Union Station (Pittsburgh) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Union Station Pittsburgh, PA
Amtrak inter-city rail station
Location	1100 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania United States
Coordinates	40°26′41.1″N 79°59′31.7″W / 40.444750°N 79.992139°W / 40.444750; -79.992139
Owned by	Amtrak
Line(s)	Keystone Corridor (Pittsburgh Line) Fort Wayne Line
Platforms	3 + 1 disused
Tracks	2 + 3 disused
Connections	East Busway at Penn Station Greyhound Lines at Grant Street Transportation Center Fullington Trailways at Grant Street Transportation Center
Construction
Bicycle facilities	Yes
Disabled access	Yes
Architect	D.H. Burnham & Company
Architectural style	Beaux Arts
Other information
Station code	PGH
History
Opened	1903
Rebuilt	1954, 1988
Electrified	No
Traffic
Passengers (FY 2017)	145,362  0.4%
Services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station Alliance toward Chicago Capitol Limited Connellsville toward Washington, D.C. Terminus Pennsylvanian Greensburg toward New York
Former services Preceding station Amtrak Following station Alliance toward Chicago Pennsylvanian 1998–2003 Greensburg toward Philadelphia Youngstown 1996–2005 toward Chicago Three Rivers 1995–2005 Greensburg toward New York Youngstown 1990–1995 toward Chicago Broadway Limited Greensburg toward Philadelphia Canton 1971–1990 toward Chicago Columbus toward Kansas City National Limited Wilkinsburg toward New York or Washington, D.C. Terminus Fort Pitt Pitcairn toward Altoona Preceding station Conrail Following station Terminus Parkway Limited Wilkinsburg toward Greensburg Preceding station Pennsylvania Railroad Following station Alliance toward Chicago Main Line East Liberty toward New York or Exchange Place Federal Street toward Chicago Terminus North Trafford Line Shadyside toward North Trafford Carnegie toward Columbus Columbus – Pittsburgh Terminus Terminus Pittsburgh – Oil City East Liberty toward Oil City Kittanning Local East Liberty toward Kittanning Federal Street toward Toledo Toledo – Pittsburgh Terminus Federal Street toward Erie Erie – Pittsburgh Federal Street toward Enon Enon – Pittsburgh Federal Street toward Cleveland Cleveland – Pittsburgh Fourth Avenue toward Washington Chartiers Branch Fourth Avenue toward Wheeling Wheeling – Pittsburgh Fourth Avenue toward Brownsville Monongahela Division
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Official name	Rotunda of the Pennsylvania Railroad Station
Designated	April 11, 1973
Reference no.	73001587
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Official name	Pennsylvania Railroad Station
Designated	April 22, 1976
Reference no.	76001597
Pittsburgh Landmark — PHLF
Official name	Pennsylvania Railroad Station Rotunda
Designated	1991
Pittsburgh Landmark — PHLF
Official name	The Pennsylvanian (Union Station)
Designated	2003

Union Station is a famous train station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is also known as Pennsylvania Station or Penn Station. This historic building is located at Grant Street and Liberty Avenue, near the Allegheny River. It was one of several passenger rail stations in Pittsburgh during the 1900s. Today, it is the only one still in use.

History of Union Station

The current Union Station replaced an older station that was destroyed in 1877. This station was built for the Pennsylvania Railroad and its smaller lines. It was renamed "Pennsylvania Station" in 1912 to match other stations with that name.

Unlike some "union stations" that serve many different railroads, this one mainly served the Pennsylvania Railroad. Other major train companies used different stations in Pittsburgh. For example, the New York Central Railroad used the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad Station.

The station was designed by a famous architect named Daniel Burnham. It was built between 1898 and 1904. The building uses grayish-brown terra cotta and brick. Its most amazing part is the large round hall called the rotunda. This rotunda once allowed horse-drawn carriages to turn around inside. Above, it served as a grand waiting room for passengers. The rotunda is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Train service at the station began on October 12, 1901.

In 1954, the Pennsylvania Railroad announced a $3.6 million plan to expand and update the station. Until the early 1970s, the station was a very busy stop for many important trains. These included the Broadway Limited and the Spirit of St. Louis.

By the late 1970s, the station complex was considered for other uses. There were ideas to turn it into a federal office building, a new city hall, or even apartments for seniors. Amtrak wanted it to stay a train station and rail offices.

A big renovation of Union Station started in 1986. The office tower part of the building was turned into apartments. This section is now called The Pennsylvanian. It opened for residents on May 23, 1988. The main hall, which used to be open to everyone, is now a lobby for businesses. The rotunda, where carriages once turned, is now closed to cars. Modern vehicles are too heavy for its old brick surface.

Station Design

In 1978, art critic Brendan Gill called Pittsburgh's Penn Station "one of the great pieces of Beaux-Arts architecture in America." This means it's a very important example of a beautiful and grand style of building.

Current Train Services

Union Station is still an active train station today. Passengers use a special entrance on the Liberty Avenue side of the building. It is the end point for Amtrak's Pennsylvanian route. It is also a stop on the Capitol Limited route.

Until 2005, Pittsburgh had a third daily train called the Three Rivers. This train went all the way to Chicago. When it was canceled, it was the first time Pittsburgh had only two daily passenger trains.

The station's special code for Amtrak is PGH.

In March 2020, the Pennsylvanian train service was stopped for a while because of the coronavirus pandemic. However, it started running again with limited seating on June 1, 2020.

Bus Rapid Transit at Penn Station

Penn Station
East Busway buses in front of Union Station
Coordinates	40°26′38″N 79°59′30″W / 40.4438°N 79.9918°W / 40.4438; -79.9918
Owned by	Port Authority
Line(s)	East Busway
Platforms	2 side platforms
Tracks	2
Construction
Structure type	at-grade
History
Opened	May 12, 1988
Closed	September 2, 2007
Traffic
Passengers (2018)	634 (weekday boardings)
Services
Preceding station Port Authority of Allegheny County Following station Terminus East Busway Herron toward Swissvale Shuttle Special events Steel Plaza Terminus
Former services Preceding station Port Authority of Allegheny County Following station Terminus 42 South Hills Village via Beechview Steel Plaza toward South Hills Village

The Port Authority runs a bus rapid transit station here. It is part of the East Busway line.

The station used to have light rail service to Steel Plaza. This service connected the downtown subway to the East Busway. However, it was hard to use because it went through an old, single-track tunnel. This tunnel goes under the U.S. Steel Tower. The building's supports are on each side of the tunnel, so a second track could not be added.

Even though the station is still listed as part of the Red Line subway, it has not had regular service since 1993. The station is still used sometimes for special events or when other routes are changed.

Bus Connections

Many local and regional buses connect at or near Union Station.

Port Authority Bus Connections

• 1 - Freeport Road
• 11 - Fineview
• 39 - Brookline
• 40 - Mount Washington
• 44 - Knoxville
• P1 - East Busway All Stops
• P2 - East Busway Short
• P7 - McKeesport Flyer
• P10 - Allegheny Valley Flyer
• P12 - Holiday Park Flyer
• P13 - Mount Royal Flyer
• P16 - Penn Hills Flyer
• P17 - Lincoln Park Flyer
• P67 - Monroeville Flyer
• P68 - Braddock Hills Flyer
• P69 - Trafford Flyer
• P71 - Swissvale Flyer
• P78 - Oakmont Flyer

Other Bus Connections

• Beaver County Transit Authority Route 1
• Butler Transit Authority
• Fayette Area Coordinated Transportation Commuter
• New Castle Area Transit Authority Route 71
• Washington City Transit Washington-Pittsburgh
• Westmoreland County Transit Authority All Pittsburgh Routes except Route 4

Intercity Bus Connections

The Grant Street Transportation Center is located across the street from Union Station. It serves as a station for long-distance buses.

• Greyhound
• Fullington Trailways
• Mountain Line Transit Authority
• Mid Mon Valley Transit Authority Commuter A

Images for kids

• 

  The rotunda

• 

  Center of the rotunda

• 

  Union Station, around 1910

• 

  The East Busway station near the railroad building.

• 

  The T station, which has not had regular service since 1993.

• 

  Union Station in 1875

• 

  A Pennsylvania Railroad train at Pittsburgh Union Station, March 31, 1968.

• 

  Penn Central's Spirit of St. Louis train in July 1970.