[Date Prev][Date Next]
[Chronological]
[Thread]
[Top]
(rshsdepot) Dunsmuir, CA
Fron Dunsmuir News
DUNSMUIR MAKES PROGRESS ON AMTRAK DEPOT
Thursday, December 05, 2002
By Jon Lewis
DUNSMUIR - Dunsmuir is expected to reach a tentative agreement this week
with Union Pacific on the lease of some railyard property that will allow
the city to renovate a dilapidated train station and preserve Amtrak
passenger service=2E
City Councilman Bill Sanford, who is doubling as the acting city manager,
said Wednesday that Union Pacific is offering about 12,000 square feet of
land on Sacramento Avenue, including two buildings, for $2,995 a year=2E
Amtrak had threatened to halt service in Dunsmuir on Dec=2E 1 unless
significant improvements were made to the boarded-up depot, which sits on
UP property=2E Amtrak has been leasing the loading platform from UP=2E
Earlier this year, Amtrak representatives approached Mount Shasta about th=
e
possibility of hosting a depot=2E Mount Shasta officials were receptive, b=
ut
did not want to inherit the service at Dunsmuir's expense=2E
Amtrak itself, which has been struggling to stay afloat financially, does
not have the money needed for depot renovations=2E An estimated 4,000 to
5,000 riders a year use the Dunsmuir stop=2E
An Amtrak spokeswoman said the railroad wants to continue service in
Dunsmuir but has insisted on improvements so passengers have a safe and
comfortable place for gaining access to the Coast Starlight when the train=
stops at 2:20 a=2Em=2E (southbound) and 5:04 a=2Em=2E (northbound)=2E
UP had been using the old depot building as its crew quarters but recently=
moved its quarters to another building on the east side of the tracks=2E
Amtrak passengers have to wait outside, which becomes a rather chilling
prospect in the winter=2E
A 28-member committee of volunteers and city officials is ready to step in=
and do the necessary work -- cleaning, painting, furnishing, having a pay
phone installed -- but can't start until the lease is signed=2E
Rita Green, who is heading up the committee, said the Dunsmuir Rotary Club=
has offered the use of its non-profit status to help the group collect
donations=2E
Green said the immediate goal is to keep Amtrak passenger service in
Dunsmuir and the long-term goal is to develop a station "you could take
your grandmother to=2E"
Sanford said if nothing else, the lease would benefit the city by providin=
g
additional parking on Sacramento Avenue=2E He recalled when the Southern
Pacific rail yard was in full swing, the whole Sacramento Avenue frontage
was fully landscaped and "very attractive=2E"
Newly elected Councilman John Fisher said he supports the concept of an
Amtrak station in Dunsmuir but does not favor using taxpayers' funds to
restore it=2E Mayor Mike Lucia said UP's proposed lease arrangement "is we=
ll
worth the investment to seal it up for now=2E We can always drop it later=2E=
"
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web=2Ecom/ =2E
=================================
The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org
------------------------------