Penn Station is the busiest rail hub in North America, and it doesn't hide that fact well — for decades it's been criticised as cramped, confusing and short on daylight, all packed beneath Madison Square Garden. The 2021 opening of the Moynihan Train Hall next door has eased some of that pressure. Here's how to find your way through both, whether you're catching an Amtrak train, the Long Island Rail Road or NJ Transit.
Three railroads, one building
Penn Station is shared by three separate operators, each with its own ticketing, waiting areas and, largely, its own platforms: Amtrak (long-distance and Northeast Corridor trains), the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), and NJ Transit. They share the same set of underground platforms and tracks, but the concourses, departure boards and ticketing areas are distinct enough that it's worth knowing which one you need before you arrive — Amtrak's main concourse now sits primarily within the Moynihan Train Hall, while LIRR and NJ Transit retain their own areas within the older Penn Station complex.
The Moynihan Train Hall
Opened in 2021 inside the converted former James A. Farley Post Office building across Eighth Avenue, the Moynihan Train Hall is now the primary entrance and departure hall for Amtrak passengers, with a soaring skylight roof that Penn Station itself has always lacked. It houses Amtrak ticketing, a business-class lounge (the Metropolitan Lounge, for eligible ticket holders), food options and a calmer, more navigable space than the older station. LIRR also has a presence here, though NJ Transit's main concourse remains in the original Penn Station building. If you're arriving by Amtrak, following signage toward the Moynihan Train Hall on Eighth Avenue between 31st and 33rd Streets is usually the least stressful route in.
Finding your way in the older station
The original Penn Station, beneath Madison Square Garden, is a warren of low-ceilinged concourses with entrances scattered across several blocks (Seventh Avenue, Eighth Avenue, and various points on 31st, 32nd, 33rd and 34th Streets). It can genuinely disorient first-time visitors, since there's no single obvious "front door." The clearest strategy is to identify which railroad you need and follow the specific signage for it rather than trying to get oriented from the street first — LIRR's main concourse is toward the Seventh Avenue side, NJ Transit's toward Eighth Avenue and the New Jersey side.
Luggage storage
Penn Station itself has limited public luggage storage, and lockers of the kind common in European or Japanese stations are not generally available for security reasons. Travellers needing to store bags for a few hours typically use a nearby third-party luggage storage service (several operate within a short walk of the station) rather than anything inside the terminal. If you're catching a long-distance Amtrak train and are an eligible business or first-class passenger, the Metropolitan Lounge in the Moynihan Train Hall offers a place to sit with your bags before boarding. See our general guide to left luggage at train stations for the wider picture on how this varies by country.
Food and waiting areas
Food options are spread across both the older station and the Moynihan Train Hall, ranging from fast-food chains and coffee shops to a modest food hall in the newer building. Seating is more limited than travellers used to major European termini might expect, particularly in the older Penn Station concourses at peak commuter times, when NJ Transit and LIRR platforms fill with rush-hour crowds. The Moynihan Train Hall's more open layout offers a more comfortable place to wait if your journey starts there.
Changing trains and subway connections
Penn Station sits directly above several New York City Subway lines, including the 1/2/3 and A/C/E lines, with underground passages connecting directly to the subway system without needing to go outside — genuinely useful in bad weather or with luggage. If you're arriving from one of the city's airports rather than by long-distance train, see our guide to New York airport transfers, since JFK, LaGuardia and Newark all reach Manhattan by routes that don't pass through Penn Station itself. If you're connecting between Amtrak and LIRR or NJ Transit, allow a reasonable buffer, since the concourses aren't always adjacent and wayfinding between them isn't always intuitive for first-time visitors. Amtrak's Northeast Corridor trains from Penn Station reach Boston, Washington DC and Philadelphia frequently throughout the day, making Penn Station the natural hub for exploring the north-eastern United States by rail without a car — see our wider guide to the USA by train for how the network fits together beyond the Corridor.
Accessibility
Penn Station has step-free access via lifts to the platform level, though the older parts of the complex can involve longer routes to reach a working lift, particularly during construction or maintenance periods that have affected parts of the station in recent years. The Moynihan Train Hall was built with modern accessibility standards throughout. If you need assistance, Amtrak, LIRR and NJ Transit each offer help booked in advance through their own customer service channels, and station staff can generally point travellers toward the nearest accessible route on the day.
Quirks and practical tips
- Signage between the "old" Penn Station and the Moynihan Train Hall isn't always seamless — if in doubt, ask a staff member which entrance suits your railroad and ticket type.
- Long-distance Amtrak trains, including overnight services, may board via a different process than the Northeast Corridor's frequent day trains — check your ticket type, since sleeper and roomette passengers, covered in our guide to Amtrak roomette vs bedroom, sometimes have separate boarding arrangements.
- The station is at its most crowded during the weekday commuter rush, when LIRR and NJ Transit platforms fill quickly — travelling outside these windows, where your schedule allows, makes for a calmer experience.
Which entrance should you use?
For Amtrak passengers, particularly those with sleeper or business-class tickets, the Moynihan Train Hall entrance on Eighth Avenue is generally the more pleasant and better-signed route. LIRR commuters typically use the Seventh Avenue side, and NJ Transit passengers the Eighth Avenue side of the older station. If you're arriving by subway, most connecting lines surface within the older Penn Station's underground concourse regardless of which railroad you're catching, so following signage for your specific operator once inside is more reliable than choosing a street entrance in advance.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between Penn Station and the Moynihan Train Hall?
They're connected parts of the same complex. The Moynihan Train Hall, opened in 2021 in the former Farley Post Office building, is now the main Amtrak concourse and has a more open, modern design. NJ Transit and LIRR largely still use the older Penn Station building.
When will my platform (track) be announced?
Usually only 10–20 minutes before departure. Watch the departure board rather than heading to the platform level early, since there's little to do down there before your track is confirmed.
Can I store luggage at Penn Station?
Not in station lockers — these aren't generally available for security reasons. Nearby third-party storage services operate within walking distance, and eligible Amtrak passengers can use the Metropolitan Lounge.
Is Penn Station connected to the subway?
Yes, directly, with underground access to several lines including the 1/2/3 and A/C/E, so you can reach onward subway connections without going outside.
Sources and further reading:
- Station and service information: Amtrak.
- Commuter rail information: MTA (Long Island Rail Road) and NJ Transit.