The current station was built in 1977 to provide service to the Lake Shore Limited route (New York/Boston-Chicago), which was reinstated by Amtrak via Cleveland and Toledo in 1975.

The station is a service stop on Amtrak's daily Lake Shore Limited and Floridian trains, both of which pass through in the middle of the night.

[4] By 1971, because of Cleveland Union Terminal's high rent, the massive size of the facility, and the need to switch to electric locomotives to access its enclosed platforms, the newly-formed Amtrak rerouted passenger service to the ex-Big Four Railroad tracks on January 2, 1972.

The "platform" extended from the former Erie Railroad depot to the intersection of Superior Avenue and Old River Road, underneath the Detroit–Superior Bridge.

Head, vice chairman of the Amtrak Board of Directors, and Cleveland Mayor Ralph J.

[15] The Cleveland RTA Rapid Waterfront Line tracks separate the station building and Amtrak platform.

[16] There is no platform for the Waterfront Line trains, but they will stop at the station upon request, with passengers discharging at the at-grade pedestrian connection to the building.

[17] However, the Waterfront Line does not run during most of the time of day that includes Amtrak arrivals or departures.

For this reason, a group by the name of All Aboard Ohio is pushing for the restoration of rail service at Cleveland Union Terminal.

All of the ceiling elements are painted white, which tend to recede and produce a sense of airiness which is further enhanced by the floor-to-ceiling windows.