TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa’s Union Station is now one of the busiest Amtrak stops in Florida.

What You Need To Know

  • Nearly 130,000 passengers went through the historic Tampa Union Station last year

  • That’s an increase of 13 percent over the year before

  • Union Station is part of Amtrak’s Silver Service line with daily trains to New York

  • A $2 million renovation project is set to start later this year

New numbers from Amtrak show that nearly 130,000 passengers went through the historic station last year, an increase of 13% over the year before.

The numbers are for Amtrak’s fiscal year 2023, running from October 2022 to September 2023.

Longtime Amtrak employee Gilbert Dolores said he’s seeing more and more passengers every year, describing crowded platforms and busy waiting areas.

“Every day it’s busy here in Tampa, especially during the holidays,” Dolores said.

Station officials say the increase is due in part to the growth of the Tampa Bay region, both from tourism and people moving to the area.

Union Station is part of Amtrak’s Silver Service line, with daily trains to Miami or all the way to New York, with many cities in between.

Dolores said Amtrak also provides travelers some options that airlines or buses don’t.

“We have a lot of cities where there’s no airlines,” he said. “Like, we go to Sebring. There’s no airport there. Okeechobee is another.”

The numbers also show that Tampa’s Union Station is now the second busiest Amtrak station in Florida, coming in just behind Orlando.

Tampa's Union Station first opened in 1912 and is now an official historic landmark. 

It’s now owned by the city of Tampa, but preservation efforts are being led by the nonprofit Friends of Tampa Union Station.

Board member Jeff Hicks said the volunteer group is pleased with the increase in ridership. He said they are also hoping the historic building can get used for more events during off hours as well.

“Socially activating after hours for weddings or graduation parties really brings in people and connects them with the building, especially for fundraising,” Hicks said.

A $2 million renovation project — for things like replacing windows and fixing water damage — is set to begin later this year. Funding is also coming from the city and a state grant.