Union Station | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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![]() Union Station, c. 1909 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
General information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Location | St. John Street, Portland, Maine | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Coordinates | 43°39′08″N70°16′49″W / 43.6522°N 70.2804°W | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operated by | Boston and Maine Railroad Maine Central Railroad | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
History | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Opened | June 25, 1888 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Closed | October 30, 1960 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Key dates | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
August 31, 1961 | demolished | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Former services | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Union Station was a train station in the Libbytown neighborhood of Portland, Maine, which operated from 1888 to 1960. Located on St. John Street, it was demolished in 1961 and is now the site of a strip mall.
The station was designed by Boston architects Bradlee, Winslow & Wetherell, after medieval French châteaux. [1] It was a primarily granite building, with a 188-foot (57 m) clock tower. [1] The union station opened on June 25, 1888, serving trains of the Boston and Maine, Maine Central, and Portland and Ogdensburg railroads. [2] The Grand Trunk Railway continued to use a different station two miles away on India Street. [3]
In September 1960, the Maine Central ended passenger rail service to the station. The last train departed on October 30, when the Boston and Maine moved its remaining trains out of the facility, though it would continue to operate Portland-Boston service until 1965. [4] [5] [6]
On August 31, 1961, the train station was demolished. A strip mall was later built on the property. [4] [7]
The demolition led to the 1964 creation of Greater Portland Landmarks, a preservationist group. [8]
Noteworthy trains into the 1950s and in some cases to 1960: [9] [10]
A proposal to move Amtrak's Downeaster service from the Portland Transportation Center to a site near Union Station's original location has been endorsed by the Maine Department of Transportation. [11]