Amtrak

I use this station because I can get to it via public transportation. That said, that means I always order my ticket beforehand (I use my phone as my ticket), I get rides from friends if it’s quite early or late, and I hope it’s not raining or terribly cold. The station is a one room little, uninviting place. It’s open only post office hours, so if you’ll have to wait outside or in your car for the bus to come. It’s in an area that is a little sketchy — I wouldn’t stay here at nice. The bus station is just up Washington street and as someone else noted, there are police there and a new Tim Hortons (the bus station is still a shame, but it’s better).
The thing this station is good for is that it’s in the city — and I don’t have a car to get myself to Depew. Also, you get to pick your seats before the Depew people.

This station is so difficult to find because once you actually locate it via GPS you swear to yourself this couldn’t possibly be the right place and you continue to drive around in circles until you finally give up and decide to pull into this deserted Post Office looking place and see a small sign indicating it is indeed Amtrak. It was really sketchy and run down. You couldn’t even see the train tracks. This place needs a serious makeover. Stick with Depew.

Tiny building, vending machines, have someone wait with you if it’s odd hours. it’s not 24 hours. It’s a shame it’s not more inviting, Buffalo is up and coming and this station is stuck in the 50s. I’m grateful to have it and not to have to drive out to Depew though!

A 1952 era station, smaller than a breadbox and nestled under the skyway. Not the best welcome to the Niagara Frontier but i serves its purpose for the limited Empire Service.

The Amtrak Exchange Station is so nice that when one arrived in a cold night. Amtrak have the station closed to leave you waiting outside in a cold night.
The Buffalo Bus Station is a lot better for the budget traveler and for any type of traveler. At least the bus station have food, police patrol frenquently, and the Niagara Falls stop in the station. Plus, it is open ²⁴⁄₇! The Amtrak station is under the highway, so it doesn’t have a pleasant feeling and even though is very close to walk to Downtown area. I will advised you to do it only during the day because is very empty in the night. The only good place to find something to eat in Downtown Buffalo is Chippewa street, so take a taxi or the metro to Fountain Plaza Statation (the metro is free in Downtown).
As urban planner, separating regional bus services and the train station was a stupid idea that need to be corrected to improve the economic of Downtown Buffalo and travelers experience.

It’s unbelievable how could a company like Amtrak hate its customers so much that it can’t spend some money to make this tiny joke of a station into something decent. Add a phone, a bench, a billboard advertising how great you wish you were…
What a damn shame.

It’s a post office for a train station.
1. If you come there before the post office opens at normal business hours during normal business days, you MUST BUY A TICKET prior.
My smart and wonderful boyfriend got these tickets at his Amtrak train station near his house and carried it throughout the trip until we needed it. Then, his kind and beautiful heart helped a Chinese only speaker who didn’t buy that ticket. He told him that the ticket needs to be in your pocket before hand and then helped him go with the conductor to buy a ticket at the larger Depew station to ride the train to Penn Station.
2. It’s a Post office. No security. No inside place to sit if the post is closed. Dress warmly.
3. Close to downtown that you can walk there. It’s cold though and a taxi is preferred.