San Bernardino (Amtrak station)

Infobox Station
style=Amtrak
name=San Bernardino


image_caption=The street side of San Bernardino station
address=1170 W Third Street. San Bernardino, California 92410
line=Amtrak services:Metrolink services:
code=SNB
owned=San Bernardino Associated Governments
opened=July 15 1918
passengers=8,846
pass_year=FY2007
pass_percent=-3
pass_system=Amtrak

San Bernardino (Amtrak Station) is a passenger rail station in San Bernardino, California. It currently serves one Amtrak and three Metrolink lines. The depot is a historical landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places.cite news |title= California - San Bernardino County|url= http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/CA/San+Bernardino/state.html |publisher= National Register of Historic Places]

History and renovation

Through its subsidiary California Southern Railroad, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (ATSF) first built a two-and-a-half-story wooden structure on the site in 1886 to replace a converted boxcar that had been used as a temporary station. [cite book| author=Serpico, Philip C.| title=Santa Fé Route to the Pacific| year=1988| publisher=Omni Publications| Location=Palmdale, California| id=ISBN 0-88418-000-X| page=20 ] The 1886 building was mostly destroyed in a fire on November 16 1916.cite news |title= A Brief History of the Santa Fe Depot|url= http://www.sanbag.ca.gov/about/santa-fe_history.html |publisher= San Bernardino Associated Governments|]

Local politicians requested ATSF to build a new station on a much larger scale than the previous. The new station, designed by architect W.A. Mohr, cost $800,000 ($11,551,475 adjusted for 2005) to build and was officially opened on July 15, 1918. At that time it was the largest railway station west of the Mississippi River. The newspaper "San Bernardino Sun" wrote "Santa Fe's Station to be the finest in the west." A few years after the depot's opening, an extension was added that included a Harvey House and living quarters.

The station saw heavy use throughout the 20th century. But like with many railroad stations, there was a gradual decline in usage with the advent of automobiles, buses and air travel. The Harvey House closed in the 1950s. In 1972, ATSF transferred its passenger service to Amtrak. Metrolink began service to the station in the early 1990s. cite news |title= SANBAG Property Acquisition, Depot Restoration Funding |url= http://www.sanbag.ca.gov/about/santa-fe_funding.html |publisher= San Bernardino Associated Governments|]

In 1992, San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG) purchased the historic depot from Santa Fe. While Amtrak and Metrolink stopped using the depot in favor for a much smaller newer structure on the west side of the older one, SANBAG acquired over $15 million from federal and local grants and funds to begin an extensive restoration of the historic depot beginning in 2002. In 2004, SANBAG and Metrolink moved some of their offices there. After renovations are complete, SANBAG will share ownership with the City of San Bernardino and both agencies intend on leasing space in it.cite news |title= Restoration Details |url= http://www.sanbag.ca.gov/about/santa-fe_restoration.html |publisher= San Bernardino Associated Governments|] The historic depot waiting area, along with a new snack shop, is expected to be open again for Amtrak and Metrolink passengers by the end of 2007.cite news |title=Snack shop set to open at historic San Bernardino depot |url=http://www.pe.com/localnews/sanbernardino/stories/PE_News_Local_B_depot15.359de53.html
publisher= "The Press-Enterprise" |first=Imram| last= Ghori |date= November 15, 2007] Greyhound Lines plans on moving passenger operations to the depot in 2009.cite news |title= Polishing a Jewel of a Depot|url= http://www.harveyhouses.net/clips/sanberdoo1.htm |publisher=The Press-Enterprise | author= Karen Gaudette and K. Franke Santos |date= July 13, 2003]

Depot architecture and design

The historic depot is built in the Spanish Mission Revival Style with some Moorish influence. Utilizing hollow clay blocks, a red tile roof and stucco exterior, the depot was designed to withstand fire. Four domed towers are built around a large center lobby with polished tile walls and floor. The interior includes handcrafted high beams, coffered ceilings and decorative column capitals.

ervices

The San Bernardino station serves as the eastern terminus for most Metrolink San Bernardino Line and some 91 Line trains which both originate from Los Angeles' Union Station and the northern terminus for some Inland Empire-Orange County Line trains. Some San Bernardino Line trains continue southwestward towards Riverside on weekends.

Amtrak's "Southwest Chief", which travels between Los Angeles, California and Chicago, Illinois, stops once a day in each direction here.

There are no ticket offices at the station.

References

External links

* [http://www.amtrakcalifornia.com/rail/go/amtrak/stations/q_t/san-bernardino/index.cfm Amtrak California station information]
* [http://www.trainweb.org/usarail/sanbernardino.htm San Bernardino Amtrak Station (USA Rail Guide -- TrainWeb)]

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