Train ride to DC was wonderful and so much better than driving. The Norfolk Amtrak station - not so good. We used the second train of the day to DC which departed at 8:59am. Nothing was open so, no way to get snacks beforehand and very little seating inside. It was my first time and I was shocked by the lack of parking, the gravel roads, no sidewalks or organized crosswalks, lack of parking and pull-off for cars doing drop-off and construction. The extremely small building and waiting area for the "station" was also a surprise. There is some serious work that needs to happen here... the station feels like an afterthought, with the smallest building and arrival/departure area I've ever seen at a station in a larger city like Norfolk. There is clearly some sidewalk work being done - but, having to drag your rolling bag through gravel and broken up streets past cars everywhere and people parked on the single sidewalk was not the best with a baby in a stroller and multiple rolling bags. Boarding was also a pain as they only opened two boarding doors for the entire train so hundreds of people and their bags and babies being loaded on was a huge traffic jam. I'm not sure why they do this... it made getting into the train a huge pain and long, long line. Not impressed with Norfolk Amtrak station area at all. Train was great. Station needs some work and infrastructure. read more

Very easy. Better than the bus. Also to fly from DC to Norfolk osnt worth it. Make more city spots

There was nothing spectacular about this station especially when I'm used to the Amtrak Penn Station in Baltimore. Norfolk's station was smaller and quiet, less busy. I'm sure I will use it again. read more

So I bet many reading this have never rid on a train or it's been a while, like maybe decades in my case. With the Norfolk Amtrack station now on the Southside since around 2013 business has gradually picked up. However with a new station in 2015 it's really taken off up to the 2020 pandemic. The location is off I-264 beside Harbor Park where the Tides play. Plenty of parking and the area was overall clean. There is some type of construction at the entrance that's been going on a while. The station is clean with restrooms. Nothing fancy or large but gets the job done. Those that traveled prior the new building are thankful because it was mighty cold in the Winter. The price is right to give Amtrack a try. Typical fares are under $70 coach to travel into DC Union Station. Also the train schedule often has a Norfolk, DC, Philly, NYC to Boston route. My son has been traveling often and it's worked out well. I'm a fan. read more

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So this was a first for me! First time on an Amtrak, so this was my first visit to a train station in the US of A as well. I went up to DC last week and decided to take the train instead of dealing with the regular airport shenanigans. For such a short distance, I figured I could buy more time on the train to work and relax. I purchased my tickets online, so boarding was pretty easy peasy. I arrived at the station and basically just got on the train. There is a small building with what I am assuming has a ticket counter and any other amenities for any last minute travelers. Conductor came by to check where everyone was going. Things to note: - I purchased First Class tickets - wasn't really expecting glam accommodations, but I didn't expect NOT to find a difference. First class is the last train and I think you get free drinks as in water, juice or coffee? Dunno...Not sure it was worth the extra $30. I'm still confused. - Bathrooms weren't too bad. Similar to an airplane. One of them was really spacious - train to DC from Norfolk, made quite a few stops, some small towns, Richmond, Alexandria and then DC - wifi was a bit spotty in certain areas, but thankful that I had wifi at all! Got some work done. - there were definitely some delays (with other trains using same tracks and things) but ride back from DC to Norfolk was actually early! All in all, I would definitely ride the train again. Super cheap mode of transportation (especially with gas prices these day, know what I mean?), no need to show up hours before departure time and overall, just easy. The whole system does seem a little aged though. Would love to see spiffier trains and some updates. Stay safe, Friends! read more

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How great it is to have an Amtrak Station in Norfolk! Before the Amtrak line below the James River was built, the only Amtrak option was the Newport News Station. Southside Locals know that getting to anywhere on the Peninsula side of our metro involves the unknown of traffic backups at either the HRBT or the MMBT. For those outside our area, these are two high traffic tunnels that can throw one's "on time" plans into chaos. And the trains care not about tunnel backups. :) The Norfolk Station is conveniently located next to Harbor Park, home of our AAA Norfolk Tides Minor League Baseball Team. There is also the convenience of the Harbor Park Light Rail Station & bus connections to Virginia Beach, Norfolk & Newport News. Ample same day & overnight parking is a plus. There is also plentiful parking at many of the connecting Light Rail Stations. It's quite easy to reach the station by car. If driving towards Norfolk on I-264, exit on Claiborne Ave. Continue south on Claiborne winding around to Park Ave, on which the station is located. The only problem with the final approach to the station is that the road is dark at night. It would be nice if the city added more street lights. The route served by the Norfolk Station is popular. Additional trains have been added since its rollout, allowing for daily commutes between Richmond, Northern Virginia & DC. It would be nice if express trains were added that had stops only in Richmond & DC. And we can always hope for high speed rail. Of course the line connects to the popular NE line, which offers a convenient way to travel to Philadelphia, New York & Boston. The relatively recently built station is modern, with an appealing appearance. We Coastal Virginians can be proud of not just the Norfolk Amtrak Station but also the rail access it has provided. read more

No frills yet convenient. Free overnight parking, restrooms, some indoor seating, and small section of covered platform. Getting to DC in 4.5h for $19 is a deal, especially since I can do work on the way. read more

Norfolk Amtrak Station - Train Stations Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Small, but beautiful. Very well kept. Very clean. There is a lot of parking available if needed. I feel pretty safe here as well. Sometimes you are bused to and from here to and from Newport News, VA. The staff here has always been helpful and kind. read more

Sis myself and the balls and chains Aka the hubby's went to the CIAA Event in Baltimore. Our other sister and her hubby live there and he was planned a large day party KMB Promotions at the Patasco arena. Hey day party who can resist it..drinks all day and nite. Anyhoo they live in Chesterfield and were are here in Chesapeake. At Sylvia's brunch a couple weeks ago at the Lamire hotel we cane up with a great idea to take the train, found the train that we all could ride on together and of course sit together so we could enjoy sunrise mimosas on the way up. Booked business class seats. Me being the foodie was in charge of snacks. The trip was super easy, relaxing!!!! no driving arguments,no stopping for bathroom breaks, stress free and naps at our leisure. Boarding was a breeze..staff wore masks as it was posted throughout the train. I could of used some help getting up the stairs like a step outside since the first step is huge. Prior to boarding there was a very informative announcement over the loud speaker. Hubby and i were greeted. Our 5 1/2 hr trip begins. The gentleman who checked out mobile tickets was cheery at 6:30 am. I noticed he escorted a lady who was in the incorrect seat to her seat in coach class. Good catch..seats were super roomy and comfortable much like a first class seat flight. The area was clean but I gave them a good wiping down of the tray tables and seat back with lysol wipes and let them air dry. We arrived to Petersburg station where my sis ans bro n law boarded in about 1 20 min approx. We totally enjoyed this outbound trip, the return way much different. Boarding in Baltimore the signal man SAW US RUNNING WITH LARGE suitcases and bags,to the last car AND STILL SIGNALED TO CLOSE THE DOORS!! I pushed my husband on to open rhe door for me ro board. I honestly could not believe it when he raises the flashlight to signal all clear.. we were walkimg as fast as we could with such weight! This train was mostly packed, the bathrooms were dirty and pissy smelling since when I'm Washington DC no one came to clean the bathrooms. read more

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We love the convenience and affordability of riding Amtrak from Norfolk--forget I-95! NFK station is clean and modern, though small: 30 minutes prior to departure, it gets packed with passengers, so not many seats are available. Clean restrooms. Our only issue has been the day we returned during a rainstorm: the conductor made us get off the train 25 yds from the covered walkway by the station entrance. We got DRENCHED! read more

Absolute WORST travel experience ever!!! I will EVER patronize Amtrak again!! The so-staff that work on the train look miserable and lack ANY customer skills or people skills!! read more

Picked my son up on Monday, Nov 21st. Train was a few minute early. Although my son was the passenger, this was my first experience with booking a train. Norfolk station is very small, and is almost self service in a way. This station is clean, and there is plenty of parking around. There is long term parking as well, at your own risk. Please be mindful that this is a downtown area with no parking lot cameras. I am sure he will have many more train experiences since he goes to school in DC. read more

I love having an Amtrak station right here in Norfolk. No more having to travel to Newport News to catch a train. Its the best way by far to travel to the northeast. Daily affordable and reliable trains connect us easily to Washington, Richmond, New York, etc. Forget the hassle of I64/95 traffic. Sit back and enjoy a comfortable, clean? and reliable trip by train... read more

Norfolk Amtrak Station - Train Stations Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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We drove an hour to get to the station only to find out that it was closed. It was 5am (before dawn) and very dark. Not much lighting and no bathrooms. This was our first trip by train and it would've been nice to have someone available to ask questions. As far as I could tell, the parking lot and the ramp was clean, but like I said, it was dark. We are now heading back to Norfolk at the end of our trip and it's closed now also. IS THIS PLACE EVER OPEN? read more

This place is the smallest station I have ever seen. I almost missed it driving by. Make sure you pack all your snacks and stuff. Nothing accessible here read more

Always goes smoothly when I check in to my train at Norfolk Amtrak - staff are always willing to help :0)

This is a great location that makes it super easy to use Amtrak. Plenty of parking and a clean modern interior makes waiting on your train pleasant. Elevated platform with ample lighting and automated information systems keep you up to date while feeling safe. If you are headed to DC you can relax in the business car while enjoying free WiFi. read more

Norfolk Amtrak Station - Train arriving. - Train Stations Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

The absolute best. I travel from it often of late. Just really great! A beautiful station here In Norfolk VA. Been using it often of late.It is just a beautiful station with great friendly staff. read more

So I'm not going to review Amtrak, I will gladly review the station & what it offers though. My day started out rough anyways, but a 3 hour train delay that wasn't announced until AFTER the trains departure time had passed, text notifications 20 minutes AFTER departure time passed, delays on top of delays! The station didn't do a good job of keeping information coming, I was stuck waiting for delay texts from Amtrak & those would come after the time they said the train would be here had already passed!! The bathroom I used was clean, but the way the buildings acoustics are designed you get to enjoy the flushing of the toilet everywhere in the building! I was sitting almost as far away as I could & it felt like I was right there in the stall with them :/ Apparently they only have 1 trash & recycling can outside of the stations waiting area. The platform has zero seating, people were sitting on the ground, steps, wherever they could since the lobby is not sufficient to support a large amount (or even a small amount) of stranded passengers. The silver lining has to be that I am getting a fare credit once I arrive at my destination & I didn't have to deal with traffic going thru D.C. or B'more read more

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In my experience, amtrak takes longer than the bus. There's always some BS reason why they have to stop, or they're late.

took the Amtrak train for the first time ever... was going from Norfolk to Alexandria Virginia it was suppose to take 4 hrs and instead took 6 1/2 hours... they didn't have staff so we could not even order any food to eat.. we were starving all they gave us was warm water with a small bag of chex mix... For the money i spent going with my husband and kids could have rented a car and gotten there in 1/2 the time... Not worth it at all first and last time i go on Amtrak... read more

What a very nice station! I was traveling with my two sons (1 & 3) and the staff was very helpful. The station is very clean and warm on cold days. The bathrooms are also very clean. It's a small station, but it only has a few trains that come through. After traveling from Norfolk to CA via Amtrak, I definitely intend to again and would over flying! read more

Mixed feelings. The convenience of this stations location, the boarding platform, free parking and the kind and helpful staff working the trailer want me to give it 4 to 5 stars...BUT having a trailer as the station and it's limits on disbursing tickets, coffee, etc have me giving it 3. Can't wait until the new station or should I say the inaugural station/building opens in early 2014. From the looks of the construction and artist conception it's going to be gorgeous. read more

This is as standard as an Amtrak station gets. I was there at a late hour, so I didn't see anybody working, but there aren't any digital kiosks to print out your boarding passes, or make changes, and what not. I choose to take Amtrak over any of the other transportation services because of the comfort. I know I could drive to where ever I need to go, but it's nice to be able to sit and relax, or even get some work done while you're traveling! They've got wi-fi, a dining cart with booths (if you can snag a booth before everybody else), and much more leg room than a China Town bus or an airplane. If you're going to any major cities up north, I'd definitely suggest taking the Amtrak over any other transit! read more

A functional holding cell until the permanent building is established, this trailer has some seats for people waiting and little else. This isn't a review for Amtrak, just the train station. There is currently one train that departs here at 4:50AM northbound for Boston (Saturday/Sunday at 6:05AM). There is one train that arrives here at 8:50pm (Sat 11:48pm and Sun 8:48pm) You can view the train schedule here: http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/541/711/Norfolk-Train-Service-Schedule-Amtrak.pdf If you are taking the early morning train, it might be a bit confusing because the Amtrak signs tell you to go straight through a barricaded construction zone to get to the trailer. Just ease around to the right then take a left into the parking lot and head for the lights and cars. Parking: There are 130 short term (1-day) and 130 long term spaces - I didn't see any information signs telling you which section was which, and they are only delineated by temporary barricades. The station master was pleasant enough - but I don't think anyone is too chatty at 4:30am! Regarding the AMTRAK - bring small bills ($10, $5, $1) if you want anything from the cafe car, because the attendant was not ready for prime time and perhaps a bit bitter at how early his work day started. read more

One of the nicest looking train stations I've been in. It is a little weird that it's also one of the only trains I've been to without WiFi. There's no extra stuff here, no Dunkin, no newsstand. But it's clean and safe. The bathrooms are probably good. Big parking lot. read more

Love the new Amtrak stop in Norfolk, VA. Rode it twice this month to Alexandria, VA for work. Wonderful. The train was on time, and clean. The cars are a bit dated, not the newest, but very nice just the same. A few things need repair like my overhead light did not work, and one of the chairs would not recline....but just moved to another row. I also LOVE the free Amtrak wireless and the ability to plug in electronics. Food was okay, packaged sandwiches...not too bad on price. **If you call for tickets at least two weeks ahead, you can get a one way ticket up to DC for only $37 each way. That is way worth it for me; I enjoy waving to the traffic on I-95 as we fly by. BTW, there are many discounts also available like student, military, age etc.. But, I beat all of them by calling and reserving with a LIVE agent over the phone. If you wait later, the price is a bit higher but still not bad. You see such beautiful scenery on the way, places that are not normally seen. It does leave at o'dark early 0450 (other times are avail too) but you get to DC by 0930! Nothing like a beautiful sunrise as you head across the James River. Coming back home I rolled in 30 minutes earlier than scheduled....around 8:30pm. Oh, and you can park there for FREE...even overnight!! There is a 24 hr security guard right there so very safe. Can't wait for the new station building to be completed with indoor facilities....this fall I think. read more

Right now the Amtrak station consists of a temporary trailer (you can not buy tickets there, only online and over the phone) and 2 porter potties. From what I understand a more permanent structure is in the works. I'm just super excited about having train service out of Norfolk! read more

I took my very first train ride up to NYC for New Years. Ordering my tickets online was very simple and easy to arrange. Arriving to the station in Norfolk was uneventful and there was plenty of parking. We sat in the "quiet" car on the ride to NYC and back home. The ride up north was very early so we slept half the way. Unfortunately, the conductors allowed people to talk loudly in the "quiet" cars. That was the only thing that angered me. The purpose of this cart is to have a quiet space to rest (or for me, to study for my boards). There was a guy talking loudly and cursing on his cellphone for 30 minutes in the "quiet" car. The conductor did nothing about this. Luckily he got off at the VA Union stop (thank God). That was the only annoying part of my entire travel. The ride was comfortable and the cars were very clean and comfortable, but very outdated. The cars are not temperature controlled so they can become either too cold or too hot. But other than that, I would travel again via Amtrak. It was nice and I did not have to drive or deal with traffic. The best part was there was no TSA or waiting in lines to get my seat. I cannot wait until my next visit to NYC via Amtrak. Great adventure. read more

Took the train round trip to philly. Awesome. Crew is friendly wifi was great. I am a fan!! Even though we were late returning it was the heat that slowed the train and they kept us informed and apologized even though they couldn't do anything. read more

I love the convenience of this station! As a non-urbanite, I was a little reluctant about the location but I'm assured by the well-lit parking area and security patrol. The parking is plentiful and the building is clean and modern. I've taken the train from this station to DC several times now and cant say enough good! read more

We took a trip from Norfolk Virginia to Washington DC and our overall experience was great. We went with a few couples and we all got to enjoy the ride catching up talking and did not have to worry about driving or parking. We eat our breakfast in the dining car and that was a great experience. Overall I would recommend this trip to anyone. read more

Love the station. No bells and whistles but nice and clean. It was well lit and the person manning the booths was very nice. I will be using the train more for travel. read more