Train Stations

Master Plan Envisions New Neighborhood Around Philly’s 30th Street Station
A partnership led by Amtrak plans to redevelop the area around a historic train station with mixed-use buildings, cultural amenities, and open space.

A Citizen-Led Plan Would Revamp Salt Lake’s Transit and Freeway Mix
The Rio Grande Plan would restore rail service to the Rio Grande Depot and reconnect a community divided by a freeway in Salt Lake City.

Owner of Phoenix’s Union Station Eyeing Redevelopment
The new owner of the historic Union Station in Phoenix has plans to transform the site into a mixed-use events venue.

Historic Preservation Appeal Could Delay Penn Station Redevelopment
New York State's Historic Preservation Office has moved to place the notorious Penn Station on the National Register of Historic Places, potentially upending redevelopment plans.

No Fare Hikes for Chicago in 2019 Budget
The Chicago Transit Agency 2019 includes a flyover at the Belmont train station, rehabs for two Blue Line stops, and Red and Purple Line modernizations, among other things.

Reclaiming Malls: How About a High-Speed Rail Station?
A Texas mall that opened in 1968 and largely closed ten months ago has been picked by Texas Central Partners as the Houston terminal of the Dallas-to-Houston high-speed rail. The site is far from downtown and distant from public transit.

In New York's Next Penn Station, Function Does Not Always Follow Form
Some of the time and money invested in the visually spectacular Moynihan Station should have been spent looking at how well it actually works for commuters, writes Alon Levy.
Virginia Railway Express Adding New Tracks to Increase Capacity
A Richmond Times-Dispatch article details a pair of projects to add third tracks to Virginia Railway Express stations—one set to complete this month and one just getting ready for construction.
Rail Stations Shortchanged as Homeland Security Focuses on Airports
Rail travelers are not subject to the same degree of security measures as air travelers according to security experts, reports Ron Nixon for The New York Times. Yet far more travel by rail than plane, and rail has been a terrorist target abroad.

Debating the Merits of New Intermodal Hubs
Train-bus-bike connector stations have a long pedigree, and a reputation for anchoring neighborhood investment. But some criticize planned hubs for their perceived lavishness.
Relief for Amtrak Travelers to New York's Penn Station Closer at Hand
CityLab's Eric Jaffe provides an update on the two phases of construction of Moynihan Station, an annex to America's busiest train station. Phase One could be completed next year and Phase Two is in need of a "mere" $200 million. But is that enough?
America's Rail Station Renaissance
The latter half of the twentieth century saw the slow decline of train travel and the deterioration of America's grand railroad stations. Amid growing rail readership, the country is embarking on a new era of station construction.

10 Rail Stations on the Road to Recovery
As golden age of train travel came to an end, the fate of the world's train stations became unclear. But by utilizing their grand, flexible spaces, creative designers have found a variety of ways to keep the relics relevant.
America's Grand Stations
As New York celebrates the 100th anniversary of Grand Central Terminal, which nearly suffered the fate of the city's other grand station, Governing has assembled a photo collection of nine other treasured stations that continue to live and prosper.

Astonishing Images of L.A.'s Lost Train Stations
Nathan Masters collects astonishing images and histories of L.A.'s vanished train depots, some of which rival the city's greatest architectural treasures. As L.A. rebuilds its lost transit infrastructure, these images are especially heartbreaking.
One of New York's Grande Dames Turns 100
As the 100th anniversary of its opening approaches, The New York Times recounts the birth of one of the finest railway stations in the world - Grand Central Terminal.
Preparations for Sacramento's New Intermodal Facility Prove Fatal
Sacramento's downtown train station recently relocated its tracks to accommodate new transit oriented development - but the long, winding walk from depot to platform has presented problems for passengers, including a fatal heart attack on day one.
London's 19th Century Train Station Injects a 21st Century Design
London's King's Cross train station's western concourse showcases a 140-meter wide canopy, the largest single-span station structure in Europe. New technology like solar cells and old infrastructure blend together to enhance the station.
High Speed Rail Needs High Class Stations
Chicago Tribune architecture critic Blair Kamin argues that America's foray into high speed rail should also focus on the rail stations and user experience in addition to the speed.
The Preserved Underground Past of Boston's Subway
A video from The Boston Globe takes a look into the world below the city's subway system.
Pagination
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This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
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