The Trump administration is taking control of Union Station away from Amtrak, with the U.S. Department of Transportation unveiling plans on Wednesday that they say will modernize the station. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the takeover alongside Amtrak President Roger Harris at Union Station for the launch of the American-built NextGen Acela high-speed trains, which serve passengers traveling between Washington, New York, Boston, and cities along the route.
In a press release, the DOT said the agency intends to “maximize Union Station’s commercial potential, with the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation managing operations, so that revenue can be reinvested back into the facility.” According to the announcement, the station is in need of extensive upgrades, including repairs to elevators, lighting, and security systems, along with replacing the roof and other critical infrastructure. Passenger amenities are also expected to see improvements.
Duffy said in a video posted to X: “We think we can manage the property better. Bring in more tenants. Bring in more revenue. And that revenue is going to allow us to make investments in this beautiful building.” Duffy argued that the station has suffered from decades of neglect. “It’s showing its age,” he said, adding that the administration’s goal is to transform Union Station into not only the top rail hub in the U.S., but one of the finest train stations worldwide.
The DOT noted that while the federal government has owned Union Station since the 1980s, its oversight has been weakened over time by leases and management contracts. Officials also criticized the site’s current condition, claiming it has “fallen into disrepair” and is “seen more as a gathering place for vagrancy than as a thriving center for travel and business.” Amtrak assumed control of the retail areas through eminent domain last year, and since then new businesses have opened and the commercial side of the property has seen growth.
Deputy Transportation Secretary Steve Bradbury emphasized that Amtrak’s ownership gives the federal government greater ability to move the project forward: “We have a great advantage in the fact that it’s owned by Amtrak. We have the ability to really take control of the project and really push it forward on ‘Trump time,’ if you will.”
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