quote:Amtrak mulls abandoning stop at N. Idaho depot (Published June 05, 2009)
SANDPOINT, Idaho — Construction of the Sand Creek Byway here could cause Amtrak to stop using the historic Sandpoint depot as a stop on the Empire Builder passenger route, a company spokesman says.
"No decisions have been made and we're still looking at our options," Marc Magliari told the Bonner County Daily Bee.
He said the company is concerned about parking and access with the rerouting of U.S. Highway 95.
"Certainly, the access to the station and its parking are issues that we're working through," Magliari said. "That's why there's been some discussion of relocation, but there is no decision about relocating from this station at this time."
One alternative, Magliari said, would be moving the train stop elsewhere in the Sandpoint area and restoring a train route called the North Coast Hiawatha.
"We're going to study and produce a report that looks at the possibilities, and the costs and opportunities of restoring the North Coast Hiawatha service," he said.
Idaho Transportation Department spokeswoman Barbara Babic said the agency is building a paved road to the depot and has also paid to shore up the 93-year-old structure.
"What we're putting in is far better than what's there now," Babic said.
Aric Spence has started a Web site to support the historic landmark, and also chairs the Sandpoint Historic Preservation Commission's depot subcommittee.
"I'm still hoping to convince them not to abandon it," he said.
The depot was built in 1916 for the Northern Pacific Railroad and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. It is now owned by BNSF Railway and used as a stop for the Empire Builder, which runs between Chicago and Seattle.
The Sand Creek Byway will route U.S. 95 out of downtown Sandpoint on a bridge across Sand Creek and a three-lane highway. It is part of a series of construction projects in northern Idaho's lake country designed to improve traffic safety in the tourist region.
Sandpoint Mayor Gretchen Hellar said if the city were to somehow end up with the historic depot, it's unclear how it would pay for renovations and upkeep.
"To make a decision now would almost be irresponsible, but it would not be irresponsible to try and find out as much information as we can," she said.
TBlack Member # 181
posted
Interesting discussion. As I recall #7&8 go through that station in the middle of the night. I've had the occasion to get off both trains at Sandpoint, and I don't recall that the station was opened either time. So what difference does it make to passengers if Amtrak abandons the station? This sounds like a local preservation issue where the locals want Amtrak to pay to maintain one of their relics.
DeeCT Member # 3241
posted
Here is the current info on the Sandpoint station from the Amtrak website. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Station Services Station Hours No Ticket Office Hours No Quik-Trak Hours No Checked Baggage Hours No Help With Baggage Enclosed Waiting Area Payphones during station hours ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hours appear to be a period before and after arrival and departure of the Empire Builder.
I recall this station eastbound was after midnite when last I rode the Empire Builder.
It would appear that someone opens the station so that passengers have an enclosed area to wait for the train (better than an Amshack) and payphones availabe indoors (where they are not subject to vandalism) to make calls. No services though - but an upgrade from a bus shelter.
How do they handle last minute riders with no Ticket office and no Ticket machine?
Dee
ehbowen Member # 4317
posted
quote:Originally posted by DeeCT: How do they handle last minute riders with no Ticket office and no Ticket machine?
Dee
At unstaffed stations, it is always possible to purchase your tickets on board from the Conductor. (You may also do so at staffed stations although a penalty charge will apply.)
yukon11 Member # 2997
posted
I agree with Mr. Black..it seems that if there is a scheduled stop, the station in Sandpoint should be open.
The old Sandpoint station is an interesting old station, however. I hope it does not close. Another favorite is the station in Libby, Montana. Does anyone know if that one is open when the train arrives (eastbound at 5:26 AM, westbound at around 11:00 PM)? Maybe things would be different if they revive the North Coast Hiawatha.
I wonder why there was never a consideration, with both the Great Northern and the Northern Pacific passenger routes, to have the line come down to Coeur d' Alene? I believe the old Northern Pacific RR once had a route from Spokane down to Coeur d' Alene, but not sure.
Richard
George Harris Member # 2077
posted
I think that if you look at a rail map of Idaho that shows abandoned lines you will see more than one going into Coeur d'Arlene. In 1956, C d'A was shown as being served by the Great Northern, Northern Pacific, Milwuakee Road, and Spokane International. I believe that each one had their own track into the town. GN showed the service as being by bus out of Spokane. The others, just freight service only.Whenever the last passenger train was, it was pre-1945.
Where you go through in that part of the country has a lot ot do with topography.
TBlack Member # 181
posted
We used to go to Coeur d'Alene in the summer which, in the 1940's, was by train. The station stop then was Spokane and drive back to CdA. They may never have had passenger service there. The logging industry was big around the lake with several saw mills in Coeur d'Alene which would have drawn freight traffic.
TwinStarRocket Member # 2142
posted
My mid-fifties NP and GN timetables confirm what has already been said here. The NP map shows a dead end line from Spokane to Coeur d'Alene but no service. GN had a freight timetable with mileage only and "Bus Service Available".
The Empire Builder did not stop at Sandpoint in the mid-50's, and the GN mainline bypassed the Sandpoint Depot to the west. The only stops between Spokane and Cut Bank was Troy, MT and Whitefish (no Glacier Park!).
After the merger of NP and GN into Burlington Northern, Sandpoint became the point where the new BN mainline switched from the ex-GN eastbound to the ex-NP into Spokane.
RRRICH Member # 1418
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It would be nice to restore the NCH route, but isn't much of the former NP trackage in Montana now either abandonded or now owned by Montana Rail Link?
yukon11 Member # 2997
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Here is a picture of the current Montana Rail Link route
posted