Passenger Trains > Has anyone seen the new Niagara Falls station?

From the photo I saw from a local TV station, it appears to have a high level platform.  How many tracks in the station?
The Google posting also said the new facility includes customs and border offices, an underground rail musuem (what's this?) and retail space (any fast food or newstands in there yet?)
Where is the new facility in relation to the former station?  When a train terminates, does it stay in the new station or shuttle over to the old station for cleaning and maintenance?
Thanks!
Andy

I understand that a NARP official was at the opening -- maybe they will provide the answers to your questions.

Pictures posted here:  https://www.facebook.com/narprail/

With the start of service at the new station, trains #281 & #283 now run straight into the new station, deboard passengers and then are backed out to the Tuscarora Wye at CP 22 & 69 for turning, before being backed into the maintenance base at the old Lockport Road station for overnight servicing. In the morning, the trains are pulled forward out the storage tracks and then backed down to the new high level platform for boarding.

A new Niagara Falls-based switch crew is on duty overnights six days a week to handle the majority of these non-revenue moves. With the later departure of the Sunday only #288, the road crews will do all of the non-revneue moves on Saturday nights into Sundays (and on specific holidays).

Longer-term plans are for New York State to construct a new Maintenance Facility on the former Lehigh Valley RR yard site just east of the Lockport Road facility. This would include a fully enclosed & heated service building; currently all work is done outdoors which can be a real challenge for the dedicated Niagara Falls Mechancial Department  crews during the winter months.

 

There is currently only one high level platform, through the design does potentially allow for the addition of another stub end track & platform in the future if needed.

The City of Niagara Falls is actively seeking tenants for the first floor retail spaces, though no businesses have started yet.

The Underground Railroad Heritage Center is housed in the first floor of the historic Customs House building. The U.S. Customs & Immigration Processing Center is on the second floor of the Customs House.

The new station is due west of the former station and is at the eastern end of the Whirlpool Bridge. Amtrak's station page for NFL has been updated and the embedded Google Map shows both locations well...

 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/07/16 09:41 by mbutte.

Midweek  HOTLINE  nARP has a good  video.

It's a nice station with parking & more.
 

On the other hand, the local fish-wrap, the Niagara Falls Reporter, seems to view this facility as a white elephant and a drain on city resources. Time will tell.

http://niagarafallsreporter.com/never-wait-line-new-niagara-falls-amtrak-station/

 

Paul Wilson
Arlington, VA

Dcmcrider Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> On the other hand, the local fish-wrap, the
> Niagara Falls Reporter, seems to view this
> facility as a white elephant and a drain on city
> resources. Time will tell.
>
> http://niagarafallsreporter.com/never-wait-line-ne
> w-niagara-falls-amtrak-station/
>

The Niagara Falls Reporter does not publish an actual newspaper - no fish-wrap here.
 

toledopatch Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Dcmcrider Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > On the other hand, the local fish-wrap, the
> > Niagara Falls Reporter, seems to view this
> > facility as a white elephant and a drain on
> city
> > resources. Time will tell.
> >
> >
> http://niagarafallsreporter.com/never-wait-line-ne
>
> > w-niagara-falls-amtrak-station/
> >
>
> The Niagara Falls Reporter does not publish an
> actual newspaper - no fish-wrap here.
>  

And this matters because....? Very few read *any* newspaper in print anymore. Seems like they've done a fairly credible piece on this facility's prospects, or lack of same.

Paul Wilson
Arlington, VA