Why Are There Multiple Union Stations and Penn Stations??

Washington Union Station

November 14, 2026

The primary difference between a Union Station and a Penn Station comes down to who built them and how they were operated:

Union Stations: These were built as shared-use or cooperative terminals where multiple independent railroad companies brought their lines together into a single central hub, making it easy for passengers to transfer between different companies. Examples include Washington Union Station and Los Angeles Union Station.

Penn Stations: Short for Pennsylvania Station, these were built, owned, and operated by a specific company—the Pennsylvania Railroad Company (PRR)—to serve its own expansive rail network. Famous examples include New York City's Penn Station, Baltimore Penn Station, and Newark Penn Station.