Amtrak Washington D.C.: 10 Things To Know About The Union Station And Its Routes

Summary

With over 1.7 million passengers in 2021, Washington Union Station is one of the busiest Amtrak stops and serves as a gateway to the eastern US.
The station, built as part of D.C.'s City Beautiful Plan, is a stunning architectural landmark with a rich history and intricate design.
Visitors can relax in the ClubAcela lounge, and the station offers convenient access to destinations like New York City and other top US cities.

With over 1.7 million Amtrak passengers using this station in 2021 alone, Washington Union Station is among the busiest Amtrak stops nationwide. Washington Union Station also acts as a gateway for much of the eastern United States, including Boston and New York City.

Without further ado, here are ten interesting things to know about Amtrak Washington Union Station and its many routes.

10 Washington D.C.'s Union Station Is The Second-Busiest Rail Station In The US

View of the concourse of Washington Union Station at sunset

D.C.'s Union Station has a whopping 18 platforms and 22 tracks. Notably, it is not only Amtrak's second-busiest station nationwide but the tenth-busiest rail station in all of North America.

While the pandemic saw a significant drop in dining and retail, Amtrak is making efforts to reverse this trend, which includes plans for a major renovation and expansion at the station. In total, ten Amtrak routes pass through Washington Union Station.

If traveling for the first time, there are many things to know about traveling with Amtrak to make a journey as headache-free as possible. Either way, being prepared can make a big difference.

Foundation Date of Washington Union Station: 1908 (re-built from 1981 to 1989)

9 The Washington D.C. Amtrak Union Station Was Built As Part Of D.C.'s 'City Beautiful Plan'

Aerial view of Washington D.C. with US Capitol, hotels, and popular landmarks

The City Beautiful movement was a North American movement in the 1890s and 1900s (decade) aimed at the beautification of architecture. This reform philosophy came to fruition in many parts of the U.S., including Washington D.C.

Daniel Burnham (famous planner and architect) would play a key role in designing the Beaux-Arts Union Station before it was constructed in 1908. The station's construction, part of efforts to remake Washington D.C., was a successful effort to add beauty and grandeur to the U.S. capital.

From its arched entrance to an intricately designed interior, Washington Union Station is among the best-designed train stations in the nation. The ceiling comes with 22-karat gold decorating, while the original construction features 46 Roman soldier statues.

Designer of Washington Union Station: Daniel Burnham and William Pierce Anderson of D.H. Burnham & Company

8 Washington D.C Union Station Is A National Historic Landmark

Full front view of Washington Union Station with buses and cars passing by and an array of American flags on view on flag poles

The station further cemented its place in American history and heritage when it was designated as a national landmark in 1969, a little over sixty years after it was built.

Today, there are more than 2,600 national historic landmarks in the US.

Year in Which Washington Union Station Become a National Historic Landmark: 1969

7 Lounge Access Now Lets Visitors Relax In ClubAcela

A Drink On A Table

ClubAcela, which received a modern upgrade in 2019, is the perfect place for commuters with lounge access to relax before their journey. ClubAcela is open from 4:30 am to 9:30 pm, Monday to Friday, and 5:00 am to 9:30 pm, Saturday to Sunday.

Acela Express First Class members, sleeping car customers, Single-Day Pass Holders, Select Executive members, and Amtrak Guest Rewards Select Plus members can all access ClubAcela.

ClubAcela Opening Hours: 4:30 am to 9:30 pm, Monday to Friday, and 5:00 am to 9:30 pm, Saturday to Sunday

6 Ten Amtrak Trains Pass Through Washington D.C.'s Union Station

AMTRAK Acela Express Train No.235 from Washington, DC to Boston, MA

Washington Union Station services the Acela, Vermonter, Capitol Limited, Cardinal, Carolinian, Silver Meteor, Silver Star, Crescent, Northeast Regional, and Palmetto trains. MARC and Virginia Railway Express trains also pass through here.

Returning to the station's Amtrak routes, here are the key details of each of these trains:

Train	Start Point	End Point	Time from D.C. to End Point	Time from D.C. to Start Point
Acela	Union Station, Washington, D.C.	South Station, Boston, Massachusetts	6 hours 30 minutes to 7 hours to Boston	N/A
Vermonter	Union Station, Washington, D.C.	St. Albans, Vermont	12 hours 45 minutes to 13 hours 45 minutes to Vermont	N/A
Capitol Limited	Union Station, Washington D.C.	Union Station, Chicago, Illinois	18 hours to Chicago	N/A
Cardinal	Union Station, Chicago, Illinois	Moynihan Train Hall, New York, New York	2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours 45 minutes to NYC	17 hours 40 minutes to Chicago
Carolinian	Charlotte, North Carolina	Moynihan Train Hall, New York, New York	2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours 45 minutes to NYC	9 hours 45 minutes to Charlotte
Silver Meteor	Miami, Florida	Moynihan Train Hall, New York, New York	2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours 45 minutes to NYC	23 hours 15 minutes to Miami
Silver Star	Miami, Florida	Moynihan Train Hall, New York, New York	2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours 45 minutes to NYC	27 hours 30 minutes to Miami
Crescent	Picayune, Mississippi	Moynihan Train Hall, New York, New York	3 hours 45 minutes	25 hours 25 minutes
Northeast Regional	Newport News, Virginia	South Station, Boston, Massachusetts	4 hours 10 minutes to 4 hours 25 minutes	7 hours 50 minutes to 8 hours 30 minutes
Palmetto	Savannah, Georgia	Moynihan Train Hall, New York, New York	11 hours 25 minutes	3 hours 25 minutes

Location of Washington D.C.'s Union Station: 50 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002, United States

5 D.C.'s Union Station Is A Gateway To New York And The East Coast

An aerial sunset view of Manhattan Uptown, New York City, USA

One of the more common endpoints for Amtrak routes that pass through Washington D.C. is New York City, specifically NYC's Moynihan Hall Station. In fact, as shown above, a total of six Amtrak trains (the Cardinal, Carolinian, Silver Meteor, Silver Star, Crescent, and Palmetto) have their final stop here.

The reasons to consider a vacation to the Big Apple are endless. Visitors may want to consider taking in the sights along the Hudson River, singing the blues at New York City's best jazz clubs, visiting Broadway, or spending time in NYC's many cafes.

Other things that tourists may want to add to their NYC to-do list include enjoying kayaking spots in New York, like the Hudson, visiting Ellis Island, and taking a stroll through Central Park.

Number of Amtrak Trains Leaving Union Station for NYC Daily: 32 trains on average

4 There Are Plenty Of Top US Destinations To Travel To Via Washington DC's Amtrak Station

A street view of the Marta & Amtrak train station on Peachtree street in Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Other notable spots covered by Amtrak routes that pass through Washington Union Station include:

Atlanta, Georgia (Crescent)
Baltimore, Maryland (Acela, Vermonter, Cardinal, Carolinian, Silver Meteor, Silver Star, Crescent, Northeast Regional, and Palmetto)
Boston, Massachusetts (Acela, Northeast Regional, and Palmetto)
Indianapolis, Indiana (Cardinal)
Miami, Florida (Silver Meteor, Silver Star, and Palmetto)
Orlando, Florida (Silver Meteor, Silver Star, and Palmetto)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Acela, Vermonter, Cardinal, Silver Meteor, Silver Star, Crescent, Northeast Regional, and Palmetto)

Each of the above locations has plenty to offer tourists. These locations provide a host of attractions, including Boston's Fenway Park, Orlando City and Disneyland, and Baltimore's Sherkin Island and Cape Clear Island.

Average Number of Daily Passengers Who Pass Through Washington Union Station: 70,000

3 The Washington DC Amtrak Station Offers Many Places To Eat

Interior of Washington Union Station with winding staircases and an elevator connecting the various floors

Visitors will be glad to know that the station features dozens of eateries and shops. Many of the retail and dining choices are available on the mezzanine and lower levels of the store.

Popular places to eat include Juice Press, Cava, and Ladurée. Please note that the pandemic affected opening hours for dining and retail locations at the station, and some limitations may still exist.

Notable places to eat and drink at Washington D.C.'s Union Station: Juice Press, Cava, Ladurée

2 There Are Plans To Modernize Washington D.C. Union Station

Passengers onboard Amtrak train

Amtrak is not only planning to regain full control of the station, but they aim to work on a major expansion and renovation project aimed at modernizing D.C.'s Union Station.

The plan, known as the Second Century Plan, includes the aim of creating a three million-square-foot mixed-use development on top of the current rail yard. Amtrak hopes to double the station's train capacity and triple the passenger capacity over the next twenty decades.

Years of the latest renovations: 1981-1989 (rebuilt)

1 There Are Various Ways To Reach Washington D.C. Union Station

Washington Metro Red Line train at an underground stop with passengers disembarking

Commuters can reach the station via the Washington Metro Red Line, DC Streetcar, or the Metropolitan Branch Trail if they'd rather cycle. As for the Red Line, this travels from Shady Grove in the south to Glenmont in the north. The Union Station is the 18th stop on the route, labeled as B03. This stop has been available on the route since 1976.

As for the DC Streetcar, it travels from Benning Road to Union Station. Alternatively, commuters can cycle the Metropolitan Branch Trail. This eight-mile trail connects Silver Spring, Maryland, to D.C.'s Union Station. It's possible to take certain bicycles on most Amtrak trains. More details can be found on Amtrak's official website.

Duration of the Red Line from Shady Grove to Union Station: 45 minutes
Duration of the Red Line from Glenmont to Union Station: 28 minutes
Duration of the DC Streetcar from Benning Road to the Union Station: 30 minutes