urbanSTL

bonwich wrote:Another delay! Who would have thought it?

Amtrak’s move date has been pushed back another month, this time to September, spokesman Marc Magliari said.

Source

Thanks for the info. BTW, someone on another forum found out that Greyhound is scheduled to move in on August 19th.

does anyone else think the colored glass is really tacky - just sayin'

markofucity wrote:does anyone else think the colored glass is really tacky - just sayin'

I said that as soon as it started going up. It's awful and very "modern" in a campy 70s sort of way. Not professional or attractive at all.

At least it'll be easy to replace when everyone gets tired of it.

With a modest funding from MoDOT (maybe 1-3 million for operations) you should be able to extend service from Quincy into St. Louis for an additional 1-2 trains a day between STL and Chicago while providing service to Hannibal. Just a thought.



Not sure what Amtrak/Illinois names the current service between Chicago and Quincy nor if I'm correct in the actual track structure that would make this viable without any more capital expenses. Tweaking the schedule could utilize current equipment

The trains to Quincy from Chicago are called the Illinois Zephyr and the Carl Sandburg. Someone mentioned on here that there used to be Amtrak service to Quincy from St Louis, but that it had some track issues. So I think some capital improvements would be necessary. The route looks scenic with much of the line along the river. I would certainly be interested using such a route for a tourist trip to Hannibal.

I hope they install a huge modern sign above the tracks, fronting 40. If they don't, it could be a missed opportunity for some good advertising. I'm thinking a very modern, lighted sign.

I also like the colored windows.

Dredger wrote:With a modest funding from MoDOT (maybe 1-3 million for operations) you should be able to extend service from Quincy into St. Louis for an additional 1-2 trains a day between STL and Chicago while providing service to Hannibal. Just a thought.



Not sure what Amtrak/Illinois names the current service between Chicago and Quincy nor if I'm correct in the actual track structure that would make this viable without any more capital expenses. Tweaking the schedule could utilize current equipment

Amtrak never had a train between St. Louis and Quincy and to operate to Chicago via this route would be circuitous and slow. Also, extending the service to St. Louis might cause problems with equipment rotation for the state-supported Quicy-Chicago service. The state of Illinois probably would not be too keen on the possibility of messing up a service that is already doing well.



The best thing to do concerning Chicago-St. Louis would be to add several long passing sidings at strategic locations, to allow added frequencies. This probably would cost about $15 million and new signaling to allow 90 mph speeds would probably cost another $15 mil. Then we could add more frequencies, probably 8-10 each way, over the five we now have.



One other rumor: I hear the state of Illinois is about to buy and rehab 50 secondhand ex-Santa Fe RR hi-level cars for use on Illinois corridors. If so, this would be a vast improvement over the Amfleet and Horizonl;iner junk now being operated.

blueeyes wrote:

bonwich wrote:Another delay! Who would have thought it?

Amtrak’s move date has been pushed back another month, this time to September, spokesman Marc Magliari said.

Source

Thanks for the info. BTW, someone on another forum found out that Greyhound is scheduled to move in on August 19th.

Looks like that is the case

Greyhound Moving To New St. Louis Location Tuesday



KSDK -- Greyhound bus lines is moving into a new St. Louis home.



A new location opens Tuesday at 430 S. 15th Street, about two and a half miles from the former Greyhound terminal at 1450 N. 13th Street. The new facility is called the Gateway Transportation Center.

link

Looks like the Greyhound and Amtrak signs went up on the building this week.



I saw them on the 14th Street side closer to the tracks.

Stopped in to check it out today (Saturday - 9/13/2008)

Looks good and it was busy. To get to the Greyhound gates - you must go through security and I assume it will be the same when Amtrak moves in at the end of the month. Thank Goodness that those arriving to STL will experience a new and fresh arrival/departure station experience and STLians a better way to go Amtrak too. It will be great in the winter and hot summer not to have to stand outside for the trains!

So I'm riding Amtrak for the first time in my life next month, for meetins in Jeff City. Actually I've only ever rode a real choo choo train in the UK.



How long prior to departure do I need to get there?

I ate at Flannery's last weekend, and I noticed a steady stream of Greyhound busses travelling South on 14th street (from North of Washington). I thought it was kind of cool to see this extra bit of activity moving through Downtown.

I'm guessing it will be that way for a while. The greyhound garage is still on Cass across from the old station, so I assume a lot of buses will still head up there for service and cleaning. I drove by the old Cass Bank 2 days after the new station opened, and there were a bunch of people with banks standing around trying to figure out what happened. Not to be mean, but it was more of the bus station trash types that were confused.

If you are already ticketed, arriving at the station 20 to 30 minutes ahead of departure is more than enough time. They start loading about 10 minutes prior to departure

Maybe we need security!!!



Man arrested at St. Louis Amtrak station for bringing gun on board

04:21 PM CDT on Monday, September 1, 2008

ST. LOUIS (KMOV) -- A man in his 20s was arrested Monday morning after carrying a gun onto an Amtrak train.



According to police, a passenger on the train complained that another passenger had a paintball gun on board. Officials discovered the man was carrying a real gun, not a paintball gun.



The train, which was near the McKinley Bridge, went back to the Amtrak station.



While the gun was not loaded, the man did have ammunition in his backpack.



The man was charged with unlawful use of a weapon.

The new Gateway Transportation Center DOES have security to all gates for Greyhound and Amtrak.



Amtrak is beefing up secuirty procedures in most major cities across the country.



The new Gateway Transportation center has security before going to any of the Greyhound bus gates in bus concourse and also will have security at new station going to all Amtrak Train gates/platforms.



Amtrak is not operating yet out of the new station (above article) yet and will move in shortly. The station has more control (like the airports) for scurity procedures.

matguy70 wrote:The new Gateway Transportation Center DOES have security to all gates for Greyhound and Amtrak.



Amtrak is beefing up secuirty procedures in most major cities across the country.

Because no real threat would ever think to just get on Middle-of-Nowhere, North Dakota and ride to Chicago. Around here, they'll just start catching the train in security-free Kirkwood and Alton while the big new station just hassles good people. Or they could just attack the rail before the train gets there. Security measures at train stations are a farce, just like security at airports is a farce. Amtrak and Greyhound are going to lose serious business from the crowds that use them so they don't have to be bothered by airport security measures.



I for one prefer traveling without the threat of a TSA nightstick being shoved up my...



-asg