Union Station smells like urine, has a homeless problem, and is half deserted.

[Anonymous]

Wake up DC you’re about to lose people to flying and none is going to come downtown to eat or shop. Had to go to NYC today and the smell of urine is unbelievable. Barely anyplace to eat. I felt uncomfortable multiple times given the crappy homeless men milling about. Basically it’s a shit hole.

[Anonymous]

This is not so new, actually. The problem is that the rest of DC has turned into Union Station. But Union Station has pretty much always been that way.

[Anonymous]

Amtrak has a hands-off policy with respect to the homeless. Union Station is a defacto shelter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is not so new, actually. The problem is that the rest of DC has turned into Union Station. But Union Station has pretty much always been that way.

It’s been worse the last few years and has fallen off a cliff since COVID. Believe it or not but there was a time when Union Station had high end retail and fine dining.

[Anonymous]

I haven't been to Union station in the last 3-4 years, but I remember it being like OP desccribes 10+ years ago. I used to take very early morning trains (like 4 am) out and would have no where to sit while waiting because they roped off the seating areas.

[Anonymous]

Yep, it's AWFUL.

[Anonymous]

Are you new around here?

[Anonymous]

Penn Station says hold my beer.

[Anonymous]

Russia has a good handle on this, we should use their way of addressing it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I haven't been to Union station in the last 3-4 years, but I remember it being like OP desccribes 10+ years ago. I used to take very early morning trains (like 4 am) out and would have no where to sit while waiting because they roped off the seating areas.

I think the closure of the Greyhound station led directly to Union Station becoming like this.

[Anonymous]

This has been the case for at least 20 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is not so new, actually. The problem is that the rest of DC has turned into Union Station. But Union Station has pretty much always been that way.

It’s been worse the last few years and has fallen off a cliff since COVID. Believe it or not but there was a time when Union Station had high end retail and fine dining.

I remember that time, but the bathrooms were urine-soaked even then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Russia has a good handle on this, we should use their way of addressing it

I think we're getting quite enough from Russia on DCUM, actually. Lots of trolling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Penn Station says hold my beer.

Yes, last week I was stunned by the number of unhoused people at Union Station until I got off the train in NY and Penn Station was much worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Penn Station says hold my beer.

😂