The audience had their first glimpse inside the new Penn Station train room in the historic Farley office building during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday.
Moynihan Train Hall, which officially opens on Friday, has a $ 1.6 billion illuminated waiting area, which will serve as a hub for Amtrak and the Long Island Railroad, alongside 700,000 square feet of commercial and dining space.
Inside, travelers have access to the massive open room (with escalator connections to Penn Station platforms), as well as a private waiting area with seating for guests with entry.
The magnificent atmosphere of the train room provides a stark contrast to the current Penn Station, which consists of dimly lit cavernous underground tunnels that Governor Andrew Cuomo once compared to Dante’s “Inferno.”
“We built it as a statement of who we are and who we believe we are and who we aspire to be,” Cuomo said when he opened the room.
“It’s bold, yes, because that’s the spirit of New York and that’s the statement we want to make to our visitors, our children, and future generations.”
In addition to the 92-foot-tall skylight, Moynihan features installations by artists Kehinde Wiley, Stan Douglas and Elmgreen & Dragset.
Wiley’s piece is a trio of stained glass images showing breakdancing against a blue sky background, while art duo Elmgreen & Dragset brought a model of upside-down skyscrapers hanging from the ceiling.
Dining options and shopping at Moynihan include Magnolia Bakery, H&H Bagels, Starbucks, Damselfly Flower and luxury greeting card seller Lovepop.
Penn Station was built in the 1960s after the so malignant destruction of its Beaux-Arts predecessor.
The new space is named after the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, who prepared the idea of changing the post office building for public transportation in the 1990s.
However, construction of the train lobby has been slow, with multiple potholes on the road since Moynihan first came up with the idea. Amtrak joined the idea in 2009, and the project finally started on the ground the following year.
“One of the first missions that Senator Moynihan gave me when he retired was to make sure Penn Station was renovated,” said Senator Chuck Schumer, who served in the Senate with Moynihan for two years.
“When I suggested the station be named by him, I knew the result would be something I would be proud of.”