New Moynihan Train Hall Opens in NYC

Connor Fieldale

On January 1, 2021, the new Moynihan Train Hall in New York City officially opened to the public. Adjacent to Penn Station in the old Farley Post Office, this project expands Penn Station by providing access across 8th Avenue into the historic century old James A. Farley Post Office building.  In 1963, amidst protests and petitions, the original Penn Station, which was considered to be one of the most beautiful buildings in the world, was torn down and replaced with a dreary, cramped underground station. The previous site is now home to Madison Square Garden.  Regarding Penn Station, Historian Vincent Scully said “One entered the city like a god. One scuttles in now like a rat”(American Architecture and Urbanism, 1969). 

For almost 30 years, there was no talk about updating Penn Station until the 1990s when Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan began championing an idea to revitalize the train station by utilizing the old Farley Post office.  This project and idea itself were met with laughter and it seemed it would go nowhere. There were discussions about it and designs put into place, but nothing ever progressed past that point.  That is until August of 2017, when New York Governor Cuomo became interested in the project in 2017 and gathered supporters to make it a reality.  The grand opening of the Moynihan Train Station occurred on January 1, 2021 and was dedicated to its namesake, Senator Moynihan, who was its greatest champion.  Governor Cuomo says that Moynihan Train Hall represents the resilience of New Yorkers and assures brighter times are ahead. He later went on to say that world-class infrastructure and the building of the new train hall will help to revitalize the community and bring back a stronger New York. The new and modern train hall will also feature office buildings, retail stores and art installations.  Facebook will be one of the major companies to call Moynihan Train Hall, “Home." 

New Rochelle residents may ask, “How will the new Moynihan Train Hall affect me?” Once the East Side Access Project is completed, Metro North will gain access to Amtrak tracks which will allow entry into the new Moynihan Train Hall.  New Rochelle Train Station will then allow passengers to choose their entry point into Manhattan via Grand Central Station or the new Moynihan Train Hall. This will provide more versatility for Manhattan-bound commuters and  allow for more efficient use of the New York train system. The New Moynihan Train Hall opens up endless possibilities and is more accessible for people taking Metro-North and Amtrak into the city.