Amtrak Station New Orleans

I love Amtrak! I wish we had more lines and trains because I would take it every chance I get! I got a sleeping car for the first time and it was so worth it! A nine and a half hour train ride felt like only a short trip with the meal services and comfy rides. I can’t wait for my next trip!

1st time on Amtrack New orleans station staff very helpful. We got a roomette on the superliner train and loved our whole journey

When I say the bus took a whole new route and I was running to get to the train station .....I was tired sweating and had luggage...3 min before they left the conductor told me to slow down asked me where I was going and allowed me to still travel... I greatly appreciate that so much ...It was my birthday and I was headed to see my mother and grandma for a little while...THANK YOU SO MUCH ...

Great experience. Staff were friendly. Long train ride from Birmingham alabama to New orleans Louisiana. Worth it for the experience.

Other than one snooty redhead on our train back to Mobile it was a wonderful experience. We will definitely be going again on the train.

Big Big Shouts out to Mr Claude and the 2nd line Queen! My wife's first experience in a roomette was great. They gave us history of the lake coming in, list or restaurants, and museums to check out. Ever met a stranger that makes you feel like family? That's them! I damn near wanna go back just because of them two. Lol That's how good the experience was. Can't thank them enough. From NC to NO nothing but love ♥️💛💚

Amtrak serves New Orleans via the New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal, which is a stop on four different train routes. New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal Address: 1001 Loyola Ave., New Orleans, LA 70113 Neighborhood: Central Business District/Downtown Accessibility: The station is wheelchair accessible and includes assistive hearing loops. Amtrak routes to New Orleans Crescent: This daily service connects New Orleans with New York City, with stops in major cities including Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington D.C., Charlotte, Atlanta, and Birmingham. City of New Orleans: Also a daily service, this train links New Orleans with Chicago. The route passes through the musical heritage heartland of the U.S., with stops in Memphis and other towns in Illinois and Mississippi. Sunset Limited: This train runs three times per week and offers service to Los Angeles. The route includes stops in Houston, San Antonio, and Tucson. Mardi Gras Service: This new service began in August 2025 and runs twice daily between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama. Stops include towns along the Gulf Coast, such as Pascagoula and Bay St. Louis. Onboard services Services vary by train route but can include: Accommodations: Private rooms are available on some routes for added comfort. Dining: Trains offer different dining options, from traditional meals to informal café service. Checked Baggage: Most routes serving New Orleans offer checked baggage service. WiFi: Some trains provide complimentary WiFi. Pet Program: Pets are permitted on select routes.

Nice clean station, conveniently located, with a friendly staff

Years ago, I'd travel by bus across the country during my backpacking days. There were so many great stations that were architecturally accessible and meant to enhance the traveler experience. Those days are almost gone as buildings and properties are sold off while bus passengers increasingly have to wait in sketchy indoor conditions... if there is an indoors at all. Fortunately, the New Orleans passenger terminal waiting area remains a brilliant environment. Gleaming marble abounds and the original 1950s fresco murals remain. The 120 foot long images depict the history of the area. There is art all over the city. You'd be remiss not to visit the bus station for some of the best art on display every day.

I traveled to New Orleans on the Flix bus and this was the station they use. This may be the only time that I was inside Union Passenger Terminal although it has been here since I was a child. Back in the day, this is where e the trains came in and still do today as well as the Flix Bus. I found this place much nicer than I anticipated. There is a multitude of seating, ticketing counters, a subway and bathroom accommodations. I wasn't here very long just came in and caught an Uber. It seemed to have a little bustle to it but not much else.

I took the train from New Orleans to Jackson, MS as to not have to worry about parking while I was there. The terminal has a very detailed mural inside that's well, jarring. The employees are friendly and there is a police presence so you can feel safe. The bathrooms are just what you'd expect, similar to an aircraft. Boarding is easy and the trains are spacious, plenty of room for your feet and overhead space for a carry on. You also have a place to charge your device at your seat. The dining car is where you will find snacks hot and cold. The windows in the dining car provide beautiful views as you travel from town to town. Taking the train with a group of friends can be great fun and it allows you to time to rest and recover. Leave the driving to Amtrak!

Nice train station and it's bigger than Houston's station which was shocking. Lots of cool art on the walls. There were a lot of people outside summoning for us as taxi drivers.

Check in was orderly and smoothly. But, please, please, for the love of God. Please show up and least 1 hour before boarding (me 2 hours) or your stuff will be on the next available train.

Staff not helpful. Train was late yet would not let us check bags. Staff nearly hostile when we explained assistance we needed (oncology patient) post op and needed assistance as medical supplies needed a strong back to get to cabin. aAmtrak notADA compliant. Musk will have a field day on his audit here!

I missed my bus in late March , and was so upset, didn't know what to do. The lady there that morning was so good to me,she knew I had missed it right off and was able to get a another ticket. Only prom it was 24 hours later.. Everyone on their staff that day and night were so kind , and great at their jobs. The New Orleans bus station is so clean, and well run, showing the style of 'The Big Easy" and reminded me why they are known for that. They make it all look like it was big and easy, and smooth. I'm grateful I was with them all night. Security was top notch, done soft and easy, but, effective. I felt safe all night.

I hadn't been in the passenger terminal in a bit... normally I'm here picking up friends who have taken a bus or a train into New Orleans and now it's also where you catch the megabus in/out of the city. I recently opted to take a bus to a nearby city rather than drive (and got complemented on my environmentalism, ha!) Still love the vintage murals. There's a snackshop and fast good place. And it's great for people watching. My friend who came to get me was able to park out front with no problem and all and all it was an easy stress free trip.

This review is in regards to RTA bus to airport. No signs outside to identify where the bus stop is. Had to ask someone inside where bus bay 2, listed as pickup spot on Jazzy app, was. Even though they worked there they had never heard it referred to that way. They walked me outside to point out the location. Multiple homeless people sleeping around the station. Someone who obviously never has taken a bus decided to install decorative colored lighting rather that incandescent. Totally useless for lighting and promotes mugging. Also assumed this person didn't want to disturb the homeless sleeping at the station as the lighting shouldn't disturb their sleep. Airport bus was relatively uneventful. Arrived 15 minutes late but made my flight in plenty of time for only $1.25.

The train travel is nice, but handicap assistance falls short. The last two trips arriving in New Orleans I requested assistance to the terminal and was left to fend for myself. The cart came by to pick me up to ride but was already full and they never come back. I was left standing until no one was around and almost couldn't make it to the terminal. No one even checks back to see if anyone is left outside. I am hesitant to ride again.

Clean and orderly station, a pleasure to pass through on way home to NYC. Staff was very helpful and friendly. Enjoyed the Amtrak Magnolia room while waiting for the Crescent to board.

Interesting terminal for bus (Greyhound and Megabus) and train (Amtrak) transportation. A 120-foot long mural of Louisiana and New Orleans history painted by Conrad A. Albrizio dominates the lobby. It was restored after Hurricane Katrina. Interesting Facts-- After Hurricane Katrina, Amtrak was the first commercial provider to operate transportation out of New Orleans from this terminal. A temporary jail, nicknamed "Camp Greyhound," was housed at this bus station during the recovery efforts.

Visited to ride the Polar Express. Terminal was bright and clean. They have an area set up just for Polar Express riders with Christmas trees, lots of little photo spots and a craft area. Staff members were friendly and check in was quick and efficient. Terminal itself is really neat, lots of marble and mosaics. Cool place to start or end a trip.

Literally just stepped out the door and was asked if I wanted some crack. Nice train though, the bathrooms were full /closed the first 2 hours so we all had to use 1 bathroom.

I went here to pick up a family member and the first thing I noticed was that this area is very sketchy. I parked at the nearby parking lot and could only hope for the best while I was inside. If you're arriving, there are plenty of taxis outside of the main entrance. There were a lot of staff walking around and they all seemed to be very helpful to those who were waiting. The terminal is pretty decent, with a Subway, gift shop, ATM, vending machines and plenty of seating. You should have everything you need if you have a long wait.

I'm impressed with the offerings here, wished I would have taken pics to share but there are plenty in the biz page. Home to Amtrack, Megabus, and Greyhound. I considered taken the Sunset Limited home from New Orleans to San Antonio but the train doesn't run every day and it didn't run to SA on Sundays. Megabus brought me here and returned me back home. Night and day difference between NOUPT and the empty fenced in lot in SW SA where you find the Megabus 'terminal / station'. I do know at least a couple of years ago, Megabus did drop off on a sketchy corner of town in New Orleans which I am pleased to know has changed to NOUPT. I am no longer scared and I think I'll do it again... but then again, reading other reviews, maybe I should still be scared, lol. Here you will find food, a gift shop, and decent bathrooms. I saw pics of a special lounge for Amtrack sleeping car passengers so that is dually noted for future trips. New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal is a multi-use terminal and in this day and age, I believe it's a smart way to use the facility.

Very clean they have a subway inside and a little gift shop pay phones the works are very helpful

Spacious and nice, this station is shared by Amtrak and Greyhound. There's a nice little retail shop as well as Subway restaurant in the station. Both were open when we arrived around 8AM on a Saturday.

This is my second time here. The first time was in July to pickup my sweetheart returning from Massachusetts but today we are both getting ready to board the choo choo for Pittsburgh to visit my daughter (my other sweetie) It's a little rough getting here with all the construction, twists & turns, etc. plus the extended parking is $106 but overall a pretty nice terminal station. It's very large with several amenities including vending, subway and we are in the Magnolia Room for passengers that will be traveling in the sleeper cars. (More on sleepers later) This room has very comfy chairs and couches and has a fresh pot of complimentary coffee and bottled water. There's a TV on the wall with the travelers constant station CNN (no comment) and perfectly climate controlled. Plus they will come to the lounge about :35 min b4 departure for early boarding for sleeper cars, nice. Sure enough at 6:22am a very pleasant lady shows up and escorts to our train. We immediately boarded where we enjoyed some more complimentary coffee awaiting the trains departure. Overall a very nice experience that beats the heck out of an Ohaire & the TSA! Check-in is a breeze, simply show your e-ticket, check your bags and you are in your way in just a few minutes. No pat downs, x-rays or touchy feely crap! The parking is across the street (approx 300 yards) with a fenced lot, under the interstate with some huge rats running around for security. Bottom line: unlike Penn station in NY or some of the other nightmares this station is an absolute joy to depart & arrive. **** I would be remiss if I did not mention the terrible homeless crisis here. There are MANY tents under the interstate for miles and the occasion bench has people sleeping, plus in doorways and pretty much everywhere. I am not new to homelessness as I did regular homeless outreach on Boston in the 80's but we had to drive to very specific small areas, like behind the library or on the edges of the combat zone, to bring the food, blankets, etc. However here it is pervasive and everywhere. It is a very sad and unfortunate and everyone should make it a priority to address it.

On the rare occasion that a place that I am heading to doesn't have an airport - or in this case, the airline you want to fly with, doesn't fly to this destination. Case in point: Meridian, MS. I decided that it was in my best interest to take the train. I remember once that I have taken Amtrak only once before in my travels, but that was from Philadelphia - 30th Street station to Newark airport. This time around, it was from New Orleans Amtrak station to Meridian, MS on a chill November 2019 trip. I arrived here at this train station about 1 hour early for my trip to Meridian, MS, which was on time around 6am. We boarded around 6:40am and departure was on time. The train station here in New Orleans was quite large and functional for large groups and individuals who travel to and from New Orleans on a daily basis. I was amazed at how it wasn't just a simple bus outlet, but a complex building with simplicity that just screams wow. I did enjoy the décor though and the ambiance at 6am on a Friday was nice and quiet. Thankful that there are restroom facilities available. It helps if you use it prior to boarding the train, so you don't have to search for it on board, should you need it. Aside from that, its simplistic tough is basically everything here. They have a snack shop, but that's about it. Nothing much else here, although it's pretty cool to call an uber here to pick you up or drop you off here. I had to do that both times, coming to the Amtrak station on a Friday morning and leaving to head to Keener (airport area) on Sunday evening. The overall experience here at the New Orleans Amtrak station was fairly good. It was clean and easy to get in and out of the train terminal, since it's really one big hall. Its not like an airport where it gets confusing or congested, although maybe sometimes during the day, it may be. I happened to depart here early in the morning and arrive back here late at night, so fighting the crowds wasn't a problem. I did enjoy the quiet and subdued ambiance of the morning I arrived here. I ended up rushing out of the Amtrak terminal as soon as I arrived back in New Orleans, so it was nice to get out without having to get through a line. The only thing that's interesting about the Amtrak terminal in New Orleans is the fact there is really no security screening, as there is in airports around the United States. It's a little bit concerning that this is how it is here, but as long as nothing happens with our nation's trains, we should be okay. With that said, the New Orleans Amtrak terminal is located at 1001 Loyola Avenue in downtown New Orleans. You can walk into the terminal free of charge and hang out, but if you want to leave anywhere on a train, a fee is accessed. Uber and Lyft come here on a daily basis, so it's awesome to get dropped off or getting picked up here before or after your journey on Amtrak. For the most part though, my experience here at the New Orleans Amtrak terminal was short and sweet. It's best that you'd come about an hour before departure time, just so you can get settled and relaxed. Streetcar routes 12 and 49 comes really close here to the Amtrak terminal though, just need to connect here after you've reached the downtown area on your first leg on the city bus and you may need to walk a bit too. It's quite cool to have Amtrak buzz through the city of New Orleans and have an alternative way to travel versus flying. Depending on where you are going, it may be significantly cheaper or more expensive than air travel. Just need to decide on what's the best for you. It was nice that there is ample places to sit down while waiting for your train here at the Amtrak terminal. It was nice to be able to bring food and drink on the train, which was a good plus. During my 1 hour wait for my train to Meridian, MS, I did some people watching and it was nice to see people ride the train even though the commute takes twice as long. Recommended if you want the alternative to air travel and passing through New Orleans. 4.0 stars for the overall experience. 4.0 stars for the cleanliness and the restroom facilities. Not sure about whether or not they have public wifi. Support local! B

I just had a train ride from Memphis to New Orleans this past week and it was an amazing ride. I love the slowness of the ride, being able to enjoy the amenities and perks of the train & still being able to sightsee as you go (without having to drive 6 hours yourself). The only thing I would recommend is at the close end of the train ride and people are wanting food or beverages, there should be more than one attendant to assist with those passengers because I stood in line 30 to 40 minutes waiting because the other attendant had to come cancel a transaction and was nowhere in sight. After the third time of being asked where the attendant was, I took it upon myself to go upstairs, found another attendant just so they could find the person that was needed. However, once the attendant came to cancel the transaction at the time, they just stood back & looked as that one person tended to a line of 10 people on there own when we were almost at our destination station. However, overall my train ride was peaceful (because I slept for 5 hours of it ), I got some business things done and I was able to enjoy the view of different cities on the way.

I'll be honest and say that my only dealing here are because I walk over to go to the Subway store, which is located inside the terminal. However, I've always been fascinated by train stations and this one has a certain charm about it. I will definitely take a train ride out of here soon, as it is now on my "bucket list". I will say that the terminal employees that I have come into contact with have always been pleasant, and that's a good start.

Had to wait here for my greyhound back to Houston after leaving Mardi Gras. It's very spacious and pretty clean, but why the low rating? Because the security people are assholes. Our bus was delayed two hours because we couldn't find a driver. Let's be honest, when you're in New Orleans, you're there to drink and party. After partying you'd expect people to be tired after everything especially on their way home. Well, some of the patrons fell asleep in the chairs and security started harassing them about sleeping. Dude. Our bus is delayed, we kept being told that we'll get a driver soon, and you're going to mess with people who got there early and needed a couple Z's? That's pretty terrible. You can't sit in any chairs but your designated area apparently. Like if you're with greyhound then you can sit with Amtrak or mega bus people or they'll tel l you to move away.

The FlixBus stops right along the parking lot on the corner of Loyola and Julia for both drop off and pick up.

The birth place of jazz. When I was very little, my mama and papa brought us here on the way to Mobile (when Mobile had a train stop). We weren't allowed to get off the train, but I was so happy when my papa brought back cute tees for us. Mine was a pink one that read "New Orleans, The Birth Place of Jazz" with beautifully printed saxophones, trumpets, and band players. That was my last memory here before 2013, and probably influenced my decision to play clarinet and saxophone many years later. Fast forward to September 2013. Old enough to decide to make New Orleans 15 hour stop before catching a bus to Mobile, I was practically running off the train to finally experience NOLA. New Orleans Passenger Terminal houses the Sunset Limited, Crescent and City of New Orleans Amtrak lines as well as a few Greyhound bus lines. It is located minutes from shopping, bars, and restaurants. Unlike many major train and bus terminals, New Orleans is pretty clean and shocking free of non passenger people just hanging around. There are beautiful posters and paintings around the terminal. On my return trip I spent some time looking about and taking pictures. The station is also secure with nice yet strict security guards. I was followed by some street person into the terminal. Being aware of the situation I walked straight into a restroom where he could not follow. Outside I heard, not seconds later, a woman guard inquiring as to his purpose at the station which lead her to escort him out fairly quickly. Very nice! I think there were 2 food options, one being a Subway. However with all the fabulous New Orleans eats within minutes of the station, I wouldn't choose to dine here anyway. There is also a pretty pricey gift shop, which again I wouldn't use unless you don't have time to venture off into the city. Until the next time...

I love the taking the train, it is my favorite way of travel. This particular Amtrak station is conjoined with The greyhound bus company so you have both stations in one. Although I would recommend staying away from the greyhound side! This station has a subway restaurant, a gift shop and an arcade. Other than that not very much else in here. Other things about this particular train station includes a RTA bus stop and a street car line that goes from the train station all the way down to the river front. If you don't have patience to wait on the bus or street car they also have taxi cabs waiting out front itching to pick up new fares. The customer service here is pretty good. The Amtrak employees are very friendly to passengers. They have always been polite and courteous to me every time I took the train. In short if you are looking for a mode of travel this is one best ways to go. Also this particular station is alright in my book.

WOW! That was easy! Amtrack & Greyhound housed in the same facility!! Whoohoo high five to Amtrack & Greyhound for making public transportation easily accessible in New Orleans. Now if only other Amtrack and Greyhound facilities could emulate this facility I would take the train and bus more often! (Ummm... Atlanta Amtrack B-)) This station was approximately two miles away from the French Quarters. There are taxi cabs you can easily take to your hotel or final destination in New Orleans. If your headed to the French Quarters, expect to pay anywhere from $10 - $15. Note that some taxi cabs do not start their meter so ask how much they will charge. If you don't want to deal with this, I suggest using Uber as a secondary form of transportation. Overall good experience with the facility and the staff was friendly and helpful!

A pleasant train station. Bigger than the ones I'm used to, but not quite as swanky as, say, Penn Station or Washington, DC's Union Station, the NOUPT is a comfortable place to wait for an upcoming train ride. There's plenty of seating, a small lounge for sleeper car passengers, Subway subs, and pizza. We bought an acceptably-priced deck of playing cards from an amusing gift shop that had all sorts of amusing hand-written notices from the management (e.g., "Nothing here is free. Please don't ask.) The folks at the ticket counter were friendly and helped us get up to speed with our first overnight train ride. This terminal made for a very pleasant start to our trip.

It's a train station, like a bus station...but they keep it clean. The train is fun to take the kids on and the porters are very nice. Nothing fancy, just fun. We had a great ride down from Memphis but the ride back we had a porter that was horrible and our train was delayed an hour. Makes it tough to drive home several hours when the train is already an hour late.

We arrived to pick up our kids from the train. Their train was delayed and didn't arrive until midnight. Clean waiting area with chairs. Bathrooms were open and open. Security guard on site. Everyone we met was friendly... the staff, the cab drivers, even a couple of homeless that were sitting in the parking lot

Amtrak , has a simple mandate, to reach people in how to relive the romance of trains. The passenger terminal, needed some historic decor. All the pinball machines where broken. The restaurants, had little choice and over priced. The toilets where dirty and creepy. A little more effort please.

For the price, it was well worth it! It seems like they would have more security but the train was nice. Only thing that was disappointing is that there was no one to help me carry my 6 month son's stroller up the stairs.

Compared to the Atlanta Greyhound and Mobile Greyhound stations, this place was an oasis. While both of those other ports of stop aren't cleaned regularly (empty soap dispensers, overflowing bloody pads in the bathrooms, not enough space to even sit), this place is clean, polished, and honestly had me gawking for a few minutes in surprise like an idiot. The ceilings are higher, the space is more open, and it's just brighter and better smelling than either of those other stations. I don't think I would be rating this one so high if I hadn't just come from two other less than stellar stations. Let's just say they set the bar pretty low. In addition to being spacious and clean, there was also some neat graffiti painted on the walls and even a few food options. Nothing I'd eat while being in this lovely city, but definitely a nice option for those who are stuck here between transfer points. If you'd seen the debacles of the Atlanta station with its peeling paint, crammed interior, and proximity to a strip club, and Mobile's 30 seat capacity (a Greyhound bus can fit 50 people... they didn't even have enough space for a single bus!), then you'd probably also find this place a lovely stop for sore eyes. It was an easy 40ish minute walk to my airbnb, too, which made it an ideal drop off point from the bus station to the FQ and such.

This train station has more space and amenities than most. I wanted to thank Willie Johnson on the Amtrak NOLA to NYC route. He took extra time and made effort to answer our questions and help us out. This train ride was enjoyable and we'll do it again.

We had our car broken into in front of a hotel in Baton Rogue back in December, so we were hesitant to leave our car parked in a New Orleans train station for 5 nights. Fortunately we were able to park in line of sight from the front door, and out car was just fine. You do have to pay to park. You will need to pay online using a smart phone with a camera (sorry Grandma!) The employees at the station were wonderful. We have a handicapped daughter, but we opted to check her wheelchair. They let us keep her wheelchair until it was time to board. This was extremely helpful as she is prone to panic attacks outside of her chair.

They have a premium lounge with snacks and coffee. Ah. It's not like united but super nice for Amtrak!

Recall: I love taking the train. I am an Amtrak junkie who logs 5,000+ rail miles every year. I'm all about the choo-choo adventure. This review has nothing to do with taking the train and everything to do with the weird, exciting old building that is the train station. The New Orleans train station is an old building that was built in a by-gone era of humanist architecture. It's been maintained, although there is some sort of building project going on inside right now that's resulted in shifting counters and temporary baggage areas. Everything is changing! Assume nothing! Like most cities, Amtrak and Greyhound share a building which means the clientele in Union Station is varying degrees of desperate. For every savvy traveler with a snappy pullman, there is another just-been-dumped dude with his stuff in a black garbage bag getting the bus to Texas. (And now I've got the song "All my exes live in Texas" stuck in my head. Ugh.) There are also a number of area workers who stop by for lunch at Subway. There is just no telling what sort of people-watching is available on any given day. The food options are so limited that I can't even consider eating at the terminal. Unless you are a true Subway junkie, bring something with you. I usually do. (My favorite to-go option is either the Rouses on Baronne or Trolley Stop on St. Charles.) When the station was built, I'm sure it was more accessible from the city. I'm sure getting to and from was easier. These days, the station is in a weird place in relationship to the city. Sure, you can take the St. Charles Streetcar and walk a few blocks up to get to the station...but doing that with luggage is a beast. (I do not recommend it unless your luggage is ultra portable.) There are a few NORTA bus lines that serve the station and a new trolley line, but I don't know anything about those because they don't help me get home. On the other hand, a taxi ride from the station to most of New Orleans proper is a flat fee of $10 + $1 per extra person. There are two character notes I want to add about the station: One: the mural around the ceiling is one of the weirdest murals I've ever seen. No one has normal knees. (Seriously. Stare at it for a while. No normal knees.) There is a lot of charm and even some artistic merit there with a touch of American Cubism, but I will forever have dreams of the weird knees. Shudder. Two: There is a freelance taxi-stand attendant out front. He is certainly not paid by the folks at Union Station, nor is he employed by any cab company. Nope, this guy shows up when trains arrive (which is only a few times a day) and hustles folks into cabs for tips. The cabbies HATE him because he infringes on their tips, and the station seems to ignore him. But really, what other city has a freelance taxi-stand attendant with such dedication? Accessibility notes: Automatic doors. High counters. No Braille signage. Pre-boarding and assistance are difficult to obtain.

This is dedicated to you, vile, evil, lazy greyhound bus line employee. This simply speaks to the greyhound customer service, not the aesthetics or offerings of the station itself. And as a review of a rarely discussions train station, this will probably be no more than hot air getting lost into the internet ether. But as a form of catharsis, let me say this: you are terrible at your job and an unsympathetic, cowardly human being! After already having had some big travel hiccups trying to head from New Orleans to Nashville when a friend could no longer drive me there, I decided to take a greyhound bus. I bought a ticket online for the 9:30 PM bus, which would take 14 hours (no problem, I'd be asleep through most of it) and get in the next afternoon. I arrive at the station at 9:13. Last bus of the night, next one leaves at 7:40 the next morning Why do I know that fairly arbitrary arrival date? Because when I walk to the ticket counter, the line had been roped off. An employee is behind the counter, idly clicking away on the computer while flirting with a Sheriff deputy, but the counter was closed down with a sign that said "Closed at 9:10" I move to the side of the line and wait for a bit for the employee and the deputy to stop chatting with each other (they clearly see me), but this doesn't happen and I finally have to interrupt them with an "excuse me." They both look annoyed that I'm there. Jesus Christ, how could I, a traveler in the bus station, need help from station employees. I explain that I bought my ticket online in the morning, i just need to have it printed out. Evil lady rolls her eyes, "we're closed." No, i explain, i don't need to buy a new one, it's bought, it just needs to actualize and i'll be out of here. "Not here, we're closed." I ask what time it is "9:14" You're kidding me, i said. It's important that i make it to Nashville tomorrow, I've made all kinds of arrangements, i say. These two jagoffs get angry at me. The greyhound employee rolls her eyes and looks at the deputy, all the while clicking away at the computer (THE COMPUTER, the same goddamn computer that will make all this go away. You TAUNT ME, keyboard clicks) and the deputy interrupts me in a 'you need to CALM DOWN or else' kind of tone and says some people that HAVE tickets might not even make it on the bus. I look at the line and there are maybe 20 people in line. Everybody will make it on the bus. But that's beside the point. I have a ticket! You just need to print it out for me! At least give me a SHOT! Let me be a contender. I say i'm sorry, i'm not trying to cause a scene here, but you're still here and the computer's clearly on and i just need my ticket so I can at least TRY to catch the bus. Evil lady snickers, "you can't be gettin no special rules," and i hear them chuckling as a I, flabbergasted, walk away. The next morning I tried to catch the 7:40 am bus (this time getting there at 6:30 am), but that was sold out. The next bus wouldn't get me in till 4 in the morning, and after a point I said f*ck it and bought a plane ticket. The 240 dollar non- bus ride. Perfect! I got into Nashville at 1:30, right around the time I would have if that strumpet had inconvenienced herself and done her job 4 minutes after the counter closed. There are moments in ones job when, with very little effort, one can either make someone's day or completely ruin it. This succubus was still behind the counter; the computer was still on, she was still working on it. There was no line of people behind me asking for favors as well. She was simply lazy and perhaps a little jaded and ruined my night. You hate your job, I get it, but it's your f*cking job. Do it. So thanks guys, thank you so much for such awesome customer service! Really made my night!

I am a big fan of trains; I have been all my life. This terminal has nothing special about it other than the fact that every time I've taken a train, someone has either tried to steal my stuff (The cops and ambulance ended up being called for him) or someone gets into a fight in the lobby (Probably from a botched attempt at stealing stuff). Other than that, it's just a dingy old building that pulls double duty as a train and Greyhound terminal.

For the longest time, I was baffled whenever I would see people wandering around this part of town pulling a suitcase behind them. Eventually, I figured out that there's a train and bus station here, which had to be the source of the confused looking travelers I frequently saw in the area. There is a train that goes from New Orleans to Lafayette (the Amtrak Sunset Limited) three times a week (Mon/Wed/Fri). It leaves at noon and it's $18 one way. It takes about three hours, a little bit longer than it'd take to drive, but the scenery is absolutely gorgeous, much prettier than the drive, which I wasn't expecting. And, really, you'd probably spend more on gas, since the tickets are super affordable. The people at the ticket counter were extremely nice, the one time I managed to actually make my train. (Pro tip: Trains are not like airplanes. They leave on time. Don't show up at 12:05 and expect the train to still be there.) Made me wish that air travel were even half as pleasant as dealing with the people at the train station. As I climbed aboard the train, I felt like I'd been transported to some magical Disneyland/Europe hybrid place, and that feeling stayed with me for pretty much the whole trip. As I mentioned, the scenery between here and Lafayette as seen from the train is absolutely gorgeous. I didn't realize that Louisiana was so beautiful. Nor did I realize that the train took such a different route than the interstate. Honestly, I wasn't expecting much of anything, so I was pleasantly surprised by the very pretty landscape along the way. Other than my moment of awe in climbing aboard the giant, silver train, I don't remember a ton about the train station. There didn't seem to be a ton of people around, everyone behind the ticket counter was friendly, and I didn't wait for long before climbing aboard. It was a great experience, and I'm looking forward to doing it again in the near future.

People really need to ride the train more. I've been to train and bus stations all over the country, and I must say this station has character. I particularly like how the Greyhound and Amtrak are in the same building. Man, is that a life saver. Normally Greyhound stations are in the creepiest areas of town, but this one isn't that bad located just behind the Superdome. It must be because of Amtrak. Good job, guys. This Amtrak station is an end zone for the Sunset Limited, City of New Orleans, and Crescent Lines. Before Katrina, the Sunset Limited ran all the way to Miami, but has since been discontinued past New Orleans. When I enter into this station, I feel safe and comfortable. The station is clean and is frequented by all classes of people. The staff is friendly enough and are very willing to help nice people who are friendly back. It's no Penn Station, but it's got old-timey charm just like the rest of it's city.

No complaints here (though I've never dealt with Greyhound, so this is Amtrak oriented). The station was clean upon my arrival and departure, the employees were friendly, and the service ran quickly and smoothly. There's a Subway (which I can't speak about, because I was eating my expensive Nola leftovers like a classy lady), some vending machines, clean and roomy bathrooms, and a cheesy but fun gift shop. There's technically no WiFi, but I picked up some from the Greyhound terminal. Baggage check was a breeze, and everyone was super nice. This is about the City of New Orleans line specifically - I rode down from Champaign, and the people running that line right now are incredible. Specifically "Mr. Charles," who's sweet, kind, and helpful. He single-handedly made my trip both ways very enjoyable. So I just wanted to put that in a review somewhere, in case Amtrak reads this...you should give him a raise!

.I don't know how I missed reviewing NOUPT since I absolutely LOVE taking the train when I travel. Now, I haven't visited a large number of train terminals but I can definitely say this one is pretty good. It's large and spacious with comfortable seats while you're waiting. The staff has always been friendly, even the security. Every time I've been there it's been clean which is probably a pretty big task considering the size of the place and the number of people that pass through daily. One of the big advantages to this terminal is the first class lounge. If you have a sleeper car on the train (and I always do) there is a small lounge room with coffee and a TV where you can wait away from the hustle and bustle of the main waiting area. And if you're traveling around Christmas (which I usually am) and taking a train before 8am (which I usually am) then a secluded quiet spot is a godsend.

Our friend Wilson, lives in Mobile and crew changes with the Pirate out of Morgan city.....A few times I have had to pick him up at the terminal so that he can meet his vessel and he always makes me laugh at his stories of the bus ride. This trip however, I was able to ask him about the terminal. He told me that this was one of the nicest terminals that he has ever been too (though I might argue that Union Station is Los Angeles is really beautiful, clean and full of amenities)....I can only go by my meager experience. I will say that it is always easy to get in and out of the loading area and on this trip I even double parked until Wilson emerged. Proximity to the expressway makes for a clean getaway and that's always a plus when picking up out of town guests....think I might have to give the train a try at least I know the terminal is nice.

The art deco in this place is wonderful, its like your going back in time to the 50's.

The train is such a great option when traveling New Orleans - Memphis - Chicago... The steward was courteous and well-trained. The ride was easy and swift. It is easy to meat people. I strongly recommend this route.

Okay, so this isn't really a review for the train station (although it was clean and not skeezy) but for the train trip experience as a whole. We took the Crescent line from NOLA to Washington DC, which ends up being roughly 25 hours with stops and such. Yes, it's only an 18 hour drive, BUT... it would take me longer than that because I can't be cooped up in a car for eighteen hours straight so we would have to grab a hotel around the halfway-ish mark. Or fly and deal with all that awful malarkey. OR... ... we could take a train and not worry about anything. Not worry about driving. Stopping for restroom breaks or lunch breaks. Having ten million things in the car with you to keep the kiddo entertained. Being too exhausted when you get there to enjoy your vacation, and so exhausted when you get back that you feel like you need a vacation. Seriously? I am SUCH a fan, and I was actually a little concerned going into the whole deal. It's a little pricey to get a bedroom, but so ridiculously recommended. There was plenty of space and legroom back in coach, and a lounge car where you could go hang out if you needed to, but having your own space is seriously amazing even if there's not a lot of it. You have comfy places to sit, to stretch out, to lay down even. Floor space for the kid to play with legos. And depending on the room, you also have your own tiny bathroom with a shower. You're also on a different car from all the other folks which is separated by the dining car and lounge car, so you don't have to worry as much about your stuff being unattended in high-traffic areas. The Amtrak staff is fabulous, too--the twitter people reply to every single thing you tweet @Amtrak and wish you a good trip etc, the phone cust svc people dealing with questions and then again with booking, your sleeping car attendant who provides you with bottled water and ice, puts down and makes up your beds for the night, and generally makes sure you're well taken-care-of.... they were awesome, all of them. They're like the Southwest Airlines of the ground travel world, you know? Even the fellow passengers were all really cool. I guess it comes with not being cooped up like sardines and being in a rush rush rush, but everyone was just so friendly. The train ride itself? GREAT. It's not nearly as bumpy and jerky as I expected. All the woo-woo train whistling was really fun when we first got started (OMG FIRST TRAIN RIDE) and quickly faded into unnoticeable (phew, not irritating). The décor is a little outdated and the cars are slightly worn-looking, but that wasn't anything I didn't expect -- trains just aren't popular anymore. The meals (included with our bedroom, woo!) were huge and fabulous and not at all like the crappy airline-ish food I was expecting. Not 5 star dining of course, but man. GREAT burger. Crab cakes for breakfast. Just crazy! Our room itself was tiny and cozy, clean and comfortable. We had a surprising amount of storage for our bags - two areas under the sofa that could probably fit a standard carryon with ease and maybe a purse or something as well, an area under the single seat where I ended up putting my carryon, a narrow half closet-ish thing that would have been perfect for hanging a jacket or two, and two pretty large areas above the bathroom and above the door area that weren't easy to get to but would have held even more stuff if we didn't want to check bags. I didn't wake up hurting the next morning (which I fully expected and have done plenty enough in high-dollar hotel rooms). I didn't sleep as well as I would have liked, but I also did a Very Dumb Thing and left the curtains open. On purpose. So I could get woken up gently by the change in natural light and stuff, you know? Yeah. Not smart. There are lights on poles and lights at train stations and lights pretty much everywhere along the way, and if you're double-dumb like me and sleep with your head by the window, every single one of them will shine directly into your face. All night long. :D But the best part? We all got to chill out and actually enjoy the trip. Look out the windows and see the lake, cross rivers on little bridges, see famers on tractors waving at us as we go by. Hang out and play games with the kiddo. Take a walk and stretch our legs when we needed to. Still make tons of travel progress while we were sleeping. Get our bellies so big and full at every meal that we literally didn't touch a single one of the bag FULL of snacks that we brought along. So... I probably wouldn't go coach. I wouldn't go someplace where I would end up having to rent a car (yay awesome public transportation!). I wouldn't go on a trip that was much longer than a day and a half or so. I wouldn't want to do that transfer thing with other trains or buses even. But for this trip? It was PERFECT. I'll definitely be looking for another opportunity to take a train, because good LAWD I could get used to this! It was definitely worth every penny, and then some.

We took the Sunset Limited from LA to New Orleans, then stayed overnight and took the Crescent the following day to Washington DC. The New Orleans station is clean and well maintained. However, please note that the Magnolia Lounge (for sleeper car passengers) is closed and under renovation. It won't reopen until late January 2015. There's not a whole lot of seating in the terminal, and very little seating for people who need to pre-board due to special needs. There's a small gift shop but no place to get anything of substance to eat. The staff is helpful and courteous. Please be aware that you must present your luggage to be checked 45 MINUTES before departure. Bring your bag later than that, and it won't get on a train until tomorrow! All in all, though, this is one of the more pleasant Amtrak stations in the South.

I like this Amtrak station for the sole reason it's right behind the Super Dome. That's why I like the Amtrak lines because I've so many stadiums nation wide. When the train lines were designed back in the old days the had them go right to the sport stadiums. Plus most Amtrak lines have you end up right in the middle most major city downtowns. I also love the lil gift shop in this train station. I was missing a few gifts for some family & friends, this place accompanied me just fine. The architecture is so so nothing really that special but everything else was coolio.