Washington, DC Union Station Upper Level - (MARC Penn, Burnswick, and Camden Lines, and Amtrak Northeast Regional, Acela Express and Vermonter)

Washington DC-Union Station Upper Level Platforms are used by trains terminating at the station from the north. These are for Tracks 7 through 20. These all contain platforms that are stub-ended with passengers entering the platforms from beyond the bumper blocks at the ends of them. Tracks 7 through about 13 are largely extremely dark with the station's parking garage built directly over them. These platforms are the main ones used by MARC trains. Tracks 14 and 15 are partially covered by the parking garage, with large concrete columns over the southern end of Track 15's platform closest to the station (holding up the escalators from the station into the parking garage) but the northern end of the platform is exposed to the elements. Track 16 contains an inspection pit (with platforms along both sides, don't fall in). Tracks 17 through 21 are more exposed to the elements and airy with historic iron (with Classical Columns) holding up the island platforms long canopy structures, high-level platforms tastefully installed for most of the platforms under the original canopy structure. Many of the terminating tracks contain platforms on both sides, with one normally used by passengers high-level and a separate low-level platform for station staff.

Trains stopping on the upper level include all terminating Amtrak trains from the Northeast Corridor (MARC Penn Line), along with the MARC Brunswick and Camden Line train Some of these platforms are the only ones at Washington Union Station to be high-level. Except for Acela Express trains that require high-level platforms, all other trains going to the Upper Level could also run to and from the Lower Level through platforms and tracks. This makes these platforms the normal stopping location for Acela Express Trains, terminating and originating Northeast Regional trains, the Vermonter and MARC trains. The Capitol Limited (before it was “temporarily” combined with the Floridian) also could stop at the remaining low-level platform on the Upper Level for Track 15. I once got off on track 15 and had a lovely for a railfan quite long walk into the station past the locomotives and under the parking garage.
Photos 1-11: May 30, 2011; 12-25: October 10, 2015; 26-30: August 23, 2024; 31-33: September 30, 2024; 34-36: October 1, 2024; 37-43: January 17, 2025; 44-46: May 8, 2025;

Historic Station Lower Level
Tracks 22 to 28

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Stepping off the Capitol Limited on Track 15 a long way from the train station at a low-level platform

Superliner #32022 stopped on Track 15

Passengers get off the Capitol Limited, starting to walk under the parking garage

Passenger walk the Heritage Baggage Car, the baggage of the terminating Capitol Limited stopped in the station

Walking down the platform, Track 16 has an inspection pit, don't fall in

Passing the two P42s on Track 15, stopped under the parking garage. The pit of Track 16 is next door.

Looking down the low-level platform of Tracks 15 and 16

P42 #135 has led the terminating Capitol Limited on Track 15

Track 15 with a sign on the bumper block and P42 #135 stopped in the station

Track 15 ends a decent walk from the station. This is now a low-level platform along Track 14

AEM7 #932 stopped in the station on track 10, at the lead of a just terminated Northeast Regional train

Stepping off a terminating MARC train

Looking across to Track 13 with both a high-level and low-level platform

A MARC train has terminated short of the end of the platform, behind some private varnish

MARC III #7854 Cab Car stopped in the station

NRHX #142, a private rail car

Two Private Rail Cars stopped in the station

The observation platform on a private rail car, coupled to Ex-PRR HRHX #142, a private rail car

The rear of a Heritage Car stopped in the station

A little sign for Amtrak 40 years with a 4 added in a private rail car, and a PRR Heritage car beyond

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Historic Station Lower Level
Tracks 22 to 28

Northeast Regional	New Carrollton, MD
Vermonter	New Carrollton, MD
Acela Express	BWI Airport, MD