This is a great station to get to Boston using Amtrak or the T. However the train station itself is kind of disgusting. The bathroom was one of the dirtiest I have ever seen. The floor had liquids and solids...you can figure out what they were. They was graffiti and damage all over it as well. But the parking process and getting on and off the train was sufficient. read more

Providence Station - Train Stations Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

See all

We came here recently to get on the Amtrak train to New York City. The station is being remodeled, so there's a lot of fencing and scaffolding around. The elevators are not in operation right now, so be ready to haul your bags up and down the stairs ... or... wait for the slow elevator to come up. The remodel has moved many things inside for the time being. They still have large screens for train information. It's an easy station to use since there's only two tracks. read more

See all

Hopped on the N.E. Regional on a Saturday morning, headed south. We booked seats in business class on a full train. Good call. I use their online ticketing and show my Eticket to the conductor when boarded. Pro tip: Booking a couple weeks in advance can save money on the ticket. Tracks are down one level from the waiting area. There is an elevator down to the tracks and you have just enough time to get down there once the track is assigned. Pro tip: business class is at the end of the train and the N.E.Regional is a looooonnnnnggg train. Once down the steps, turn to your right and head toward the end of the platform. The train only stops a couple minutes. The ticket window at this station opens 5am on week days and 6am week ends. They close around 11pm every day. An automated ticket machine which accepts credit cards is available near the vending machines. Speaking of which many are still cash only, but at least one vending machine accepts bank cards. Public restrooms, a cafe and newstand/gift shop round out services available. Four curved wooden seats create a circular waiting area in the middle of the terminal. Paper, plastic and aluminum can recycling bins are scattered around the edge of the terminal. An elevator to/from the parking garage below is just outside the terminal entrance. It was quiet and clean. Even the ladies room was clean although the hand dryer is broken. Electronic boards on two sides of the waiting area show on which platform your train is stopping shortly before it arrives. MBTA stops here and although a sign at the cafe states they sell tickets, an announcement states you can only buy them on the train or through the app. read more

See all

I came here to catch an Amtrak to Penn Station, and overall, it was a straightforward experience. The station is small and no-frills. There's a car drop-off area in front of the entrance. There's a snack shop and some seating while you wait. The TV screens clearly display train information, including track numbers and departure times. With only four tracks, it's hard to get lost, but once the track for my train popped up, people rushed down the stairs quickly. It would have been nice if there were clearer signs on where to wait for different train classes, but there was a staff member on the platform who could answer questions. Overall, a functional and efficient station, but a little more signage would make the experience smoother. read more

This is a nice, small train station servicing Amtrak. It's located next to the Rhode Island State House and it's only a short walk to the Providence Place Mall. The station is walking distance to restaurants and hotels, and WaterFire on the nights those fun festivities are in operation. There is a nice café there with some limited seating (Cafe LaFrance) and modern restrooms. There is a large parking garage underneath the train station. It's tight and narrow getting into the garage, and spoiler alert, this garage does fill up during the week. Overall this is a clean and well run station, and we've used it many times. read more

Providence Station - Waiting - Train Stations Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

See all

nice waiting area. please fix the handicap stall in the ladies room. broken tp holder, broken hand dryer.

A small train station that serves Amtrak. It also serves the commuter rail of the MBTA. Providence Station has limited amenities and food options. Finding your track is really easy because there's only a few. There's not much parking around here. It kind of is like bare bones. Maybe not quite though it seems like it. There are some cafes but they close early and often there's days when they aren't ever open. Public transportation from the station has room for improvement. There's busses but these are too infrequent if you're just going to be around here a few hours or so. Clean mostly. It only has a few tracks so it's easy to find the correct one. The food options here suck except for the French cafe so consider bringing food with you. read more

Providence Station - Station - Train Stations Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

See all

I had to go to Providence, so I took the train here. It was my first time at Providence Station and I was impressed at first how clean it was inside. However, I soon realized this station is quite small. There was only one store located inside of the station that was open when I was there. It was more of a gift shop and did not have any food options. There were vending machines, but those are just snacks. The coffee shop was closed. If you want food, there is a Panera located in the mall across the street. I went over there for some food, but I left after they said the wait would be around 40 minutes. The signage in the station is clear and the tracks are easy to find. There was enough seating when I was there, but there probably would not have been if the station was more crowded when I was there. Altogether, this station is fine, but nothing special. read more

Clean station, easy to navigate, options for both MBTA into Boston and Amtrak to Boston, and points north, or Washington DC, and points south. There is an arrival and departure board that is easy to find that indicates train status. Two big complaints I have is the lack of food options available. Plus the station only has one restroom. The lack of food options forces me to buy food on the train, which is expensive. For a simple commuter station, it works. As a long distance train station, it does not. read more

Sure it's an okay train station. My review is to bring attention and awareness that this is not the safest city with the brightest people and to be on guard. Every city has its moments but I have to call out station security here for a situation that I was surprised how they handled (didn't handle) While waiting for my train myself, along with many other people, were approached by a man asking for a dollar for the train. Only issue if you did not give him money he became violent and said aggressive things then simply moved onto the next. When it was my turn I said I'm sorry I don't have cash and this guy called me a c*nt and said I'll k*ll you btchhh. I mean... wow! This is a VERY small station but does have few security on site. Useless as I may add. When the man disappeared I told one of the security they should not let that guy in here as he just blatantly and violently threatened me- he alerted another and approached the guy and did NOTHING but tell the guy to cool it or he would be asked to leave. This instance has stuck on my mind mainly because once I got down to the platform to take my train who do I see harassing a group of teens? This is how bigger accidents start on the train. Believe and advocate for women when they feel unsafe. Stop giving dollars to thugs in Providence. Shame on the security here for not catching my red flag. read more

Like many others before me, I'm coming from NYC where public transit is dirty, insane, and ultimately overcrowded. As a result, I find Providence's Amtrak Station to be what most train stations ought to be: semi-clean, very punctual, and easy to navigate. Like the city itself, this station is small but quaint. There are bathrooms thare in decent shape and a number of benches organized beneath the center of the room, brightened by the natural sunlight. There aren't many stores and during peak season, there are lot of travelers passing through here. Trains are generally on time here. Staff members are pretty helpful and there are only a couple of tracks so it's not hard to figure out where trains are going. For arrivals, there are usually plenty of taxis outside. Ride sharing is also an option as well. The shady people count is not obvious during the day, but like all public train stations, it can get a bit dodgy at times. Despite how small the station is, I still recommend for folks to come early to avoid any travel hassles. read more

Over the last five years I have parked at this station about 20 times for 2-3 day trips. My trip on 12/18/2024 marked the first time the garage was completely full. I got lucky and was able to find a spot nearby but came close to missing my train. The lack of reliable parking will make it hard to travel thru PVD going forward. read more

A quiet train station in Providence across the street from the Providence Place Mall. Pro tip: if they run out of parking at the train station, you could park at the mall parking lot for a fee. We spent $20 for parking at the mall all day. The train station has a little cafe in there where you could buy MBTA tickets but it's cash only. Another Pro tip: download the app and you could pay for it with your credit card. Round trip tickets to Boston were $23. Once they updated the screen with which track number we needed to get on, we were on our way. The train station was pretty clean. The T train had two levels. You could also get tickets for the Amtrak train which is more expensive and faster. It took us about an hour and half to get to Boston because the train stopped at each station. Overall, it's a great way to get to Boston and other locations without having to drive in that awful traffic. read more

Small and easy to find train station. Location is central, right by the RI State House. Very small waiting area and a cafe.

Went to Providence recently, but flew in/out of Boston's Logan Airport. Since my son left a day earlier than we did, he took the Amtrak to the airport. The place looked clean and it seemed well-maintained. It's not that we minded driving him there, but we worried about the car traffic problems that we had when picking up my daughter before. At least with the train, he didn't have that concern. There was a place to eat and a nice gift shop there. I'm sure this won't be the last time we make use of this place. read more

See all

Yep. Three stars is just about right. Non-functional Quik-Trak ticketing machines (I tried three different credit cards, and none of them were accepted). Limited seating, and limited food options (a vending machine room and Café La France). On the upside, the bathrooms are in working condition, the wi-fi is free, and ticketing agents (because, y'know, the machines don't work) are pretty efficient. read more

Providence Station - Train Stations Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

See all

Quaint and easy to navigate train station that was clean. Old world feeling inside with old school destination board. Seems like it's going through some renovations at this time. Amtrak employee behind ticket counter was helpful, friendly and had a sense of humor. New Jersey should take some lessons from them here. Great food option at Cafe La France and decent vending too! Very good Amtrak atation. read more

Providence Station - Train Stations Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

I remenbered taking the Acela Express to go to Providence to go to a Korean BBQ restaurant. The station is quite big, where there are MBTA commuter trains that people can use to get to Boston. There are no ticket machines for commuter trains, but rather passengers can buy them as a coffee shop within. The trains are frequent as the station is on the Northeast Corridor. read more

It's a train station, so I'm not sure it can be amazing, but it definitely deserves a rating update since the bathrooms were "remodeled." Essentially, the bathrooms got new stalls (desperately needed!) and a thick coat of white sealant and repairs over the grungy, disgusting pink tiles and grout. Now the doors actually close on the stalls and the new hand dryer is more effective than the previous paltry one. (There's still only one, though, which means I often dash out with damp hands because there's a line for the dryer.) The cafe has decent baked goods, though, so I'll give the place an extra star. read more

Amtrak will double the price of the train within 15 minutes while kicking you out of your browser to up the price. Also +$18 for "fare protection?" Which doesn't change that your ticket is non-refundable or changeable, it is simply EMS services (if needed) and paying for lost or stolen bags- which are a given on any other mode of transportation, not a privilege. This is why I would rather take a greyhound or commuter rail. In all my traveling which is frequent, I can never bring myself to accept their bullshit. read more

I like the PVD Amtrak station. You need reasons? I've got reasons. 1. It's clean(ish). 2. It's easy to navigate. 3. There's a decent French cafe built in, which beats the hell out of McDonald's. 4. Instead of some digital bullshit, the information board is old-school, with the letters and numbers flipping around in some crazy manner. It's much cooler that way. If we could just get rid of all the people, specifically... 1. The man in his mid-thirties who insisted on coughing on absolutely everyone that walked by. 2. The old woman who kept creepily rubbing up against my leg as we waited on the circular bench. ...this place would be perfect. read more

We go to Boston often and instead of driving up to the city and risking a parking ticket or having to pay an outrageous fee to park for a few nights the Providence Train Station serves as a nice alternative to get to Boston fairly cheaply and (usually) efficiently. The station has easy access from both sides which makes it quick to both enter and exit. Out in the front of the station on the Gaspee Street side you have easy access to bus lines and walking distance from downtown (about 10 min) and the Providence Place mall and State Capitol Building (about 3 min). Secured location also at night. Serves both MBTA and Amtrak train lines. There's a nice little cafe that serves above-average food (for a train station) and a little gift store with cool hand-crafted in Rhode Island gifts. The interior is easy to maneuver in. It's one large room with a gift shop and a cafe. It has an old-school vibe to it with wooden benches. Everything is clearly marked, we've taken the train at all hours of the day and always felt safe. There's an underground garage which does charge by the day but if you have your MBTA ticket they will lower the price. read more

This train station gets the job done. I've been going here for years as I take the commuter rail to Boston for work. I've also taken the Amtrak down to CT. It's in a very convenient location and I'm grateful for it. They've done a semi-ok job sprucing up the outside area and there's a relatively straightforward passenger drop off area. There are only 4 tracks, so you're not going to get lost. The only issue is the bathroom. It's small and quite sad. read more

I took Nivaldo to the Commuter Rail Station. The station was clean and is located in a convenient location. When attempting to buy a ticket apparently they only accept cash. I am a habitual cash back/points/miles credit card user, so I I didn't think to bring my debit card or any cash. Fortunately, Nivaldo had some change on him so he JUST made his train. I took two points off for a number of reasons. 1. It's 2016. 2. If you are a business that cater to a large and diverse population, it is important to have diverse methods of payment. 3. One can't buy individual tickets online, so THIS is the only option. 4. It's 2016. Cash should be obsolete by now. Implanted microchip for payment purchases? Sign me up! read more

A convenient enough train station with easy access and convenience to downtown Providence. The station was clean and the boarding lobby seemed secure with visible police presence. However, the station loses a star because there are no car rental agencies in the station. There are a few that are a good 10 minute walk away, but it would seem that Providence could do better. read more

Ahhh... Providence Station... smells like home! With a small cafe to get a mediocre cup of coffee in the early hours of the morning and very clear track directions so a traveler with little experience can get on the correct train with ease, Providence Station is the perfect starter station. The only downside is the cramped bathrooms (only two stalls in the women's) that can sometimes get dirty/gross. Other than that, I've got pretty much nothing else to complain about. It's easy to get picked up here using the on-call shuttle for Brown students if your train arrives late at night. Not too far from campus, close proximity to Providence Place Mall, and a major stop for all kinds of trains (primarily MBTA and AMTRAK), Providence Station has never let me down. Except that one time. Which may have been partially my fault so we won't talk about that. read more

Train ride down was great. Train ride home was hell. We were supposed to take the acela train 2256, Coming home on April 10. We arrived at the train station two hours early and decided to try to change our tickets to an earlier train. I had purchased my tickets in November almost 6 months ago. I was told the tickets for the train on April 10 would be an additional $665 for two people to take the earlier train. After I got over my shock at the additional cost, I opted to wait. 2 1/2 hours later, When the time came for our train to pull into the station they made an announcement and said that it had mechanical problems and would be late. That happens however they couldn't tell us how long it would be. I went back to the window and asked if there was another train. I was told the train tickets would be more money if I wanted to trade them in. I told the ticket agent not only should they be giving me money back, Because I was no longer taking the acela, with assigned seats and a table and getting tickets for a slower train and seats were first come first seated anywhere there was an empty seat. I let them know that I already paid for my tickets and the train that they wanted to put me on and charge me more money for was the regional train making 15 stops between Baltimore and Providence. I waited another 15 minutes and inquired if the mechanical problems have been resolved and was told that it had big mechanical problems and if I wanted to get home I needed to take the regional, with the 15 stops. They agreed to only charge me what I had already paid for my tickets on the Acela. We were also told that the only seats that we could get would be in the very first car on the train, so when the train pulled into the station we had to run past all the cars to get to the first car. In the first car the only seats available were the very first two seats upfront. There were already two people there and We had to sit across from them, Our knees touching theirs. I am a short person, and my knees were touching the person across from me. If I was 5 foot eight I would never been able to sit there. In case you're not aware of this, the first car attached to the engine goes back-and-forth for the whole ride. It took 7 1/2 hours to get home from Baltimore, which is why I purchased the Acela tickets, in the first place because the time is shorter and a third of the stops. That would be my last Acela ride and my last regional ride on a train. I found the ticket agent to be rude, short and offended when I wouldn't pay the extra 665 when I attempted to trade in the first tickets for an earlier train, because we had arrived early. I also found the conductor on the train to be rude. When I inquired what time he thought we would get to Providence, he told me I don't know I have to look it up. And I don't have time now. I informed him that was fine, when he had the time and to just let me know what time we get to Providence, because I needed to let someone know to pick me up from the train station. He came back a few minutes later and told me would be getting in about 1130. Definitely my last train ride. I have attempted to call Amtrak to file a complaint, but after being put on hold for an hour I hung up, and tried the next day only to be on hold again for another hour. I hung up again. I will attempt to file a complaint online now, because evidently they do not have enough help. read more

I recently took the train to Boston (Back Bay) for a 1/2 day conference. Looking at the schedule, the Providence station had the most flexibility to accommodate my times. I arrived around 8:00 to take the 830-ish train and the lot to the train garage was full. I followed signs for train parking around the corner to park. It cost me $22.00 to park and $22.00 for a train ticket. So my 1/2 day excursion to Boston cost me $44.00 plus I had to fight 95 north bound rush hour traffic! NOT WORTH IT! Next time I take the train, I will seek a different route. I live in a location where Wickford or Lakeville/Middleboro is doable and parking is no more than $7.00. read more

The pickup/ parking situation is a bit of a mess and the inside can be a little bit sketchy in the later hours of the day but it's not like much time is spent in the actual station. There are a few mini marts to get last minute items and the bathrooms are decent. read more

I've been coming here constantly for a decade for MBTA service to and from Boston. This station is conveniently located next to Kennedy Plaza buses, and the Providence Place Mall. There is a cafe and gift shop on the premises that are a bit overpriced, and the bathroom is in desperate need of modernization as it is quite dingy. read more

Not exactly convenient to have cash-only tickets when the only ATM on site is broken. Literally the woman at the ticket stand turned us away to download an app, buy tickets through that, and continue on our merry way. Very inconvenient, especially for the train station representing an entire city! Other than that functions as a train station would. Small, one gift shop and a cafe. Not too sketchy. read more

Compared to the things I've seen while waiting for the Amtrak at Penn Station, the Providence station feels like a day at the spa. High ceilings, beautiful wood inside, a neutral air smell (as opposed to the pungent odors I've noticed at Penn Station), lots of natural light... I never knew I could be happy to have to wait for a delayed train! Instead of the normal depressing train station food selections like Dunkin or Subway, there's a little market in the station that has a nice hot food menu as well as some high quality snacks and drinks for quick pick up. My favorite part of the station is the huge, old-school schedule board... you know, the one with the little flapping letter panels. It conjures up a time long ago when (I imagine) train rides were something to look forward to! read more

The station is small but has indoor seating and a waiting area. If the train is running late - there might not be enough seating for everyone waiting. There's a nice gift shop if you need a snack or want to buy a souvenir but also a cafe if you want to grab a meal to take with you on your train. While great options if your train is delayed or you ran out of time, not the most appetizing. I'd suggest grabbing food before the train! read more

OK... Here are my helpful hints for properly navigating this Amtrak station. 1. Amtrak and MBTA are not the same thing. You cannot buy MBTA passes at the Amtrak counter. 2. You buy MBTA passes at Cafe LaFrance (the exact opposite side of the Amtrak counter). They only take cash, so don't try to use plastic there. 3. If you're in need of cash, there's an ATM located right by the gift shop. 4. There is a bank of vending machines behind the sign board that tells you where to board your train. These are significantly cheaper than the other food options here. 5. If you're trying to get to Kennedy Plaza to board a bus, go out the door that does not face the capitol building. Head straight down Exchange St., past the canal. Keep going and you'll run right into it. If you can get here, you can get anywhere in the city/state via the bus. 6. While you must prepay Amtrak tickets before boarding, you can purchase MBTA tickets on the train. However, there is a $1 surcharge for using this convenience and it is cash only. 7. If you're going to Boston and you're deciding between MBTA and Amtrak, MBTA takes about 1 hour and is $7.75. Amtrak takes about half that time and costs about twice as much (unless you take Acela, which is significantly more). 8. If you get on a train and it has vinyl seats, it's an MBTA train, not Amtrak. If it has fabric seats, it's Amtrak (or leather in Acela). 9. Prepurchase your Amtrak tickets online. There are two self-serve kiosks here that are almost always vacant and ALWAYS faster than waiting in the line to speak with a person. All you need to do is scan a credit card, and it will print out your prepurchased tickets. so easy. 10. Finally, if you're unsure, ask. Don't get turned around on Amtrak and start heading towards New York if you want to be going the other direction. Amtrak trains aren't frequent enough to make this kind of mistake without a serious delay to your trip. The three stars are because even though this place is functional, the cash only option is incredibly annoying. Also, MBTA has no physical presence here, so if you have a problem, you need to call their customer service. read more

Cafe la France? MORE LIKE CAFE LA FUCK YOURSELF This train station is HORRIBLE. We wasted our money on the T train that the workers at cafe la fuck yourself didn't even tell us where it was. No refund? For telling us wrong information? And had 10 people stranded wondering where the train was too? FUCK THESE PEOPLE and their snide rude behavior towards me. I was sick and we ran for our lives to catch this train. My sister broke her phone trying to run to this shit hole so we could make it. FUCK the train station. FUCK the people who work at that cafe. These people have NO idea what they are talking about. They deserve to be FIRED! I HOPE THEY ARE READING THIS. Pieces of shit! They ruined my day! I had to be in Boston for a concert that I could have potentially missed! And these people gave us wrong info, and gave everyone wrong info. FUCK THEM. read more

Nice station. Feels safe. Staff seems friendly no matter what time or day of the week I am passing though. There is a nice view of the State House and a shopping mall just outside of the station. The station is typically guarded well, there's a coffee/bagel/sandwich shop where you can get a quick bite, latte, soft drink, or bottle of water. I do believe that there is a vending area, and a gift shop. read more

Gets the job done. This pretty much sums up the Providence train station. Now Amtrak picked larger stations to take on the Acela, so I compare Providence to those stations. Honestly, out of all the stations, I think Providence ranks pretty low. It is on par with Boston Route 128 station and Back Bay in terms of size, amenities, design, etc. Now it is nice that they have a little cafe inside, it is fairly well lit inside and Amtrak provides free wifi. You want to see night and day with the MBTA and Amtrak, just look at each platform. Literally it is like one is the good side of the tracks, the other the poor section. MBTA is horrendously lit to the point of being dangerous. In fact if there wasn't so much light on the Amtrak side, you wouldn't be able to see in front of you on the MBTA side. I think Providence does its job but some slight improvements here and there can give Providence a station it should be proud of. read more

I love that this train station is spacious, well-lit, and organized. It also has a clean, minimalist feel to it that draws your attention to either of two places: the train schedule board, or the ticketing office. The fact that it's open on either side is both genius and confusing... the latter when you're trying to meet someone "at the entrance". If you're unfamiliar with this station, it's a complete guessing game which doorway your expectant pal may be hanging at. Luckily, it's a small enough station to avert a real crisis. The trains are usually running on schedule, which is nice. However, the ticket agents are always SO grumpy... I'm hastened to get my purchase ordered as quickly as possible so as not to receive a shame-inducing scolding or eye-roll. Sure, it's their JOB, but they don't care - they have what we need, and the ticket machines hardly ever work (worth noting), so we're stuck with the grouches. Now, if you're purchasing a ticket for the Metro North commuter train to Boston, you're in luck: head over to the Cafe la France, where the cashiers are as sweet as the pie they serve and more than happy to help you out. The station is clean, uncluttered, and efficient. read more

Taking the train is one of the easiest ways to get in and out of Providence. The MBTA commuter rail gets you into Boston South Station for a very reasonable $10.50 each way. This station is also on Amtrak's northeast corridor, and is served by both the regional train as well as the Acela Express. Sometimes, you can get lucky and get an Amtrak ticket to Boston for as little as $12--huge score, because the trains are much nicer than the commuter rail! Cafe La France is a very solid food option, with tasty pastries and passable coffee. You buy the MBTA tickets from them as well. The station is also pretty open in its layout, with ample seating space and standing room while you wait for your train to arrive. This is not the most glamorous of train stations, but it's extremely functional and gets the job done in terms of your travel needs! read more

Costs have increased over the years and service levels have worsened. Overall, this is a sub-standard train station. It's current under construction, so I'm crossing my fingers that the substantial pain points are improved. Pros: - Relatively clean - small, easy to navigate - Amtrak Acela service Cons: - Maintenance could be improved (lighting, functional clocks, etc). - Limited car and secure bicycle parking - MBTA (expensive w/ delays. Bike commuter unfriendly during rush hours. Poor schedule coverage for early/late airport connections). - very limited concession stand The overall train system in the USA is broken and seems to want to discourage use, and this train station is illustrative of the inadequate funding of the train system as a whole. There should be no reason why it takes me more time and $$ to take the commuter train and transfer than it does for me to drive, pay tolls and park in Harvard Square in rush hour traffic. I'd love to use this train system more, but the pain points are too high for me to use it on a regular basis at this time. read more