Quote:
Originally Posted by iamrobk
Admittedly I haven't spent a ton of time at 30th Street Station recently (I think the last time I was there was last June/July to pick up a rental car) but I didn't even think it needed a thorough renovation of any kind. I guess the areas outside of the main hallway/waiting area need some work?
Ultimately I can't complain, though.
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About 6 years ago, the exterior of 30th Street Station was refurbished (brick pointing etc..) landscaping, louge areas, signage, lighting etc.. So I am assuming the interior? I worked there for many years (conductor & ticket agent for Amtrak) and if I remember right, the interior was renovated in the 90's. The interior was cleaned and painted, ceiling in the concouse was restored which was full of soot from the diesel locomotives underneath. The smoke comes up through the stairways to the tracks. I believe the benches (oak wood?) are original and were restored, bathrooms renovated, updated the shopping area and new signage. That's been about 20 years or so... so I guess it's due for another renovation. I can see that the stone tile floors in the main concourse needs replacing, many of the tiles are cracked.
As a former employee, I've been to many Amtrak train stations, 30th Street is the awesome beauty. I loved to see the look on the first time passengers faces when they arrive in Philadelphia coming up from below off the trains with their mouths agape, they do a slow 360 degree turn as their anxiety subsides. The layout is simple and straight forward, this has a calming affect for passengers. You can see what track you need to go from a distance because of minimal clutter and the wide open space. Signage is clear and large. The information desk is dead center along with exits and taxis on either end. New York Penn Station was a maze of confusion, It's low ceilings, crammed with herds of people like their going through cattle shoots. It gives a "oh no where am I going!" affect. Union Station in D.C. is beautiful but does need design improvement. Baltimore is tiny, nothing worth comparing, same for Newark and Trenton. Boston and Chicago are so, so...I could go on and on but you get the picture. The stations in between are no where near the size and splendor of 30th Street station.
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