Return to Denver Union Station

[SubwayNut]

There goes the nicest temporary station I've ever had to wait in. I'm not really complaining but the couple of times I boarded (just realized I never got off a train there) I couldn't believe what a pleasant (and permanent feeling except for the fact you have to cross the street). If only we could move that entire temporary station to Salt Lake City or some other place that desperately needs a better station. Wishful thinking. If I was a little closer to Denver and had the time (perhaps lived in Omaha or something) I think it would be quite the adventure to do a same-day turn (arrive on 5 in the morning depart on 6 that evening) and do a last to arrive and then first leave trip.

 

[Nathanael]

There goes the nicest temporary station I've ever had to wait in. I'm not really complaining but the couple of times I boarded (just realized I never got off a train there) I couldn't believe what a pleasant (and permanent feeling except for the fact you have to cross the street). If only we could move that entire temporary station to Salt Lake City or some other place that desperately needs a better station. Wishful thinking.

Yeah -- unfortunately the temporary station was a real masonry building, not a portable building. A converted electrical supply store IIRC.

 

[bgiaquin]

There goes the nicest temporary station I've ever had to wait in. I'm not really complaining but the couple of times I boarded (just realized I never got off a train there) I couldn't believe what a pleasant (and permanent feeling except for the fact you have to cross the street). If only we could move that entire temporary station to Salt Lake City or some other place that desperately needs a better station. Wishful thinking.

Yeah -- unfortunately the temporary station was a real masonry building, not a portable building. A converted electrical supply store IIRC.

They will probably demolish it. They might want space for another one of their big fancy condo buildings.

 

[Cma]

Will there be any special activity to mark the first train back at Union Station?

 

[eblkheart]

I'll see about hitting Union Station. If I do, pics a plenty

Edited to add:

I was worried about this. I just saw this on the station announcement:

Drop-off and Pick-up Only: Parking Not AvailableAlthough there is no passenger parking at the new location, there are numerous long and short-term parking lots and garages around Union Station.

No station parking? Wha? *sigh*

 

[Nathanael]

No station parking? Wha? *sigh*

There are, as it says in the announcement, numerous paid long and short term parking lots and garages very close to Union Station. Including the Coors Field lots, which have a $40 *monthly* rate, and several $8/day garages. There is no need for additional parking, except perhaps for solo handicapped drivers.

http://www.downtowndenver.com/getting-around/driving-and-parking

Or you can ride one of the light rail lines, commuter rail lines (in 2016), or buses (in May), of course. There are a bunch of free lots associated with the outlying stations.

There is a plan still in place (but unfunded) to build a parking garage over the tracks to the east of the station, FWIW.

There will be dropoff/pickup, which is critical, though I have to say I'm a bit perplexed as to where they're going to put it. I'm also not clear on where the taxi stand's going to be. The Denver Union Station Master Plan Supplement claimed that taxis, limos, dropoff, etc. would be on Wewatta and Wynkoop Streets. It also claimed:

Taxi: 15 positions

Rental Car: 30 parking spaces

Vans and Shuttles: 3 positions

Ski Area Shuttles: 1 dedicated bay

Van Pool: Drop off area

Limo: Designated loading zone

Courier Services: Designated loading zone

Taxi & Private Vehicle Curb Drop-off: 8 Spaces or positions

However, it's completely unclear to me where all this is supposed to go. I think the rental car spaces were supposed to be in the garage that isn't being built (yet), but it looks like the rest of it is all supposed to be on Wynkoop and Wewatta -- somehow. I'd be interested to see whether/how they manage to get all this stuffed into four blocks.

 

[eblkheart]

I saw the parking across the street. Granted it's not bad for the most part for pricing. As for the drop off's, I saw that as well and wondered where the heck they were planning on something like that. Guess we'll see.

 

[Tumbleweed]

The lack of parking is especially troublesome for pickup/dropoff when the train is late....

 

[eblkheart]

Just an fyi, I'll be there tonight getting a few pics and such. and if I feel handy a video or two.

Articles in various Denver outlets on the "reopening" of the station.

http://kdvr.com/2014/02/28/amtrak-returns-to-denvers-union-station/ (with video)

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_25242992/amtrak-returns-union-station-friday

http://www.9news.com/news/local/article/379313/346/Amtrak-returns-to-Denver-Union-Station

 

[Cma]

Looks like the first train is going to be late. Waiting room is filling up.

 

[eblkheart]

Quick post. This is the now used waiting room with the ticket booth. Very temporary (not sure about the ticket booth). More pics coming later including a few surprises.

 

[eblkheart]

More pics as promised. Apologies for the lateness. Note: Amtrak was using Track 4.

Looking toward the back:

 

[eblkheart]

More pics:

 

[eblkheart]

Couple of comments about the station. Outside portion is about done. The platform feels out of place with the historic building but it works well with Amtrak with operations from what I saw. All but two are for the Light Rail. Tracks 1, 2 and I think 3 are for the DIA route. Watch your step. It's a big drop. 4 and 5 can be used by Amtrak and other passenger excursions. The waiting room is smaller then the temporary building that was used for the past few years. Getting access to the station is a little tricky, but just look for the signs and you shouldn't have issues. I did notice a taxi stand on the west side of the station so that could be a good place to drop off as well. I did use the parking garage right across from the station. Wasn't bad. Damn that was a cold night...

 

[MattW]

Is the platform level boarding with the Superliners its whole length? It kind of looks like it's only level in one segment there in the last pic.

Do they do the kindergarden walk or are people actually allowed to wait on some of those benches I see on some of the platforms?

 

[eblkheart]

of the raised, I think there was 3, maybe 5. But there's no real issue with getting off or on. As for waiting, I am not sure. When I was there I just walked through the waiting area and I was on the platform. So I don't think there will be any escorts. I think. I could be wrong however.

 

[Blackwolf]

I reeeeeealy hope that something nicer is in store for the actual inside station room and waiting area. I understand that just about all of the former waiting room and station is re-purposed for the hotel and retail space, but if what is pictured above is the new permanent Amtrak station, Denver really just screwed the pooch. A windowless, funny-shaped florescent-lit dungeon that just screams uncomfortable to me. If its temporary, I can understand to a degree. Denver could, and should, do better after spending the millions they have on this jewel of a terminal.

 

[Eric S]

Couple of comments about the station. Outside portion is about done. The platform feels out of place with the historic building but it works well with Amtrak with operations from what I saw. All but two are for the Light Rail. Tracks 1, 2 and I think 3 are for the DIA route. Watch your step. It's a big drop. 4 and 5 can be used by Amtrak and other passenger excursions. The waiting room is smaller then the temporary building that was used for the past few years. Getting access to the station is a little tricky, but just look for the signs and you shouldn't have issues. I did notice a taxi stand on the west side of the station so that could be a good place to drop off as well. I did use the parking garage right across from the station. Wasn't bad. Damn that was a cold night...

Light Rail? Are you referring to the existing light rail lines (C, E, W), or the under construction/proposed commuter rail lines (Gold, Northwest, North, East/DIA)?

 

[bgiaquin]

Couple of comments about the station. Outside portion is about done. The platform feels out of place with the historic building but it works well with Amtrak with operations from what I saw. All but two are for the Light Rail. Tracks 1, 2 and I think 3 are for the DIA route. Watch your step. It's a big drop. 4 and 5 can be used by Amtrak and other passenger excursions. The waiting room is smaller then the temporary building that was used for the past few years. Getting access to the station is a little tricky, but just look for the signs and you shouldn't have issues. I did notice a taxi stand on the west side of the station so that could be a good place to drop off as well. I did use the parking garage right across from the station. Wasn't bad. Damn that was a cold night...

Um sir the light rail is a little bit to the north. The platforms you we on are for just Amtrak, future commuter rail, etc.

 

[eblkheart]

Okay, regarding the light rail. The ones you see directly are for Amtrak etc. There are two each for Lightrail and then the 2 (or 3) for the DIA light rail. This one is REAL deep. I was told this by an RTD official friday night. And seeing a pic of the new Lightrail made for the DIA route, yes, there is rails for that (Tracks 1, 2 and 3 (?)). Below is the pic of it:

You can see the depth difference in that and the ones that Amtrak (etc) uses.

There are 2 (?) other tracks on the northside that are also light rail near the taxi area. I also have video from friday night so I may post them sometime this week.

 

[eblkheart]

I reeeeeealy hope that something nicer is in store for the actual inside station room and waiting area. I understand that just about all of the former waiting room and station is re-purposed for the hotel and retail space, but if what is pictured above is the new permanent Amtrak station, Denver really just screwed the pooch. A windowless, funny-shaped florescent-lit dungeon that just screams uncomfortable to me. If its temporary, I can understand to a degree. Denver could, and should, do better after spending the millions they have on this jewel of a terminal.

The Waiting area is very temporary.

 

[SubwayNut]

It's Commuter/Rail Rail, are the other tracks, not light rail that will use the other platforms and require high-level platforms. If an RTD employee called it Light Rail, there starting to use new terminology that's not standard. It's commuter rail because its FRA compliant. It's really nice to see that for the commuter rail lines they simply sunk the track beds instead of having platforms of different lengths. It's so rare to see that! The lines will use the same Silverliner Vs as SEPTA Regional Rail Lienes except without traps and different doors.

The website of the developer of Union Station, even calls it travel to RTD Light Rail Networks. No reference to Commuter or Regional Rail. The RTD talks about the P3 Partnership building 3 new Regional Rail Lines. Perhaps its turning into a terminology issue in Denver.

Those are Commuter Rail/Regional I've been following the RTD building boom and it was

 

[eblkheart]

It's Commuter/Rail Rail, are the other tracks, not light rail that will use the other platforms and require high-level platforms. If an RTD employee called it Light Rail, there starting to use new terminology that's not standard. It's commuter rail because its FRA compliant. It's really nice to see that for the commuter rail lines they simply sunk the track beds instead of having platforms of different lengths. It's so rare to see that! The lines will use the same Silverliner Vs as SEPTA Regional Rail Lienes except without traps and different doors.

The website of the developer of Union Station, even calls it travel to RTD Light Rail Networks. No reference to Commuter or Regional Rail. The RTD talks about the P3 Partnership building 3 new Regional Rail Lines. Perhaps its turning into a terminology issue in Denver.

Those are Commuter Rail/Regional I've been following the RTD building boom and it was

Sounds like this was explained to me wrong or I misunderstood. I was just amazed how deep tracks 1-3 are compared to the others. (4 and 5).

Btw, here is a pic of Track 7:

 

[Texan Eagle]

Never been to Denver by train so I am confused here- how many different types of trains is this station going to serve? Is it three?

1) Regular Amtrak - Superliner, low level platforms

2) Some light rail (RTD?) low level platforms

3) Some commuter rail with high level platforms similar to NE Corridor?

Is this correct? If so, where will 2) and 3) each go to?

 

[eblkheart]

Never been to Denver by train so I am confused here- how many different types of trains is this station going to serve? Is it three?

1) Regular Amtrak - Superliner, low level platforms

2) Some light rail (RTD?) low level platforms

3) Some commuter rail with high level platforms similar to NE Corridor?

Is this correct? If so, where will 2) and 3) each go to?

Here's some information:

Denver Union Station (DUS) will serve as a multimodal transportation hub, integrating light rail, commuter rail, and intercity rail (Amtrak), as well as regional,

express, and local bus service, the 16th Street Mall shuttle, Free MetroRide, and intercity buses, taxis, shuttles, vans, limousines, bicycles and pedestrians.

(source: http://www.rtd-fastracks.com/dus_1)