Jump to content

Midway station (Minnesota): Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 44°57′47″N 93°11′05″W / 44.9631°N 93.1846°W / 44.9631; -93.1846
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
No edit summary
Added details
Line 2: Line 2:
| style=Amtrak
| style=Amtrak
| name=Midway Station
| name=Midway Station
| type=[[Amtrak]] property/service stop
| type=[[Amtrak]] station<br>(Still used as a service stop, but not for passenger service)
| image=St Paul station.jpg
| image=St Paul station.jpg
| image_size=
| image_size=
| image_caption=
| image_caption=
| address=730 Transfer Road<br />Saint Paul, Minnesota 55114
| address=730 Transfer Road<br />[[Saint Paul, Minnesota|Saint Paul]], [[Minnesota]] 55114
| country={{USA}}
| coordinates={{coord|44.9631|N|93.1846|W|format=dms|type:railwaystation_region:US-MN|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates={{coord|44.9631|N|93.1846|W|format=dms|type:railwaystation_region:US-MN|display=inline,title}}
| line={{rail color box|system=Amtrak|line=Empire Builder}}{{rail color box|system=Amtrak|line=North Coast Hiawatha}}{{rail color box|system=Amtrak|line=North Star}}
| line={{rail color box|system=Amtrak|line=Empire Builder}}{{rail color box|system=Amtrak|line=North Coast Hiawatha}}{{rail color box|system=Amtrak|line=North Star}}
| other=
| other=
| platform= 1 [[side platform]], 1 [[island platform]]
| platform= 1 [[side platform]]<br>1 [[island platform]]
| tracks=3
| tracks=3
| passengers=116,991<ref>{{cite web |title= Amtrak Fact Sheet, FY2013, State of Minnesota|publisher= [[Amtrak]] |date= November 2013 |url= http://www.amtrak.com/pdf/factsheets/MINNESOTA13.pdf |format= PDF |accessdate= 3 December 2013}}</ref>
| passengers=116,991<ref>{{cite web|title=Amtrak Fact Sheet, FY2013, State of Minnesota|website=amtrak.com|publisher=[[Amtrak]]|date=Nov 2013|url=http://www.amtrak.com/pdf/factsheets/MINNESOTA13.pdf|format=PDF|accessdate=3 Dec 2013}}</ref>
| pass_year=2013
| pass_year=FY2013
| pass_percent=-2.9
| pass_percent=-2.9
| pass_system=Amtrak
| pass_system=[[Amtrak]]
| opened=March 1, 1978<ref name="gnrhs-75">{{cite web|url=http://www.gnrhs.org/75th_anniversary.htm|title=The Empire Builder 75th Anniversary|publisher=Great Northern Railway Historical Society|date=June 11, 2004|accessdate=September 10, 2010}}</ref>
| opened=March 1, 1978<ref name="gnrhs-75">{{cite web|url=http://www.gnrhs.org/75th_anniversary.htm|title=The Empire Builder 75th Anniversary|publisher=Great Northern Railway Historical Society|date=11 Jun 2004|accessdate=10 Sep 2010}}</ref>
| closed=May 7, 2014<ref>http://www.uniondepot.org/union-depot-officials-announce-amtrak-arrival-date-national-train-day-celebration/</ref>
| closed=May 7, 2014<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uniondepot.org/union-depot-officials-announce-amtrak-arrival-date-national-train-day-celebration/|title=Union Depot Officials Announce Amtrak Arrival Date and National Train Day Celebration|website=www.uniondepot.org|publisher=Union Depot|date=2 Apr 2014|accessdate=29 May 2014}}</ref>
| code=MSP{{refn|group="Note"|The [[station code]] '''MSP''' is now used by the [[Saint Paul Union Depot]].}}
| owned=Amtrak. Track owned by [[Minnesota Commercial Railway]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.greatamericanstations.com/Stations/MSP/Station_view|title=St. Paul-Minneapolis, MN (MSP)|work=Great American Stations|publisher=Amtrak|accessdate=September 20, 2010}}</ref>
| owned=Amtrak<br>Some track owned by [[Minnesota Commercial Railway]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.greatamericanstations.com/Stations/MSP/Station_view|title=St. Paul-Minneapolis, MN (MSP)|website=www.greatamericanstations.com|publisher=[[Amtrak]]|accessdate=12 May 2014}}</ref><br>{{not in citation given|date=May 2014}}
| zone=
| zone=
| services=
| services=
{{s-note|text=Former&nbsp;services}}
| map_locator = [[Image:Twin Cities 7 Metro map.png|200px]]
{{s-rail|title=Amtrak}}
{{s-line|system=Amtrak|line=Empire Builder|notemid=1978-2014|previous=St. Cloud|next=Red Wing}}
{{s-line|system=Amtrak|line=North Star|notemid=1981-1985|previous=Cambridge|rows1=2}}
{{s-line|system=Amtrak|line=North Star (1978-1981)|notemid=1978-1981|previous=Cambridge|next=Red Wing|rows2=2|hide1=true}}
{{s-line|system=Amtrak|line=North Coast Hiawatha|notemid=1978-1979|previous=St. Cloud|next=Red Wing|hide2=true}}
| map_locator={{Location map
| USA Minnesota
| lat = 44.9631
| long = -93.1846
| float = center
| caption = Location of Midway Station within Minnesota
| alt = Location of the Midway Amtrak Station
}}
}}
}}
'''Midway Station''' is a former [[Amtrak]] [[train station]] in [[Saint Paul, Minnesota]], named after the [[Neighborhoods of Saint Paul|Midway area]] which is roughly halfway between the downtowns of St. Paul and neighboring [[Minneapolis, Minnesota|Minneapolis]]. Its Amtrak station code was '''MSP''' and from 1978 to 2014 served as the only intercity train station for the [[Minneapolis-Saint Paul]] metropolitan area. It was served by Amtrak's daily ''[[Empire Builder]]'' and was also served for a time by the [[North Star (train)|North Star]] and for a brief time early in its history the [[North Coast Hiawatha]]. Midway was closed and replaced by the restored [[Saint Paul Union Depot]] on May 7, 2014.


'''Midway Station''' is an [[Amtrak]] (the National Railroad Passenger Corporation) [[train station]] in the [[Neighborhoods in Saint Paul, Minnesota#Midway|Midway]] neighborhood of [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|Saint Paul]], [[Minnesota]], [[United States]]. It was served by Amtrak's daily ''[[Empire Builder]]'' (with service from [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]] to [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]] or [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]], [[Oregon]] and for a time by the [[North Star (train)|North Star]] (with service from Chicago [but later [[Wiktionary:truncate|truncated]] to this station] to [[Duluth, Minnesota|Duluth]], Minnesota) as well as briefly by the [[North Coast Hiawatha]] (with service from Chicago to Seattle). Midway station was closed for passenger service on May 7, 2014, with passenger service being moved to the restored [[Saint Paul Union Depot]]. However, the station is still owned by Amtrak and continues to be used by Amtrak to service the ''Empire Builder''.<ref name="Whats New">{{cite web|url=http://www.allaboardmn.org/?page_id=32|title=What’s New|website=www.allaboardmn.org|publisher=All Aboard Minnesota|date=2014|accessdate=19 May 2014||quote=Amtrak plans to stop the ''Empire Builder'' at Midway each day to water and service the train and add/drop off coaches and private cars.}}</ref>
==History==
When it opened in 1978, Midway Station took over traffic from the [[Minneapolis Great Northern Depot]], which itself had combined the services of the Minneapolis station and the [[Saint Paul Union Depot]] when Amtrak began operating in 1971.<ref name="gnrhs-75"/> The Great Northern depot was later demolished. On May 7, 2014, the Amtrak passenger stop in the Twin Cities moved to the renovated and reopened [[Saint Paul Union Depot]]. At that time the Midway station was closed to the public, but still serves as a service stop for the train.<ref>Bowen, Douglas John, [http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/passenger/intercity/amtrak-moves-into-st-paul-union-depot.html?channel=41 "Amtrak moves into St. Paul Union Depot"], Railway Age, May 8, 2014</ref><ref>[http://www.allaboardmn.org/?page_id=32 "What’s New"], All Aboard Minnesota, 2014</ref>


==Former Services==
==Description==
The Midway Station is located 730 Transfer Road in Saint Paul<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timetables.org/full.php?group=20101108&item=0024|title=Amtrak System Timetables|website=timetables.org|author=[[Amtrak]]|publisher=The Museum of Railway Timetables|page=21|date=8 Nov 2010|accessdate=29 May 2014}}</ref> and is named after the [[Neighborhoods of Saint Paul|Midway area]] which is roughly halfway between the downtowns of Saint Paul and neighboring [[Minneapolis, Minnesota|Minneapolis]]. Its Amtrak station code was '''MSP''' and from 1978 to 2014 served as the only intercity train station for the [[Minneapolis-Saint Paul]] metropolitan area. The station can be easily accessed from [[Interstate 94 in Minnesota|I-94]]/[[U.S. Route 12 in Minnesota|US 12]]/[[U.S. Route 52 in Minnesota|US 52]], by way of the Cretin Avenue North/Vandalia Street interchange (Exit 237). To reach the station, turn north onto Vandalia Street, then southeast onto University Avenue West, and then north onto Transfer Road. The station is located next to tracks owned by the [[Minnesota Commercial Railway]] and marks a division point between running on the [[Canadian Pacific Railway]] (former [[Milwaukee Road]] tracks between Chicago and St. Paul) and the [[BNSF Railway]] (former [[Great Northern Railway (U.S.)|Great Northern Railway]] tracks between Minneapolis and Seattle.) There are two platforms at the station, though the ''Empire Builder'' only used the side platform nearest the station building. There is a second island platform that serves two tracks, but it was rarely used. There are also two spurs behind the main platform which are used for storage and display of historic train cars.
The station served the ''[[North Coast Hiawatha]]'' until that service ended 1979. It also served the [[North Star (train)|''North Star'']] to [[Duluth, Minnesota|Duluth]]; when that service was discontinued Amtrak's [[Thruway Motorcoach]] began service to Duluth in 1985.


==History==
The only rail service at this station for most of its existence was the ''[[Empire Builder]]'', named to honor Saint Paul-based mogul [[James J. Hill]] who constructed the [[Great Northern Railway (U.S.)|Great Northern Railway]], and whose nickname was "The Empire Builder". Westbound trains head for [[Spokane, Washington]] (splitting to serve [[Seattle, Washington]] and [[Portland, Oregon]]) while eastbound trains head for [[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago]]. There were several intermittent stops between. About one-eighth of ''Empire Builder'' passengers boarded or arrived at this station.<!-- 515,444 total Builder passengers, 133k boardings+alightings at this station, so 67k/515k is about 1/8 -->
When it opened in 1978, Midway Station took over traffic from the [[Minneapolis Great Northern Depot]], which itself had combined the services of the Minneapolis station and the [[Saint Paul Union Depot]] when Amtrak began operating in 1971.<ref name="gnrhs-75"/> The Great Northern Depot was later demolished. On May 7, 2014, the Amtrak passenger stop in the Twin Cities moved to the renovated and reopened [[Saint Paul Union Depot]]. At that time the Midway station was closed to the public, but still serves as a service stop for the train.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/passenger/intercity/amtrak-moves-into-st-paul-union-depot.html?channel=41|title=Amtrak moves into St. Paul Union Depot|last=Bowen|first=Douglas John|work=[[Railway Age]]|publisher=Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation|date=8 May 2014|accessdate=29 May 2014}}</ref><ref name="Whats New"/>


===Former services===
==Layout==
After opening, the station briefly served the ''[[North Coast Hiawatha]]'' until that service ended 1979. The ''North Coast Hiawatha'' ran three times per week from Chicago to Seattle with the next westbound stop having been in [[St. Cloud, Minnesota|St. Cloud]], Minnesota and the next eastbound stop having been in [[Red Wing, Minnesota|Red Wing]], Minnesota. The station was also served by the ''[[North Star (train)|North Star]]'' with service to from Chicago to [[Duluth, Minnesota|Duluth]], with the stop having been in [[Cambridge, Minnesota|Cambridge]], Minnesota and the next southbound stop having also been in Red Wing until serviced was truncated from Chicago to this station in 1981. After the the ''North Star'' was discontinued in 1985, Amtrak has continued service to Duluth with its [[Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach|Thruway Motorcoach]] service.
The station is located next to tracks owned by the [[Minnesota Commercial Railway]] and marks a division point between running on the [[Canadian Pacific Railway]] (former [[Milwaukee Road]] tracks between Chicago and St. Paul) and the [[BNSF Railway]] (former [[Great Northern Railway (U.S.)|Great Northern Railway]] tracks between Minneapolis and Seattle.)


The primary rail service at this station for most of its existence was the ''[[Empire Builder]]'', named to honor Saint Paul-based mogul [[James J. Hill]] who constructed the [[Great Northern Railway (U.S.)|Great Northern Railway]], and whose nickname was "The Empire Builder". Westbound trains head for [[Spokane, Washington]] (splitting to serve [[Seattle, Washington]] and [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]], [[Oregon]]) while eastbound trains head for [[Chicago]]. There were several intermittent stops between. The next westbound stop for the ''Empire Builder'' was also in St. Cloud and the next eastbound stop was also in Red Wing. About one-eighth of ''Empire Builder'' passengers boarded or arrived at this station.<!-- 515,444 total Builder passengers, 133k boardings+alightings at this station, so 67k/515k is about 1/8 -->
There are two platforms at the station, though the ''Empire Builder'' only used the side platform nearest the station building. There is a second island platform that serves two tracks, but it was rarely used. There are also two spurs behind the main platform which are used for storage and display of historic train cars.

==Former lines==

{{s-start}}
{{s-note|text=Former&nbsp;services}}
{{s-rail|title=Amtrak}}
{{s-line|system=Amtrak|line=Empire Builder|notemid=1978-2014|previous=St. Cloud|next=Red Wing}}
{{s-line|system=Amtrak|line=North Coast Hiawatha|notemid=1978-1979|previous=St. Cloud|next=Red Wing}}
{{s-end}}


==See also==
==See also==
Line 51: Line 56:
*[[Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Depot Freight House and Train Shed]] – Former Minneapolis destination for Milwaukee Road, Soo Line, and Rock Island passenger trains
*[[Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Depot Freight House and Train Shed]] – Former Minneapolis destination for Milwaukee Road, Soo Line, and Rock Island passenger trains
*[[Minneapolis Great Northern Depot]] – Former Minneapolis destination for Chicago and Northwestern, Great Northern, and Northern Pacific passenger trains
*[[Minneapolis Great Northern Depot]] – Former Minneapolis destination for Chicago and Northwestern, Great Northern, and Northern Pacific passenger trains

==Notes==
{{reflist|group="Note"}}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist|22em}}


==External links==
==External links==
Line 59: Line 67:
*[http://subwaynut.com/amtrak/stpaul/index.html Minneapolis-St. Paul's Midway Station (The SubwayNut)]
*[http://subwaynut.com/amtrak/stpaul/index.html Minneapolis-St. Paul's Midway Station (The SubwayNut)]
*[http://hebners.net/amtrak/amtSTAtionGM/MN-StPaulMN.jpg March 2004 Photo by Greg Smith] (Amtrak Photo Archives)
*[http://hebners.net/amtrak/amtSTAtionGM/MN-StPaulMN.jpg March 2004 Photo by Greg Smith] (Amtrak Photo Archives)



{{Twin Cities Railroads}}
{{Twin Cities Railroads}}

Revision as of 20:51, 8 July 2014

Midway Station
Amtrak station
(Still used as a service stop, but not for passenger service)
General information
Location730 Transfer Road
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55114
 United States
Coordinates44°57′47″N 93°11′05″W / 44.9631°N 93.1846°W / 44.9631; -93.1846
Owned byAmtrak
Some track owned by Minnesota Commercial Railway[1]
[failed verification]
Line(s)
Platforms1 side platform
1 island platform
Tracks3
Other information
Station codeMSP[Note 1]
History
OpenedMarch 1, 1978[2]
ClosedMay 7, 2014[3]
Passengers
FY2013116,991[4]Decrease 2.9% (Amtrak)
Services
  Former services  
Preceding station   Amtrak   Following station
Template:Amtrak lines
1978-2014
Template:Amtrak lines
1981-1985
Terminus
Template:Amtrak lines
1978-1981
Template:Amtrak lines
1978-1979

Midway Station is an Amtrak (the National Railroad Passenger Corporation) train station in the Midway neighborhood of Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. It was served by Amtrak's daily Empire Builder (with service from Chicago, Illinois to Seattle, Washington or Portland, Oregon and for a time by the North Star (with service from Chicago [but later truncated to this station] to Duluth, Minnesota) as well as briefly by the North Coast Hiawatha (with service from Chicago to Seattle). Midway station was closed for passenger service on May 7, 2014, with passenger service being moved to the restored Saint Paul Union Depot. However, the station is still owned by Amtrak and continues to be used by Amtrak to service the Empire Builder.[5]

Description

The Midway Station is located 730 Transfer Road in Saint Paul[6] and is named after the Midway area which is roughly halfway between the downtowns of Saint Paul and neighboring Minneapolis. Its Amtrak station code was MSP and from 1978 to 2014 served as the only intercity train station for the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area. The station can be easily accessed from I-94/US 12/US 52, by way of the Cretin Avenue North/Vandalia Street interchange (Exit 237). To reach the station, turn north onto Vandalia Street, then southeast onto University Avenue West, and then north onto Transfer Road. The station is located next to tracks owned by the Minnesota Commercial Railway and marks a division point between running on the Canadian Pacific Railway (former Milwaukee Road tracks between Chicago and St. Paul) and the BNSF Railway (former Great Northern Railway tracks between Minneapolis and Seattle.) There are two platforms at the station, though the Empire Builder only used the side platform nearest the station building. There is a second island platform that serves two tracks, but it was rarely used. There are also two spurs behind the main platform which are used for storage and display of historic train cars.

History

When it opened in 1978, Midway Station took over traffic from the Minneapolis Great Northern Depot, which itself had combined the services of the Minneapolis station and the Saint Paul Union Depot when Amtrak began operating in 1971.[2] The Great Northern Depot was later demolished. On May 7, 2014, the Amtrak passenger stop in the Twin Cities moved to the renovated and reopened Saint Paul Union Depot. At that time the Midway station was closed to the public, but still serves as a service stop for the train.[7][5]

Former services

After opening, the station briefly served the North Coast Hiawatha until that service ended 1979. The North Coast Hiawatha ran three times per week from Chicago to Seattle with the next westbound stop having been in St. Cloud, Minnesota and the next eastbound stop having been in Red Wing, Minnesota. The station was also served by the North Star with service to from Chicago to Duluth, with the stop having been in Cambridge, Minnesota and the next southbound stop having also been in Red Wing until serviced was truncated from Chicago to this station in 1981. After the the North Star was discontinued in 1985, Amtrak has continued service to Duluth with its Thruway Motorcoach service.

The primary rail service at this station for most of its existence was the Empire Builder, named to honor Saint Paul-based mogul James J. Hill who constructed the Great Northern Railway, and whose nickname was "The Empire Builder". Westbound trains head for Spokane, Washington (splitting to serve Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon) while eastbound trains head for Chicago. There were several intermittent stops between. The next westbound stop for the Empire Builder was also in St. Cloud and the next eastbound stop was also in Red Wing. About one-eighth of Empire Builder passengers boarded or arrived at this station.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The station code MSP is now used by the Saint Paul Union Depot.

References

  1. ^ "St. Paul-Minneapolis, MN (MSP)". www.greatamericanstations.com. Amtrak. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  2. ^ a b "The Empire Builder 75th Anniversary". Great Northern Railway Historical Society. 11 Jun 2004. Retrieved 10 Sep 2010.
  3. ^ "Union Depot Officials Announce Amtrak Arrival Date and National Train Day Celebration". www.uniondepot.org. Union Depot. 2 Apr 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  4. ^ "Amtrak Fact Sheet, FY2013, State of Minnesota" (PDF). amtrak.com. Amtrak. Nov 2013. Retrieved 3 Dec 2013.
  5. ^ a b "What's New". www.allaboardmn.org. All Aboard Minnesota. 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2014. Amtrak plans to stop the Empire Builder at Midway each day to water and service the train and add/drop off coaches and private cars. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  6. ^ Amtrak (8 Nov 2010). "Amtrak System Timetables". timetables.org. The Museum of Railway Timetables. p. 21. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  7. ^ Bowen, Douglas John (8 May 2014). "Amtrak moves into St. Paul Union Depot". Railway Age. Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation. Retrieved 29 May 2014.