How close can two Amtrak stations be to each other?

[user 1215]

I read Greg's thread with great interest regarding train service to small towns.

I live in a relatively small town of about 15,000 right on the CSX Mainline about 20 miles from Savannah. I'm sure that it's close enough to Savannah that Amtrak would never want to stop twice so close together, but how close are other Amtrak stations out there? Is there precedent to have service for a town 15,000 strong within 30 minutes of a town of 150,000?

 

[Rafi]

I can think of one immediately: Reno, NV and Sparks, NV (although Sparks was discontinued recently for the very reason you mention--it was too close to Reno).

Rafi

 

[user 1215]

Interestingly, Longview and Marshall are about 22 miles from each other and both are relatively small towns, but both are college towns (though both are small colleges and probably no one from the schools know Amtrak exists...I digress as I went to one of 'em)....

Longview has about 80,000, and Marshall, I would suspect has about 30K. Both are formidable numbers.

My little town is about 12,000 vs Savannah's 150,000. But we have a great spot for a station. Right in the middle of town, and on a very long passing siding.

 

[DowneasterPassenger]

In one 20 mile stretch, we have five: Richmond, Berkeley, Emeryville, Jack London and Oakland Coliseum.

 

[the_traveler]

I'm not sure of the populations, but in RI, there are 3 stations - Providence, Kingston and Westerly. The population of Providence is IIRC 100,000+ and Kingston is about 20 minutes south. AE does not stop in KIN, but every Regional that goes thru stops at both KIN and PVD. WLY is about 15 minutes south of KIN, but less than 1/2 of the Regionals stop there.

 

[Bob Dylan]

I read Greg's thread with great interest regarding train service to small towns.
I live in a relatively small town of about 15,000 right on the CSX Mainline about 20 miles from Savannah. I'm sure that it's close enough to Savannah that Amtrak would never want to stop twice so close together, but how close are other Amtrak stations out there? Is there precedent to have service for a town 15,000 strong within 30 minutes of a town of 150,000?

Here in AUS (population over 1,000,000) we have two small town stops less than 30 minutes away, one Southbound in San Marcos (SMC, population 50,000,unmanned) on the way to SAS and one Northbound, Taylor (TAY,population 10,000,unmanned)on the way to Temple/FTW etc. Dont really know why, very few people ride but it allows me shortturn point runs!

 

[Rumpled]

The PacSurf has probably 7 between san Clemente and Anaheim - about 40-45 miles probably.

 

[SCrails]

Here is another pair: Columbia and Camden, SC.

Distance: 33 miles.

Population: 728,063 (metro) and 6,682.

The Camden station is a whistle stop, or whatever is the correct term, but still it has twice-daily service. Maybe I should say "twice-nightly" since both stops are in the wee hours.

 

[BigBlueBuddha]

I read Greg's thread with great interest regarding train service to small towns.
I live in a relatively small town of about 15,000 right on the CSX Mainline about 20 miles from Savannah. I'm sure that it's close enough to Savannah that Amtrak would never want to stop twice so close together, but how close are other Amtrak stations out there? Is there precedent to have service for a town 15,000 strong within 30 minutes of a town of 150,000?

Milwaukee downtown and Milwaukee airport are like 8 miles apart.

 

[tp49]

SAC and Davis are approximately 15 miles apart.

 

[JayPea]

Champaign-Urbana IL, which has 100,000 + and Rantoul, which is about 15 miles away has a population of 13,000.

 

[Chris J.]

I read Greg's thread with great interest regarding train service to small towns.
I live in a relatively small town of about 15,000 right on the CSX Mainline about 20 miles from Savannah. I'm sure that it's close enough to Savannah that Amtrak would never want to stop twice so close together, but how close are other Amtrak stations out there? Is there precedent to have service for a town 15,000 strong within 30 minutes of a town of 150,000?

Flagstaff and Williams are 36 mins apart by Amtrak. According to Wikipedia; Flagstaff has a population of 60,000 and Williams 3,200.

If you just want Amtrak stations close to each other I'd say Boston North to Boston South would be hard to beat; but of course no train stops in both of them.

 

[stlouielady]

Alton, IL, and St Louis, MO; 27 miles.

St Louis, MO, and Kirkwood, MO; 13 miles.

Lees Summit, MO and Independence, MO; 13 miles.

Independence, MO and Kansas City, MO; 10 miles.

There are several 'close' stations on the MO River Runner route, including 3 of the ones above. The entire trip is 283 miles, with 9 stops, so, there's one an average of every approximately 31 miles! Some stations more, some less, of course....

 

[DowneasterPassenger]

If you just want Amtrak stations close to each other I'd say Boston North to Boston South would be hard to beat; but of course no train stops in both of them.

Boston South Station and North Station: 1.1 miles

Stockton San Jaoquin and Stockton ACE station: 1.2 miles - no train stops at both, but there is a Thruway bus connection.

 

[Bill Haithcoat]

I read Greg's thread with great interest regarding train service to small towns.
I live in a relatively small town of about 15,000 right on the CSX Mainline about 20 miles from Savannah. I'm sure that it's close enough to Savannah that Amtrak would never want to stop twice so close together, but how close are other Amtrak stations out there? Is there precedent to have service for a town 15,000 strong within 30 minutes of a town of 150,000?

It is in some cases an example of a suburban station in addition to the main station. Not so unusual.

That is why the present station in Atlanta is so small. It was a suburban stop for trains on the Crescent route, about four miles before reaching the big downtown station.

The two downtown stations became impossible to keep up but that left the little suburban station.

Every example listed on these various posts has its own story and I do not know their stories. But at one time,if no longer, it probably made some kind of demographic sense or infrastructure sense.

Remember proportionately how many more people used the train in the distant past. Hard to say today what their needs were when built.

 

[Asst Conductor-okj]

Lets see,

Oakland Colliseum (capitols only), Oakland Jack London, Emeryville, Berkley (capitols only), Richmond, on the capitol corridor/san joaquin service all within a few miles of each other (less than 10) and about four mins apart.

 

[Roadfool]

Fresno (pop. 500,000) and Hanford (pop. 41,000) are only about 30 miles apart on the San Joaquin route.

 

[sunchaser]

Salt Lake City, Utah & Provo, Utah. 44.5 miles apart. Provo is a 'whistle stop'.

 

[Ryan]

WAS -> NCR is just under 10 miles, going the other way WAS -> ALX is about 8.

 

[user 1215]

Very interesting. Wonder if we build a platform if Amtrak would consider a whistle stop?

 

[had8ley]

I can think of one immediately: Reno, NV and Sparks, NV (although Sparks was discontinued recently for the very reason you mention--it was too close to Reno).
Rafi

Sparks was originally a crew change point and the stop lasted ever since '71.

 

[pennyk]

Orlando and Winter Park, FL are about 5 miles apart.

 

[Trogdor]

Boston South Station and Boston Back Bay are just a mile apart, and dozens of trains per day serve both.

 

[DET63]

The PacSurf has probably 7 between san Clemente and Anaheim - about 40-45 miles probably.

Anaheim is at MP 135; San Clemente Pier at MP 169: 34 miles.

According to this 2006 timetable, Santa Ana (MP 139), Irvine (MP 149) and San Juan Capistrano (MP 161) are between Anaheim and San Clemente Pier.

(The mileages are computed from Santa Barbara, not Los Angeles.)

 

[DET63]

A bit off-topic, but isn't there a small town in Scotland that's served by two train stations? The stations are on two lines, which connect a few miles out of town. I believe one of the stations is a lot higher in elevation than the other. I believe the village is called Tyndrum.