Corridor Business Development, said in the statement. “It will vastly improve passenger comfort and accessibility with a modern and reconfigured concourse area benefiting Amtrak, VRE and MARC passengers. This work and other planned improvements will transform Union Station’s capacity and performance, befitting the vital regional gateway and civic hub the Station has become since its redevelopment in 1988."