Hinton WV station platform - big mistake?

[me_little_me]

Hinton, WV station is getting a new, much extended, platform and it looks just about finished.

UNFORTUNATELY, this might be a major screwup. When we returned to Hinton, I mentioned to the conductor about the new platform. The whole thing is on a big curve and he said they built all the new part too far from the train so Amtrak could only use the smaller original part for boarding and deboarding. I don't know whether this was a contractor issue, a design issue, a freight line issue or what but Hinton might end up with no more than it started with. Agghhh!

I live about 4 hours from Hinton. While there are numerous stations closer to me including Greensboro, Charlotte (stations in between these), Greenville and even Atlanta, it is ideal for us when going west. For any of these other stations (all along the Crescent route, I have to overnight to Washington on the Crescent or take all day to Washington on the Carolinian, then take the Cardinal or Capitol Limited to Chicago just to catch the Builder, Zephyr or Chief. As an alternative, I can go to NOL from Atlanta, overnight in NOL then take the SL or head north on the CONO to catch the Builder, Zephyr or Chief.

In addition to the extra cost, none of these provides good hours to reach along with reasonable times to catch the train or return.

With Hinton, I can leave home any time as the Cardinal departs at 6PM and arrives at 10AM, both nice one-nighters. Similarly, it leaves Chicago at 6PM and arrives Hinton at 10AM making the drive home a daytime one even if the Cardinal is up to 4 hours late.

 

[WWW]

Hinton, WV station is getting a new, much extended, platform and it looks just about finished.

UNFORTUNATELY, this might be a major screwup. When we returned to Hinton, I mentioned to the conductor about the new platform. The whole thing is on a big curve and he said they built all the new part too far from the train so Amtrak could only use the smaller original part for boarding and deboarding. I don't know whether this was a contractor issue, a design issue, a freight line issue or what but Hinton might end up with no more than it started with. Agghhh!

I live about 4 hours from Hinton. While there are numerous stations closer to me including Greensboro, Charlotte (stations in between these), Greenville and even Atlanta, it is ideal for us when going west. For any of these other stations (all along the Crescent route, I have to overnight to Washington on the Crescent or take all day to Washington on the Carolinian, then take the Cardinal or Capitol Limited to Chicago just to catch the Builder, Zephyr or Chief. As an alternative, I can go to NOL from Atlanta, overnight in NOL then take the SL or head north on the CONO to catch the Builder, Zephyr or Chief.

In addition to the extra cost, none of these provides good hours to reach along with reasonable times to catch the train or return.

With Hinton, I can leave home any time as the Cardinal departs at 6PM and arrives at 10AM, both nice one-nighters. Similarly, it leaves Chicago at 6PM and arrives Hinton at 10AM making the drive home a daytime one even if the Cardinal is up to 4 hours late.

Does it make a difference ?
- the small ridership boarding at Hinton ?
- the station platform is set up to board in one car or two ?

 

[RebelRider]

The new ADA compliant platform in Cumberland, MD is very weird and only partly unusable, too.

 

[me_little_me]

Does it make a difference ?
- the small ridership boarding at Hinton ?
- the station platform is set up to board in one car or two ?

Two stops at times. One for coach and one for sleepers.

 

[alanh]

If it's not actually usable, someone's going to have to fix it. The ADA compliance standard isn't "well, we tried".

 

[me_little_me]

If it's not actually usable, someone's going to have to fix it. The ADA compliance standard isn't "well, we tried".

I didn't notice that it was raised in height. I think I have a picture I took. I'll look for it and if so, post it.

 

[Just-Thinking-51]

Never put a station on a curve.

Tracks can be adjusted and raised to fit the platform. Hopefully that was the plan, and not a screw up in the design.

 

[Iva Cox Marlik]

Does Amtrak own the station?
Iva Cox Marlik born in True,WV

 

[WWW]

So you are talking about the Amtrak Cardinal with a locomotive and a few cars -

Consider this ---

Hinton is going to have a work-out this late October Autumn - - -
The Autumn Colors Express with 3 Amtrak locomotives and a host of some 25-30 private vintage cars October 20-21-22-23.
Originates at Huntington stops at Charleston and the turn around point is Hinton.
The Hinton stop is planned for about 3-4 hours returning to Huntington.
This will be my first experience at this event - previous two years have been Covid cancelled.
Link: - Autumn Colors Express

 

[NES28]

For some years now US DOT regs have required all platforms to provide level boarding except when on track owned by a freight railroad AND in use for freight. Platforms of any height located on a curve will have a gap. There is no exception for curves. Best solution would probably be to use portable brifgeplates.