Amtrak Saddest Stations? <POLL QUESTION>

Windsor Locks, CT: just a bus stop-type shack--not even as complete as a Metro-North station--by the tracks.

Stamford, CT is fine. Newark, NJ is ghetto but at least there are lots of trains and things within the station, and a ghetto downtown area nearby.

I would vote for Williams Junction, AZ. It wins on all counts. In terms of amenities, there's literally nothing there but a sign and a slab of concrete. In terms of accessibility, it's not accessible by private vehicle, down a long and winding dirt track. In terms of convenience, it's in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by forest and an animal reserve. Amtrak claims that it's served by a Thruway motor coach, but it's actually a shuttle van owned and operated by the Grand Canyon Railway which links with their hotel. On using it, I presented my ticket (which counted for one of the legs on my paid for journey) to the confused driver who told me that it was a complimentary service. This was in 2010 so things may have changed. Considering the mainline goes directly over Route 66 on the edge of town just a few minutes west, I can't understand why it is where it is.

When the ATSF rebuilt and ironed out the mainlines from Bellemont to Kingman(part of that roadbed can be seen from I-40),
Williams Jct became the "new" starting point of the Branch to Phoenix using the former Mainline to Ash Fork,the "old"
Jct point. ATSF built a station at Williams Jct for passenger service("modern" style),that concrete slab is all that remains
after passenger service was discontinued to Grand Canyon by ATSF.
In the Museum at GCRY's Williams station,there's a "3D" map of the Crookton line relocation displayed.
After GCRY reopened and rebuilt the Branch to Grand Canyon,they along with Amtrak reinstated the Williams Jct
"station" at the former station site "slab" as a stop for the SW Chief.
GCRY operates the shuttle bus service.

bdawe wrote:Though it's only a train-a-day-er, I'm quite fond of Denver Union Station. post rebuild. The headhouse is a packed buzz of activity, of restaurants, travelers and a hotel. There's an underground busloop under the platforms for local, regional, and intercity buses, and light rail connections. The platform is open-access from many different directions, rather than fenced off for Amtrak kindergarten line-ups. There's level boarding for high and low floor trains. The old headhouse is a lovely building, and the new trainshed frames the station building nicely. The urban area around is nicely filled in and the station is generally surrounded in high-quality public space.

If I have to wait for a late train, DEN is the place to do it. And I like the way the rent-a-cop guarding the ramp up to the CZ's platform has been sacked. But for the newbie, it is hard to find the train. You have to go down a level to a corridor and then guess which elevator to take back up to the CZ's platform.

But my biggest gripe is that the light rail station was moved away from Union Station during the rebuild; and apparently won't be coming back.

Post-Gazette Letter

Among Amtrak's problems is a deplorable station in Pittsburgh

Brian O’Neill’s column on Amtrak (“Addition of Amtrak Train Is Up in Air,” Sept. 17) highlighted the appalling state of Amtrak train service to Pittsburgh, to say nothing of the embarrassing condition of the Amtrak station itself.

I am a resident of The Pennsylvanian apartments above the train station. I have taken the train to New York. I can only imagine what first-time visitors to Pittsburgh must think when they emerge from their trains and pass through the dingy basement train station to a dismal parking lot under a dark railroad underpass. I see them trundling along Liberty Avenue with their roller suitcases wondering where to go.

JS:

I found this letter very interesting...

Does this letter writer remember when PGH was in far worse condition - when the building which is now the Pennsylvanian - the old PRR office
building above the station - was closed and the unique rotunda entrance out front was fenced off because of its poor condition?

The PGH station was in a "ambox" adjacent to the west end of the two platforms and the only foot access was two paralleling driveways on either
side of the closed station building from parking areas out front...

This was the late 70s/early 80s era - and even though that there are fewer trains serving PGH you have an adequate facility for Amtrak there and
the former PRR building and rotunda was renovated and preserved - I remember that it was going to be a hotel before the Pennsylvanian residences
were constructed...Does anyone have any pictures of the PGH facilities back then to show how much better things are today?

MACTRAXX

I took the Pennsylvanian out to Pittsburgh last year. I didn't have a great impression, nor a bad impression. I did think the taxi area was a bit scary, but overall the station was adequate, if barely. It was cramped and crowded for departure. I had a business class ticket, so I did get to board earlier, but that queue for coach was long! Tough station for carrying baggage; silly not to offer checked and hopefully that changes with the news V-Bags. Could definitely use a second Pennsylvanian frequency as well, and a through sleeper for the existing connection to the Cap (again, when the new V-Sleepers come on line).

I think a lot of the current "sins" of Amtrak are due to aging equipment and shortages.

I too thought the Pittsburgh station was drab, derelict, and depressing when I picked up my son there this summer. A real pity especially considering the attractive refurbished building above the station, and the lively restaurant district only a block away. It sure seems like a clean, bright, pleasant station overhaul would be a great asset to this good location in a nice city.

rohr turbo wrote: It sure seems like a clean, bright, pleasant station overhaul would be a great asset to this good location in a nice city.

Sums up the entire thread right here, from Houston to New York Penn and everywhere else.

Still nominate San Antione its about 1/4 size of Pittsburgh and about same number of passengers. SAS so small not all passengers can wait in depot. Only because weather is mostly mild that passengers not affected by weather except for few days.