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Coordinates: 45°34′04″N 94°08′56″W / 45.5679°N 94.1490°W / 45.5679; -94.1490
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{{Short description|Train station in St. Cloud, Minnesota, United States}}
{{Infobox station
{{Infobox station
| style=Amtrak
| style = Amtrak
| name = St. Cloud, MN
| type=[[Amtrak]] [[inter-city rail]] station
| name=St. Cloud, MN
| image = St. Cloud station.jpg
| image=St. Cloud station.jpg
| image_caption = St. Cloud station, May 2017
⚫
| address = 555 East Saint Germain Street<br />[[St. Cloud, Minnesota]]<ref name="SCD"/>
| image_caption=St. Cloud station in May&nbsp;2017.
| country = United States
⚫
| address=555 East Saint Germain Street<br />[[St. Cloud, Minnesota|St. Cloud]], [[Minnesota]] 56304<ref name="SCD"/>
⚫
| coordinates = {{coord|45.5679|-94.1490|format=dms|type:railwaystation_region:US-MN|display=inline,title}}
| country={{USA}}
⚫
| line = BNSF [[Staples Subdivision]]
⚫
| coordinates={{coord|45.5679|-94.1490|format=dms|type:railwaystation_region:US-MN|display=inline,title}}
| other = {{bus icon}} [[St. Cloud Metro Bus]]
⚫
| line=BNSF Railway [[Staples Subdivision]]
⚫
| platform = 1 [[side platform]]<br>1 [[island platform]]
| other=Metro Bus
⚫
| tracks = 2
⚫
| platform=1 [[side platform]]<br>1 [[island platform]]
⚫
| parking = 40 free long term spaces<ref name="SCD"/>
| tracks=2
| bicycle = Yes
⚫
| parking=40 free long term spaces<ref name="SCD"/>
| mpassengers = {{rail pass box|system=Amtrak|passengers={{Amtrak ridership|St. Cloud}}{{Amtrak ridership|citationMN}}|pass_year={{Amtrak ridership|date}}}}
| bicycle=Yes
| opened = 1909
| passengers=11,457<ref>{{cite web|title=Amtrak Sees Spike in Empire Builder Ridership|website=wjon.com|publisher= WJON Radio|date=Feb 2017|url=http://wjon.com/amtrak-sees-spike-in-empire-builder-ridership/|accessdate=2017-02-20}}</ref>
| rebuilt =
| pass_year=2016
| accessible = Yes
| pass_percent=+15.1
| code = {{Amtrak code|SCD}}
| pass_system=[[Amtrak]]
⚫
| owned = [[BNSF Railway]]<ref name="GAS-SCD"/>
| opened=1909
| zone =
| rebuilt=
| services = {{Adjacent stations|system1=Amtrak
| ADA=Yes
|line1=Empire Builder|left1=Staples|right1=St. Paul
| code=SCD
}}
⚫
| owned=[[BNSF Railway]]<ref name="GAS-SCD"/>
| other_services_header = Former services
| zone=
| other_services_collapsible = yes
| services=
| other_services = {{Adjacent stations|system=Amtrak|line1=Empire Builder|left1=Staples|right1=Midway|note-right1=Closed 2014|line2=North Coast Hiawatha|left2=Staples|right2=Minneapolis|note-mid2=1971-1979|system3=Northern Pacific Railway|line3=Main Line|left3=Sauk Rapids|right3=Clear Lake|line4=Winnipeg-St. Paul|left4=Little Falls|right4=Elk River}}
{{s-rail|title=Amtrak}}
| mapframe = yes
{{s-line|system=Amtrak|line=Empire Builder|previous=Staples|next=St. Paul|rows1=2|rowsmid=2}}
| mapframe-marker = rail
{{s-line|system=Amtrak|line=Empire Builder|previous=Staples|next=Midway|note2=1979-2014|hide1=true|hidemid=true}}
| mapframe-marker-color = #{{rcr|Amtrak}}
{{s-note|text=Former&nbsp;services}}
| mapframe-zoom = 14
{{s-line|system=Amtrak|line=North Coast Hiawatha|notemid=1971-1979|previous=Staples|next=Minneapolis}}
| map_locator={{Location map
| USA Minnesota
⚫
| lat = 45.5679
| long = -94.1490
| float = center
| caption = Location of St. Cloud Station within Minnesota
| alt = Location of the St. Cloud Amtrak Station
}}
}}
}}


'''St. Cloud''' is an [[Amtrak]] intercity [[train station]] in [[St. Cloud, Minnesota|St. Cloud]], [[Minnesota]], [[United States]], on Amtrak's daily ''[[Empire Builder]]'' service between [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]] and [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]] or [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]], [[Oregon]].{{refn|group="Note"|As of 7 May 2014, the '''''[[Empire Builder]]''''' westbound trains (Trains 7 & 27) are scheduled to stop at 12:40 am and the eastbound trains (Trains 8 & 28) are scheduled to stop at 4:44 am.<ref name="May 14 timetable">{{cite web|url=http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/446/794/Empire-Builder-050714.pdf|title=''Empire Builder''|website=amtrak.com|publisher=[[Amtrak]]|page=2|format=PDF|date=7 May 2014|accessdate=8 Jul 2014}}</ref>}} [[Staples station|The next westbound passenger stop]] is in [[Staples, Minnesota|Staples]], Minnesota, and [[Saint Paul Union Depot|the next eastbound stop]] is in [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|Saint Paul]], Minnesota.){{refn|group="Note"|For over twenty-five years prior to 7 May 2014, the next eastbound stop was at the [[Midway station (Minnesota)|Midway station]], located further west of the Saint Paul Union Depot.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_25716518/amtraks-arrival-at-union-depot-celebrated|title=After 43 years, St. Paul's Union Depot marks return of passenger trains|last=Melo|first=Fredrick|website=twincitiespress.com|publisher=[[MediaNews Group]]|date=7 May 2014|accessdate=10 May 2014}}</ref> The ''[[Empire Builder]]'' was to continue to stop at the Midway station for servicing, but passengers will not be allowed to board or disembark.<ref name="Whats New">{{cite web|url=http://www.allaboardmn.org/?page_id=32|title=What’s New|website=www.allaboardmn.org|publisher=All Aboard Minnesota|date=2014|accessdate=19 May 2014|quote=Amtrak plans to stop the ''Empire Builder'' at Midway each day to water and service the train and add/drop off coaches and private cars.|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512215020/http://www.allaboardmn.org/?page_id=32|archivedate=12 May 2014|df=}}</ref> Amtrak is being encouraged to restore service to the Midway Station in addition to the new service to the Saint Paul Depot.<ref name="Whats New"/>}}
'''St. Cloud station''' is an [[Amtrak]] intercity [[train station]] in [[St. Cloud, Minnesota|St. Cloud]], [[Minnesota]], [[United States]]. It is served by the daily ''[[Empire Builder]]'' on its route connecting [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]] to [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]] and [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]], [[Oregon]].{{refn|group="Note"|As of May 7, 2014, the ''[[Empire Builder]]'' westbound trains (Trains 7 & 27) are scheduled to stop at 12:40 am and the eastbound trains (Trains 8 & 28) are scheduled to stop at 4:44 am.<ref name="May 14 timetable">{{cite web|url=http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/446/794/Empire-Builder-050714.pdf|title=''Empire Builder''|website=amtrak.com|publisher=[[Amtrak]]|page=2|date=May 7, 2014|accessdate=July 8, 2014}}</ref>}} The next stop westbound is {{amtk|Staples}} while the next stop eastbound is [[Saint Paul Union Depot]].{{refn|group="Note"|For over twenty-five years prior to May 7, 2014, the next eastbound stop was at the [[Midway station (Minnesota)|Midway station]], located west of the Saint Paul Union Depot.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_25716518/amtraks-arrival-at-union-depot-celebrated|title=After 43 years, St. Paul's Union Depot marks return of passenger trains|last=Melo|first=Fredrick|website=twincitiespress.com|publisher=[[MediaNews Group]]|date=May 7, 2014|accessdate=May 10, 2014}}</ref> The ''[[Empire Builder]]'' was to continue to stop at the Midway station for servicing, but passengers will not be allowed to board or disembark.<ref name="Whats New">{{cite web|url=http://www.allaboardmn.org/?page_id=32|title=What's New|website=www.allaboardmn.org|publisher=All Aboard Minnesota|date=2014|accessdate=May 19, 2014|quote=Amtrak plans to stop the ''Empire Builder'' at Midway each day to water and service the train and add/drop off coaches and private cars.|url-status = dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512215020/http://www.allaboardmn.org/?page_id=32|archivedate=May 12, 2014}}</ref> Amtrak is being encouraged to restore service to the Midway Station in addition to the new service to the Saint Paul Depot.<ref name="Whats New"/>}}


==Description==
==Description==
The station is located at 555 East Saint Germain Street and is situated on the east side of the [[Mississippi River]] in the middle of a [[Wye (rail)|wye]] that links to the [[St. Cloud Rail Bridge]].<ref name="SCD">{{cite web|url=http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=am/am2Station/Station_Page&code=EDW|title=St. Cloud, MN (SCD)|website=amtrak.com|publisher=[[Amtrak]]|accessdate=13 May 2014}}</ref> The depot is easily accessible from [[U.S. Route 10 in Minnesota|US 10]] by taking the [[Minnesota State Highway 23|SH 23]] interchange (toward St. Cloud) and heading southwest on 3rd Street Southeast (SH 23), then north-northwest on Lincoln Avenue Southeast, then southeast on East Saint Germain Street, and finally north-northwest again on the station access road (immediately after crossing the tracks). There is an enclosed waiting room (with restrooms) available daily from 4:00 am to 6:00 am and from 11:30 pm to 1:15 am (early the next morning), with a caretaker opening and closing the depot. While it does not have a ticketing office or counter, it does have a Quik-Trak kiosk. However, no other services are provided at the station (i.e., baggage, lounge, telephone, etc.).<ref name="SCD"/> The tracks, platform, depot building, and parking lot are all owned by the [[BNSF Railway]].<ref name="GAS-SCD">{{cite web|url=http://www.greatamericanstations.com/Stations/SCD|title=Great American Stations: St. Cloud, MN (SCD)|website=greatamericanstations.com|publisher=[[Amtrak]]|accessdate=13 May 2014}}</ref>
The station is located at 555 East Saint Germain Street on the east side of the [[Mississippi River]] in the middle of a [[Wye (rail)|wye]] that links to the [[St. Cloud Rail Bridge]].<ref name="SCD">{{cite web|url=https://www.amtrak.com/stations/scd|title=St. Cloud, MN (SCD)|website=amtrak.com|publisher=[[Amtrak]]|accessdate=November 11, 2022}}</ref> The depot is easily accessible from [[U.S. Route 10 in Minnesota|US 10]] by taking the [[Minnesota State Highway 23|SH 23]] interchange (toward St. Cloud) and heading southwest on 3rd Street Southeast (SH 23), then north-northwest on Lincoln Avenue Southeast, then southeast on East Saint Germain Street, and finally north-northwest again on the station access road (immediately after crossing the tracks). There is an enclosed waiting room (with restrooms) available daily from 4:00 am to 6:00 am and from 11:30 pm to 1:15 am (early the next morning), with a caretaker opening and closing the depot. It has neither ticketing office, ticket counter, nor a Quik-Trak kiosk. No other services are provided at the station (i.e., baggage, lounge, pay phone, etc.).<ref name="SCD"/> The tracks, platform, depot building, and parking lot are all owned by the [[BNSF Railway]].<ref name="GAS-SCD">{{cite web|url=https://www.greatamericanstations.com/stations/st-cloud-mn-scd/|title=Great American Stations: St. Cloud, MN (SCD)|website=greatamericanstations.com|publisher=[[Amtrak]]|accessdate=November 11, 2022}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
It was built in 1909 by the [[Northern Pacific Railway]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whatwasthere.com/browse.aspx#!/ll/45.5669441223145,-94.1475067138672/id/9862/info/details/zoom/17/|title=Northern Pacific depot|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|accessdate=25 February 2015}}</ref> The depot features walls of brown pressed brick with grey granite trim.<ref name="GAS-SCD"/>
It was built in 1909 by the [[Northern Pacific Railway]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whatwasthere.com/browse.aspx#!/ll/45.5669441223145,-94.1475067138672/id/9862/info/details/zoom/17/|title=Northern Pacific depot|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|accessdate=February 25, 2015}}</ref> The depot is constructed of brown pressed brick with grey granite trim.<ref name="GAS-SCD"/>


The St. Cloud station was served by the ''[[North Coast Hiawatha]]'', with service from Chicago to Seattle from 1971 until the train was discontinued in 1979. The next westbound stop for the ''North Coast Hiawatha'' was in Staples and the next eastbound stop was in [[Minneapolis, Minnesota|Minneapolis]], Minnesota.<ref name="TT Oct 78">{{cite web|url=http://www.timetables.org/full.php?group=19781029&item=0043|title=National Train Timetables|website=timetables.org|author=[[Amtrak]]|publisher=The Museum of Railway Timetables|page=42|date=29 Oct 1978|accessdate=29 May 2014}}</ref> When the ''North Coast Hiawatha'' was discontinued in 1979, the ''Empire Builder'' was rerouted away from [[Willmar, Minnesota|Willmar]], Minnesota to St. Cloud and has served the station continuously since then.<ref name="TT Oct 78"/><ref name="TT Oct 79">{{cite web|url=http://www.timetables.org/full.php?group=19791028&item=0045|title=National Train Timetables|website=timetables.org|author=[[Amtrak]]|publisher=The Museum of Railway Timetables|page=44|date=28 Oct 1979|accessdate=29 May 2014}}</ref><ref name="May 14 timetable"/> The next westbound stop for the ''Empire Builder'' is also in Staples and the next eastbound stop is in Saint Paul.<ref name="TT Oct 79"/><ref name="May 14 timetable"/> However, in 2014, Amtrak service in Saint Paul was moved from the [[Midway (Amtrak station)|Midway Station]] to the [[Saint Paul Union Depot]].<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/passenger/intercity/amtrak-moves-into-st-paul-union-depot.html?channel=41|title=Amtrak moves into St. Paul Union Depot|last=Bowen|first=Douglas John|work=[[Railway Age]]|publisher=Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation|date=8 May 2014|accessdate=29 May 2014}}</ref><ref name="May 14 timetable"/>
The St. Cloud station was served by the ''[[North Coast Hiawatha]]'', with service from Chicago to Seattle from 1971 until the train was discontinued in 1979. The next westbound stop for the ''North Coast Hiawatha'' was in Staples and the next eastbound stop was in [[Minneapolis, Minnesota|Minneapolis]], Minnesota.<ref name="TT Oct 78">{{cite web|url=http://www.timetables.org/full.php?group=19781029&item=0043|title=National Train Timetables|website=timetables.org|author=Amtrak|author-link=Amtrak|publisher=The Museum of Railway Timetables|page=42|date=October 29, 1978|accessdate=May 29, 2014}}</ref> When the ''North Coast Hiawatha'' was discontinued in 1979, the ''Empire Builder'' was rerouted away from [[Willmar, Minnesota|Willmar]], Minnesota to St. Cloud and has served the station continuously since then.<ref name="May 14 timetable"/><ref name="TT Oct 78"/><ref name="TT Oct 79">{{cite web|url=http://www.timetables.org/full.php?group=19791028&item=0045|title=National Train Timetables|website=timetables.org|author=Amtrak|author-link=Amtrak|publisher=The Museum of Railway Timetables|page=44|date=October 28, 1979|accessdate=May 29, 2014}}</ref> The next westbound stop for the ''Empire Builder'' is also in Staples and the next eastbound stop is in Saint Paul.<ref name="May 14 timetable"/><ref name="TT Oct 79"/> However, in 2014, Amtrak service in Saint Paul was moved from the [[Midway (Amtrak station)|Midway Station]] to the [[Saint Paul Union Depot]].<ref name="May 14 timetable"/><ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/passenger/intercity/amtrak-moves-into-st-paul-union-depot.html?channel=41|title=Amtrak moves into St. Paul Union Depot|last=Bowen|first=Douglas John|journal=[[Railway Age]]|publisher=Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation|date=May 8, 2014|accessdate=May 29, 2014}}</ref>

The station is one of three in Minnesota and 78 across the Amtrak network listed in a 2021 settlement with the [[United States Department of Justice|U.S. Department of Justice]] over inaccessible facilities under the [[Americans with Disabilities Act]].<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/225-million-fund-available-justice-department-settlement-amtrak|title=$2.25 Million Fund Available in Justice Department Settlement with Amtrak|publisher=U.S. Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs|date=January 29, 2021|accessdate=June 15, 2024}}</ref> New station platforms, walkways, lighting, and other accessibility improvements will be constructed between Amtrak's fiscal year 2024 and 2026.<ref name="fy2023-fact-sheet">{{cite web|url=https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/statefactsheets/MINNESOTA23.pdf|title=Amtrak Fact Sheet, Fiscal Year 2023: State of Minnesota|date=March 2024|publisher=Amtrak|accessdate=June 15, 2024}}</ref>


==Future service==
==Future service==
The [[Northstar Line|Northstar]] [[Commuter rail in North America|commuter rail]] service was originally planned to originate in [[Rice, Minnesota|Rice]], Minnesota and serve the St. Cloud station,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dot.state.mn.us/planning/railplan/finalreport/MNRailPlanFinalReportFeb2010.pdf|title=Minnesota Comprehensive Statewide Freight and Passenger Rail Plan (Final Report)|date=Feb 2009|authorlink=Cambridge Systematics|author2=Kimley Horn and Associates, Inc.|authorlink3=TKDA|publisher=[[Minnesota Department of Transportation]]|accessdate=13 May 2014}}</ref> but was cut back to [[Big Lake, Minnesota|Big Lake]]. On November 8, 2010, it was announced that extension of the line to St. Cloud had been indefinitely delayed, as projected ridership is not sufficient to qualify for federal funding.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://trn.trains.com/en/Railroad%20News/News%20Wire/2010/11/Northstar%20commuter%20train%20expansion%20put%20on%20hold.aspx|title=Northstar commuter train expansion put on hold|work=[[Trains (magazine)|Trains Magazine]]|publisher=[[Kalmbach Publishing]]|date=8 Nov 2010|accessdate=8 Nov 2010}}</ref>
The [[Northstar Line|Northstar]] [[Commuter rail in North America|commuter rail]] service was originally planned to originate in [[Rice, Minnesota|Rice]], Minnesota and serve the St. Cloud station,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dot.state.mn.us/planning/railplan/finalreport/MNRailPlanFinalReportFeb2010.pdf|title=Minnesota Comprehensive Statewide Freight and Passenger Rail Plan (Final Report)|date=Feb 2009|author1=Cambridge Systematics|author2=Kimley Horn and Associates, Inc.|author3=TKDA|publisher=[[Minnesota Department of Transportation]]|accessdate=May 13, 2014}}</ref> but was cut back to [[Big Lake, Minnesota|Big Lake]]. On November 8, 2010, it was announced that extension of the line to St. Cloud had been indefinitely delayed, as projected ridership is not sufficient to qualify for federal funding.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://trn.trains.com/en/Railroad%20News/News%20Wire/2010/11/Northstar%20commuter%20train%20expansion%20put%20on%20hold.aspx|title=Northstar commuter train expansion put on hold|work=[[Trains (magazine)|Trains Magazine]]|publisher=[[Kalmbach Publishing]]|date=November 8, 2010|accessdate=November 8, 2010}}</ref>

The station was considered as a possible endpoint for the ''[[Borealis (train)|Borealis]]'' service that started running in 2024, but it began operation with its western terminus in St. Paul.<ref>{{cite web |title=Feasibility Report on Proposed Amtrak Service Chicago-Milwaukee-LaCrosse-Twin Cities-(St. Cloud) |url=https://www.dot.state.mn.us/passengerrail/pdfs/2nd-train-feasibility-report%20.pdf |publisher=Amtrak}}</ref> In 2023, $4 million was included in the Minnesota state budget to study a daytime train service between the Twin Cities and [[Fargo, North Dakota]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dl-online.com/news/local/commuter-train-from-fargo-to-st-paul-would-include-additional-stops-in-detroit-lakes-staples|title=Commuter train from Fargo to St. Paul would include additional stops in Detroit Lakes, Staples|last=Teigen, Danielle A.|work=Detroit Lakes Tribune|location=Detroit Lakes, Minnesota|date=June 7, 2023|accessdate=June 15, 2024}}</ref> a service that would include stops at St. Cloud station.


==Notes==
==Notes==
{{reflist|group="Note"|2}}
{{Reflist|group="Note"}}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|22em}}
{{Reflist|22em}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{commonscat}}
{{Amtrak web|SCD|St. Cloud, MN|MINNESOTA}}
{{Amtrak web|SCD|St. Cloud, MN}}
*[http://www.greatamericanstations.com/Stations/SCD St. Cloud Great American Station]
*[http://www.trainweb.org/usarail/stcloud.htm St. Cloud Amtrak Station (USA Rail Guide -- Train Web)]
*[http://www.trainweb.org/usarail/stcloud.htm St. Cloud Amtrak Station (USA Rail Guide -- Train Web)]


{{Amtrak Minnesota stations}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Cloud Station}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Cloud Station}}
[[Category:1898 establishments in Minnesota]]
[[Category:1898 establishments in Minnesota]]
Line 70: Line 67:
[[Category:Buildings and structures in St. Cloud, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in St. Cloud, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Former Northern Pacific Railway stations]]
[[Category:Former Northern Pacific Railway stations]]
[[Category:Railway stations opened in 1898]]
[[Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 1898]]
[[Category:Transportation in Stearns County, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Transportation in Stearns County, Minnesota]]

Latest revision as of 21:42, 17 June 2024

St. Cloud, MN
St. Cloud station, May 2017
General information
Location555 East Saint Germain Street
St. Cloud, Minnesota[1]
United States
Coordinates45°34′04″N 94°08′56″W / 45.5679°N 94.1490°W / 45.5679; -94.1490
Owned byBNSF Railway[2]
Line(s)BNSF Staples Subdivision
Platforms1 side platform
1 island platform
Tracks2
ConnectionsBus transport St. Cloud Metro Bus
Construction
Parking40 free long term spaces[1]
Bicycle facilitiesYes
AccessibleYes
Other information
Station codeAmtrak: SCD
History
Opened1909
Passengers
FY 20238,169[3] (Amtrak)
Services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station
Staples
toward Seattle or Portland
 Empire Builder St. Paul
toward Chicago
Former services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station
Staples
toward Seattle or Portland
 Empire Builder Saint Paul–Midway
Closed 2014
toward Chicago
Staples
toward Seattle
 North Coast Hiawatha
1971-1979
 Minneapolis
toward Chicago
Preceding station Northern Pacific Railway Following station
Sauk Rapids
toward Seattle or Tacoma
 Main Line Clear Lake
toward St. Paul
Little Falls
toward Winnipeg
 Winnipeg – St. Paul Elk River
toward St. Paul
Location
Map

St. Cloud station is an Amtrak intercity train station in St. Cloud, Minnesota, United States. It is served by the daily Empire Builder on its route connecting Chicago, Illinois to Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon.[Note 1] The next stop westbound is Staples while the next stop eastbound is Saint Paul Union Depot.[Note 2]

Description

[edit]

The station is located at 555 East Saint Germain Street on the east side of the Mississippi River in the middle of a wye that links to the St. Cloud Rail Bridge.[1] The depot is easily accessible from US 10 by taking the SH 23 interchange (toward St. Cloud) and heading southwest on 3rd Street Southeast (SH 23), then north-northwest on Lincoln Avenue Southeast, then southeast on East Saint Germain Street, and finally north-northwest again on the station access road (immediately after crossing the tracks). There is an enclosed waiting room (with restrooms) available daily from 4:00 am to 6:00 am and from 11:30 pm to 1:15 am (early the next morning), with a caretaker opening and closing the depot. It has neither ticketing office, ticket counter, nor a Quik-Trak kiosk. No other services are provided at the station (i.e., baggage, lounge, pay phone, etc.).[1] The tracks, platform, depot building, and parking lot are all owned by the BNSF Railway.[2]

History

[edit]

It was built in 1909 by the Northern Pacific Railway.[7] The depot is constructed of brown pressed brick with grey granite trim.[2]

The St. Cloud station was served by the North Coast Hiawatha, with service from Chicago to Seattle from 1971 until the train was discontinued in 1979. The next westbound stop for the North Coast Hiawatha was in Staples and the next eastbound stop was in Minneapolis, Minnesota.[8] When the North Coast Hiawatha was discontinued in 1979, the Empire Builder was rerouted away from Willmar, Minnesota to St. Cloud and has served the station continuously since then.[4][8][9] The next westbound stop for the Empire Builder is also in Staples and the next eastbound stop is in Saint Paul.[4][9] However, in 2014, Amtrak service in Saint Paul was moved from the Midway Station to the Saint Paul Union Depot.[4][10]

The station is one of three in Minnesota and 78 across the Amtrak network listed in a 2021 settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice over inaccessible facilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act.[11] New station platforms, walkways, lighting, and other accessibility improvements will be constructed between Amtrak's fiscal year 2024 and 2026.[12]

Future service

[edit]

The Northstar commuter rail service was originally planned to originate in Rice, Minnesota and serve the St. Cloud station,[13] but was cut back to Big Lake. On November 8, 2010, it was announced that extension of the line to St. Cloud had been indefinitely delayed, as projected ridership is not sufficient to qualify for federal funding.[14]

The station was considered as a possible endpoint for the Borealis service that started running in 2024, but it began operation with its western terminus in St. Paul.[15] In 2023, $4 million was included in the Minnesota state budget to study a daytime train service between the Twin Cities and Fargo, North Dakota,[16] a service that would include stops at St. Cloud station.

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ As of May 7, 2014, the Empire Builder westbound trains (Trains 7 & 27) are scheduled to stop at 12:40 am and the eastbound trains (Trains 8 & 28) are scheduled to stop at 4:44 am.[4]
  2. ^ For over twenty-five years prior to May 7, 2014, the next eastbound stop was at the Midway station, located west of the Saint Paul Union Depot.[5] The Empire Builder was to continue to stop at the Midway station for servicing, but passengers will not be allowed to board or disembark.[6] Amtrak is being encouraged to restore service to the Midway Station in addition to the new service to the Saint Paul Depot.[6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "St. Cloud, MN (SCD)". amtrak.com. Amtrak. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Great American Stations: St. Cloud, MN (SCD)". greatamericanstations.com. Amtrak. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  3. ^ "Amtrak Fact Sheet, Fiscal Year 2023: State of Minnesota" (PDF). Amtrak. March 2024. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d "Empire Builder" (PDF). amtrak.com. Amtrak. May 7, 2014. p. 2. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  5. ^ Melo, Fredrick (May 7, 2014). "After 43 years, St. Paul's Union Depot marks return of passenger trains". twincitiespress.com. MediaNews Group. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
  6. ^ a b "What's New". www.allaboardmn.org. All Aboard Minnesota. 2014. Archived from the original on May 12, 2014. Retrieved May 19, 2014. Amtrak plans to stop the Empire Builder at Midway each day to water and service the train and add/drop off coaches and private cars.
  7. ^ "Northern Pacific depot". Arcadia Publishing. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  8. ^ a b Amtrak (October 29, 1978). "National Train Timetables". timetables.org. The Museum of Railway Timetables. p. 42. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  9. ^ a b Amtrak (October 28, 1979). "National Train Timetables". timetables.org. The Museum of Railway Timetables. p. 44. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  10. ^ Bowen, Douglas John (May 8, 2014). "Amtrak moves into St. Paul Union Depot". Railway Age. Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  11. ^ "$2.25 Million Fund Available in Justice Department Settlement with Amtrak" (Press release). U.S. Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs. January 29, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  12. ^ "Amtrak Fact Sheet, Fiscal Year 2023: State of Minnesota" (PDF). Amtrak. March 2024. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  13. ^ Cambridge Systematics; Kimley Horn and Associates, Inc.; TKDA (Feb 2009). "Minnesota Comprehensive Statewide Freight and Passenger Rail Plan (Final Report)" (PDF). Minnesota Department of Transportation. Retrieved May 13, 2014.
  14. ^ "Northstar commuter train expansion put on hold". Trains Magazine. Kalmbach Publishing. November 8, 2010. Retrieved November 8, 2010.
  15. ^ "Feasibility Report on Proposed Amtrak Service Chicago-Milwaukee-LaCrosse-Twin Cities-(St. Cloud)" (PDF). Amtrak.
  16. ^ Teigen, Danielle A. (June 7, 2023). "Commuter train from Fargo to St. Paul would include additional stops in Detroit Lakes, Staples". Detroit Lakes Tribune. Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
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