Buffalo’s Metro Rail System Sees New Train Station Open

For many people who live in and around Western New York, Buffalo's history as a major transportation hub is hard to ignore. Sitting on the terminus of the Erie Canal, being home to one of the largest rail hubs east of Chicago, and being the Queen city of Great Lakes shipping, Buffalo has a big part of transportation history.

One big piece of that history, which has sat nearly vacant downtown behind the KeyBank Center for decades, is now over as a historic train station has reopened to public rail traffic for the first time in more than 60 years.

Dozens of people gathered on the rail platforms inside the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Train Shed for the ribbon cutting and grand opening of the new DL&W Metro Rail stop.

Buffalo's Metro Rail System Sees New Train Station Open

Originally constructed in 1917 by the Erie Railroad, the The Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad station provided Western New Yorkers with passenger rail service several places in New York State and Pennsylvania, along with serving commercial train traffic until the 1960s, along with being a connection point for Lake Erie freighters tasked with ferrying coal around the Great Lakes.

Since then, large chunks of the station sat vacant while others were used by the NFTA as a depot and repair shop for the Metro Rail.

Now, thanks to some major investment from local and state government, the DL&W is getting new life as a renewed train stop for the Metro Rail, plus the massive 55,000 square foot of outdoor deck and upper level will be available for public use that will include gathering space, entertainment venue, plus spaces for food trucks and other events.

As the Metro Rail prepares to expand its reach farther into Western New York, this project is a key piece in its expansion.

You can check out photos from inside the DL&W Station's grand opening below.