by mtuandrew
I took one of the tours of the St. Paul Union Depot today, offered periodically through the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority. If you live in the Twin Cities or nearby, I definitely recommend trying to register for one of these free tours at http://uniondepot.eventbrite.com/.
The building, completed in 1919, will be the only original depot in regular use in the Twin Cities, with the Minneapolis Great Northern Depot having been torn down and the Minneapolis Milwaukee Depot converted into a hotel and ice rink off rail. Josh Collins, the communications director for RCRRA, said that SPUD will be open to its first tenants - Amtrak, Jefferson Lines, and Metro Transit bus - later this year. Only two tracks will be completed at the moment, with a new covered structure leading to the Amtrak tracks past the edge of the concourse. When commuter rail and high-speed rail (whatever form that takes) get to St. Paul, the RCRRA will add tracks. However, for now Amtrak will continue to do its fueling, watering, and switching of private cars at the Midway site, on the Minnesota Commercial Railway - Mr. Collins mentioned that they would have the capacity for that at the depot at opening though.
Contrary to earlier suggestions, the Central Corridor Light Rail line is being built in front of the depot on 4th Street, cutting off the former drop-off loop and requiring two new drop-off sites: one is the carriageway under the main entrance between Jackson and Sibley Streets; the other is on the south side of Kellogg Blvd. adjoining the concourse where a new kiss-and-ride structure is being built. Otherwise, there will be a great deal of parking for Amtrak, Metro Transit, Jefferson Lines and other customers both under the depot and next to the train platforms. Another portion of the platform will be a sort of green space or plaza. Much of the rest of the former train platform will either be reserved for future use, or used for intercity bus service through Jefferson Lines, giving the state something of a regional hub.
My personal opinion: the building is beautiful, especially on the inside. I am grateful that they didn't suborn the transportation utility of the structure to the beauty and rentability (as was done in Kansas City.) It won't see much occupancy at first, with just the Empire Builder and a handful of Jefferson buses, but I'm hopeful that Minnesota will see fit to purchase regional service soon.
To see some pictures, go to http://www.facebook.com/uniondepot. Enjoy!
The building, completed in 1919, will be the only original depot in regular use in the Twin Cities, with the Minneapolis Great Northern Depot having been torn down and the Minneapolis Milwaukee Depot converted into a hotel and ice rink off rail. Josh Collins, the communications director for RCRRA, said that SPUD will be open to its first tenants - Amtrak, Jefferson Lines, and Metro Transit bus - later this year. Only two tracks will be completed at the moment, with a new covered structure leading to the Amtrak tracks past the edge of the concourse. When commuter rail and high-speed rail (whatever form that takes) get to St. Paul, the RCRRA will add tracks. However, for now Amtrak will continue to do its fueling, watering, and switching of private cars at the Midway site, on the Minnesota Commercial Railway - Mr. Collins mentioned that they would have the capacity for that at the depot at opening though.
Contrary to earlier suggestions, the Central Corridor Light Rail line is being built in front of the depot on 4th Street, cutting off the former drop-off loop and requiring two new drop-off sites: one is the carriageway under the main entrance between Jackson and Sibley Streets; the other is on the south side of Kellogg Blvd. adjoining the concourse where a new kiss-and-ride structure is being built. Otherwise, there will be a great deal of parking for Amtrak, Metro Transit, Jefferson Lines and other customers both under the depot and next to the train platforms. Another portion of the platform will be a sort of green space or plaza. Much of the rest of the former train platform will either be reserved for future use, or used for intercity bus service through Jefferson Lines, giving the state something of a regional hub.
My personal opinion: the building is beautiful, especially on the inside. I am grateful that they didn't suborn the transportation utility of the structure to the beauty and rentability (as was done in Kansas City.) It won't see much occupancy at first, with just the Empire Builder and a handful of Jefferson buses, but I'm hopeful that Minnesota will see fit to purchase regional service soon.
To see some pictures, go to http://www.facebook.com/uniondepot. Enjoy!