Western Rail Coalition > The Stations
America’s Historical Rail Depots
As the railroads spread across the U.S. from middle of the 1800s onwards, the various private railroads built substantial station depots to accommodate the needs of their passengers. These sometimes elaborate buildings provided the public’s first impressions of the travel by train experience and featured amenities such as comfortable waiting rooms, ticket offices, bathrooms and baggage check in services. Railroad depots, usually located at the center of communities, are dotted throughout America. Many of these much loved buildings are listed and have found new non-transportation uses, years after the last passenger trains served them.
Sadly, many recent regional / commuter rail operations, mindful of tight budgets, have provided stations with the bare minimum of facilities. Protection from very hot or very cold weather often consists of little more than a bus stop shelter which provides little respite from the conditions. Many stations lack services such as a ticket office or refreshment outlet that waiting passengers can use. In addition, a lack of staff on site can raise safety and security concerns, particularly late at night.
Therefore it makes sense that any new and reinstated passenger rail service should aim to reuse the historic depot buildings where practicable or replicate them. This will help put the railroad back at the heart of the community and encourage ridership by providing safe and comfortable places for passengers to wait.
Stations as Mobility Hubs
In most cases, the modern rail station is developed as a multi-modal mobility hub with connections to other rail lines, light rail, buses, microtransit and paratransit. In addition facilities should be provided for cyclists, taxis and rideshare services, specialty shuttles, ‘kiss-n-ride’ drop offs and pick ups and finally parking for private vehicles if the station is a ‘park-n-ride’ site.
It is preferable that stations are built in coordination with a transit orientated development (TOD) plan for the immediate surrounding area which places connecting transit modes closest to the station (e.g. buses), followed by other transportation modes (e.g. taxis / rideshare), then businesses which directly support transit ridership (e.g. convenience stores, coffee shops) and then finally dense housing and parking.
Information on the various mobility options available should be generously provided throughout the station. Comprehensive wayfinding should be provided and laid out in accordance with these best practices.
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