Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge

We came early before our overnight train to New Orleans. Though we didn’t see signs for the lounge inside the main hall, we were directed to the “Red Cap” people which did have a big sign on one pillar. They lead you to an elevator for access to the lounge and instructed us to check in when we entered. We showed our sleeper car ticket and were told that someone would come get us 15 minutes before departure. The first thing we noticed in the lounge was the excessive heat, but otherwise it was pleasant. The lounge covers a long hall with several seating areas, tables, and counters looking out over the station. A couple desks with printing and computers were set up for business activities. Bathrooms with two stalls were available. The Metropolitan Lounge has a refreshments station with packaged snacks like beef jerky, chips, fruit bars, pretzels, nuts, and Kind bars. (I read that there would be Tasty Cakes but not this time. There were refrigerated mini water bottles, La Croix, and soda as well as a coffee machine with hot chocolate and tea options. There is a mini “conference room” for 6-8 people with windows separating it from the rest of the lounge space. However, there’s no ceiling on the conference room so sound carries in and out. On Friday afternoon, the lounge was fairly quiet with just a handful of people until it got closer to our Crescent train arrival. Train departure announcements were made on an intercom and displayed on a screen. We made the mistake of leaving as soon as we heard our train announcement. Other passengers waited for the Red Cap person and were escorted down the elevator directly onto our train platform. P.S. To see our detailed review and video tour of the Amtrak lounge as well as our roomette from Philadelphia to New Orleans, do a web search for Intentional Travelers Amtrak to find our blog post.

A great place to go to if you need to catch a commuter rail or transit. It's very safe. There's always law enforcement that's around for the most part. You think that it would be sketchy but it's not at all. There is a lot of activities going on outside of the Amtrak station like the front porch and the Schuylkill River transit center by SEPTA. There happens to be plenty of artwork and very interesting at that to check out while you're inside or waiting for your commute to departure from the station. There's a very calming atmosphere that's inside the Amtrak station in this particular one at that, if I have to catch a Amtrak or SEPTA either two or from downtown Philly this is my go-to option. It's easy to connect to other transportation, commuter rails, and options from this particular location, and I can tell that it's an important landmark to the city as well. After giving it a visit and experience for it yourself, you'll most likely agree.

This is a waiting area for Amtrak customers who meet eligibility, in our case we were traveling in a roomette. They have complimentary soft drinks and snacks and a comfortable place to sit. The attendant puts you on an elevator for priority boarding.

Food Court is closed for renovations. Only Dunkin Donuts is open.

Standard lounge offering for Amtrak with a nice high view of the interior of the station. Friendly service with direct elevator access to the platform.