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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Heads up: violent attack on an Amtrak passenger resulting in head injuries on a Sunday morning, be alert, even with lots of people or security around

https://www.reddit.com/r/washdc/comments/16lgqsy/violent_attack_and_assault_today_sunday_september/

I’m not arguing that union station has had a steep decline, but I couldn’t find anything about this alleged attack on local news sites, which is pretty suspect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

I was in the new train station in nyc and it is beautiful and clean and I did not see any homeless people sleeping there. I wonder if they have a law or rules for new station?

And everyone has to sit on the floor, and you have to walk half a mile to get to the actual train, but hey, no homeless people!

That’s how Penn Station always was. You can also wait at the secret entrances below to get on the train before everyone else. No, I won’t tell you where they are.

No, Penn Station used to have furniture for sitting on. The new (underground) Penn Station, I mean. The old Penn Station did too, but I didn't witness it personally, because I wasn't born. The Moynihan Train Hall is lovely and full of light, but it's ridiculous to have nothing but the floor for people to sit on.

I'm not interested in your secret entrances. That's ridiculous too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

I was in the new train station in nyc and it is beautiful and clean and I did not see any homeless people sleeping there. I wonder if they have a law or rules for new station?

And everyone has to sit on the floor, and you have to walk half a mile to get to the actual train, but hey, no homeless people!

That’s how Penn Station always was. You can also wait at the secret entrances below to get on the train before everyone else. No, I won’t tell you where they are.

No, Penn Station used to have furniture for sitting on. The new (underground) Penn Station, I mean. The old Penn Station did too, but I didn't witness it personally, because I wasn't born. The Moynihan Train Hall is lovely and full of light, but it's ridiculous to have nothing but the floor for people to sit on.

I'm not interested in your secret entrances. That's ridiculous too.

Its to deter the homeless from sleeping there

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

I was in the new train station in nyc and it is beautiful and clean and I did not see any homeless people sleeping there. I wonder if they have a law or rules for new station?

And everyone has to sit on the floor, and you have to walk half a mile to get to the actual train, but hey, no homeless people!

That’s how Penn Station always was. You can also wait at the secret entrances below to get on the train before everyone else. No, I won’t tell you where they are.

No, Penn Station used to have furniture for sitting on. The new (underground) Penn Station, I mean. The old Penn Station did too, but I didn't witness it personally, because I wasn't born. The Moynihan Train Hall is lovely and full of light, but it's ridiculous to have nothing but the floor for people to sit on.

I'm not interested in your secret entrances. That's ridiculous too.

Its to deter the homeless from sleeping there

obviously...?

And so, instead, everyone has to sit on the floor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

I was in the new train station in nyc and it is beautiful and clean and I did not see any homeless people sleeping there. I wonder if they have a law or rules for new station?

And everyone has to sit on the floor, and you have to walk half a mile to get to the actual train, but hey, no homeless people!

That’s how Penn Station always was. You can also wait at the secret entrances below to get on the train before everyone else. No, I won’t tell you where they are.

No, Penn Station used to have furniture for sitting on. The new (underground) Penn Station, I mean. The old Penn Station did too, but I didn't witness it personally, because I wasn't born. The Moynihan Train Hall is lovely and full of light, but it's ridiculous to have nothing but the floor for people to sit on.

I'm not interested in your secret entrances. That's ridiculous too.

Its to deter the homeless from sleeping there

obviously...?

And so, instead, everyone has to sit on the floor.

You wouldn't be able to use the furniture if it existed. Amtrak doesn't have a policy with respect to the homeless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

I was in the new train station in nyc and it is beautiful and clean and I did not see any homeless people sleeping there. I wonder if they have a law or rules for new station?

And everyone has to sit on the floor, and you have to walk half a mile to get to the actual train, but hey, no homeless people!

That’s how Penn Station always was. You can also wait at the secret entrances below to get on the train before everyone else. No, I won’t tell you where they are.

No, Penn Station used to have furniture for sitting on. The new (underground) Penn Station, I mean. The old Penn Station did too, but I didn't witness it personally, because I wasn't born. The Moynihan Train Hall is lovely and full of light, but it's ridiculous to have nothing but the floor for people to sit on.

I'm not interested in your secret entrances. That's ridiculous too.

Its to deter the homeless from sleeping there

obviously...?

And so, instead, everyone has to sit on the floor.

You wouldn't be able to use the furniture if it existed. Amtrak doesn't have a policy with respect to the homeless.

Chicago Union Station has benches. I used them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Heads up: violent attack on an Amtrak passenger resulting in head injuries on a Sunday morning, be alert, even with lots of people or security around

https://www.reddit.com/r/washdc/comments/16lgqsy/violent_attack_and_assault_today_sunday_september/

I’m not arguing that union station has had a steep decline, but I couldn’t find anything about this alleged attack on local news sites, which is pretty suspect.

A 911 call was documented shortly after 11 am.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Heads up: violent attack on an Amtrak passenger resulting in head injuries on a Sunday morning, be alert, even with lots of people or security around

https://www.reddit.com/r/washdc/comments/16lgqsy/violent_attack_and_assault_today_sunday_september/

I’m not arguing that union station has had a steep decline, but I couldn’t find anything about this alleged attack on local news sites, which is pretty suspect.

News interview with victim https://twitter.com/AllisonPapson/status/1703959538582302821?s=20

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

I was in the new train station in nyc and it is beautiful and clean and I did not see any homeless people sleeping there. I wonder if they have a law or rules for new station?

And everyone has to sit on the floor, and you have to walk half a mile to get to the actual train, but hey, no homeless people!

That’s how Penn Station always was. You can also wait at the secret entrances below to get on the train before everyone else. No, I won’t tell you where they are.

No, Penn Station used to have furniture for sitting on. The new (underground) Penn Station, I mean. The old Penn Station did too, but I didn't witness it personally, because I wasn't born. The Moynihan Train Hall is lovely and full of light, but it's ridiculous to have nothing but the floor for people to sit on.

I'm not interested in your secret entrances. That's ridiculous too.

Its to deter the homeless from sleeping there

I was there recently and was shocked by this. I was tired and couldn't believe there was nowhere to sit. Luckily I could change my ticket and take an earlier train.

That is quite the tradeoff, depressing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

So much for the ‘it never happened’ bridage

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

So much for the ‘it never happened’ bridage

Brigade….

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Heads up: violent attack on an Amtrak passenger resulting in head injuries on a Sunday morning, be alert, even with lots of people or security around

https://www.reddit.com/r/washdc/comments/16lgqsy/violent_attack_and_assault_today_sunday_september/

I’m not arguing that union station has had a steep decline, but I couldn’t find anything about this alleged attack on local news sites, which is pretty suspect.

The victim of the alleged attack was interviewed on the news last night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ironically the Philly Amtrak station only has a couple homeless people, if that.

Maybe inside. Last time I was near the Philly Amtrak station, pre-COVID, the neighborhood was sketchy as hell.

20 years ago?

I doubt PP has ever been in a city if she thinks the neighborhood around 30th St Station is "sketchy as hell" pre-Covid! It had massively improved from what it used to be!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

I was in the new train station in nyc and it is beautiful and clean and I did not see any homeless people sleeping there. I wonder if they have a law or rules for new station?

We were just there too. You needed to show a ticket to access the waiting area with all the benches. I didn't see any seating where you access all the platforms. Union Station should follow that model.

the sketchy areas of the station are the retail areas - the downstairs food court and section with the chipotle. the seating areas by the gates are pretty well controlled.

I used to never go to the food court bathrooms alone because of how sketchy it was, but I was there recently on a Friday morning (and dragged my DH down to the bathroom with me) and it was totally fine. No shady characters and very few homeless. Though I assume the problem isn't actually taken care of and police are just shuffling them around the station to give the illusion of doing something.