Passenger Trains > Birmingham Amtrak station an embarrassment

Birmingham's Amtrak station is a disservice to travelers: reader opinion
Alabama Media Group
Reader opinion
October 21, 2014

> Amtrak station is an embarrassment
>
> This week, my sister and I decided to take the train to New Orleans
> for a quick trip. She came down from Huntsville to join me.
>
> I have never been so embarrassed in my life when we arrived at the
> Amtrak station. I was aware the existing terminal was being torn down
> to be replaced by a newer intermodal facility and a temporary
> location was being used, but what we encountered was disgusting.
>
> The area was seedy at best. The inside of the building was dimly lit,
> dirty, stinky, moldy and the seating was old with broken springs.
> When we sat down, the legs wobbled. We were approached by more than
> one beggar wanting money. The staff was polite but looked unkempt and
> slouched around like they really did not want to be there. When the
> train arrived, passengers had to drag their carry-on baggage up two
> flight of steps to the track level.
>
> Come on Birmingham, think of your first and last impression of your
> city. This was disgusting. At least put up a sign that says "pardon
> our progress" so people will know this is not the real "us." Or is
> it?
>
> Let me say that our train ride was a very pleasant, enjoyable
> experience, as long as we do not have to come and go from the present
> conditions. I have hope.

Full story:

Birmingham's Amtrak station is a disservice to travelers: reader opinion


And here is what's being done:

Birmingham's $30 million intermodal station set to start construction
Birmingham News
by Michael Tomberlin

January 21, 2014
>
> BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – Birmingham Mayor William Bell said the city’s
> new $30 million, three-block intermodal station should start
> construction within the next couple of months, bringing together
> Amtrak, Greyhound, the BJCTA and automotive transportation together
> in one place.
>
> Bell said funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation and a
> commitment with the Birmingham-Jefferson Country Transit Authority
> are both in place, paving the way for the project to move forward.
>
> “This project is an example of the city’s investment in downtown,”
> Bell said in an interview. “That, in-turn, encourages the private
> sector to invest in projects like the Thomas Jefferson Tower.”

Full story:

Birmingham's $30 million intermodal station set to start construction

Artist's conception of new station:



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/22/14 10:57 by GenePoon.

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Hope the beggars will appreciate their new upscale $30 million digs.

I"m missing the point here: the present station is disgusting, so they are replacing it. That's what should happen. Remember when Trenton was horrible?

Ptolemy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I"m missing the point here: the present station is
> disgusting, so they are replacing it. That's what
> should happen. Remember when Trenton was
> horrible?


The lady is complaining about the temporary station while the new one is being built, apparently upset that a magic wand didn't create the new station instantly.

Kind of like you were doing recently, crying about Amtrak being delayed by construction to expand NS capacity in northern Indiana that is designed to aid Amtrak.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/22/14 11:42 by darkcloud.

darkcloud Wrote:


>
> Kind of like you were doing recently, crying about
> Amtrak being delayed by construction to expand NS
> capacity in northern Indiana that is designed to
> aid Amtrak.

Don't be nasty! Be a good boy.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/22/14 11:45 by Ptolemy.

The situation in Birmingham has been bad ever since the main building of the 1960 L&N station (now razed) was reallocated to lease space for a law firm. Background at http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,1530101

The new station looks like it will be quite impressive. Good for B'ham.

I like the idea of having local bus, rail, intercity bus etc in one place to facilitate connections.

People should be appreciative and grateful to have the service and not voice petty gripes about temporary unavoidable inconveniences resulting from projects that are making lasting major improvements.
When the Southern applied to discontinue the Southern Crescent,the ICC Examiner actually approved the railroads request. When opponents appealed this ruling, the full ICC Board ordered the train to be operated by Southern until August 4, 1979. Subsequent to this order, the Southern worked out an arrangement to turn the train over to Amtrak on February 1, 1979. Had the full ICC Board agreed with the Examiner, the train would have been discontinued!
This case really worked opposite of most. Usually, the Examiner opposed discontinuances that later were approved by the full board.
Something good is happening in Birmingham! Be patient and appreciative!
Allen

Gawd, that new station looks like it's straight out of the 60's! Reminds me of the Miami Amtrak station, soon to be closed.

Ptolemy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I"m missing the point here: the present station is
> disgusting, so they are replacing it. That's what
> should happen. Remember when Trenton was
> horrible?


The old Trenton station was never horrible.

During construction, various parts of the station building were open to the public as they were completed/not yet begun, and the construction was obvious.

Not sure what the situation is at Birmingham.....

Perhaps the point of the writer was not that "its gonna get fixed some day maybe if the government comes through with the cash," but that the temporary facility is so bad even though it has been in use for - lets see - how many years?

Has anyone here been to the wonderful Indianapolis "intermodal" facility in the past 30 years? It is a dump, dingy, dirty, with one of the nastiest restrooms in America. Indy isn't planning to replace it, either.

As for seeming "uncaring" employees, We passenger train supporters tolerate this every day. Some of us have family working for Amtrak and understand the low morale as well.

It is what it is. Birmingham is headed in the right direction, but until the new facility is built, folks will still have a bad experience at the Amtrak facility. And that is an inconvenient truth.

timecruncher

So wait, let me get this straight - this is all about complaining about a temporary station because they're investing in a nice new facility? Wow, talk about seeing the glass half empty.

hsr_fan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So wait, let me get this straight - this is all
> about complaining about a temporary station
> because they're investing in a nice new facility?
> Wow, talk about seeing the glass half empty.

My heart be still !!! ... no reference to the Turboliners in Bear,De

Posted from Android



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/23/14 00:44 by Out_Of_Service.

I was at Indy 24 years ago. But I was 3 at the time. And a 3 year old going to ride a train doesn't care. But let me tell you about what I remember of the broken coach's on the train c omming back from Chicago.
>
> Has anyone here been to the wonderful Indianapolis
> "intermodal" facility in the past 30 years? It is
> a dump, dingy, dirty, with one of the nastiest
> restrooms in America. Indy isn't planning to
> replace it, either.
>

Posted from Android

Ptolemy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I"m missing the point here: the present station is
> disgusting, so they are replacing it. That's what
> should happen. Remember when Trenton was
> horrible?


Ummmm......the jury may still be out on the Trenton train station.....let's just say it has "improved."