Cleveland Lakefront Station

Last updated

Cleveland Lakefront Station
Cleveland Lakefront Station, browns stadium.png
Amtrak station as seen from trackside in August 2022
General information
Location200 Cleveland Memorial Shoreway
Cleveland, Ohio
United States
Coordinates 41°30′20″N81°41′47″W / 41.505653°N 81.696468°W / 41.505653; -81.696468
Owned by Amtrak
Line(s)NS Chicago Line / Cleveland Line
Platforms1 island platform
Tracks4
Construction
Structure typeAt-grade
ParkingYes
AccessibleAmtrak platform accessible,
RTA car stop not accessible
Other information
Station code Amtrak: CLE
History
OpenedOctober 28, 1975;48 years ago (1975-10-28) [1]
Rebuilt1977
Passengers
FY 202248,887 [2] (Amtrak)
Services
Preceding station BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg Amtrak Following station
Elyria
toward Chicago
Capitol Limited Alliance
toward Washington, D.C.
Lake Shore Limited Erie
toward New York or Boston South
Preceding station GCRTA wordmark logo.svg Rapid Transit Following station
East 9th–North Coast
toward South Harbor
Waterfront Line West 3rd
toward Tower City
Former services
Preceding station BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg Amtrak Following station
Elyria
toward Chicago
Pennsylvanian
1998–2003
 Alliance
toward Philadelphia

Cleveland Lakefront Station is an Amtrak train station at North Coast Harbor in Cleveland, Ohio. The current station was built in 1977 to provide service to the Lake Shore Limited route (New York/Boston-Chicago), which was reinstated by Amtrak via Cleveland and Toledo in 1975. [3] It replaced service to Cleveland Union Terminal. Lakefront Station is located in downtown Cleveland near the Lake Erie waterfront, adjacent to the Cleveland Memorial Shoreway and in the immediate vicinity of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Great Lakes Science Center, the Steamship William G. Mather Museum and Cleveland Browns Stadium. The station has had little to no renovation since its opening.

Contents

The station is a service stop on Amtrak's daily Lake Shore Limited and Capitol Limited trains, both of which pass through in the middle of the night. The station is also served by the RTA Waterfront Line. The Pennsylvanian served Cleveland from 1998 to 2003, when it reverted to its original Pittsburgh–New York route. As of 2021, proposals exist for the Pennsylvanian and several other routes to return to Cleveland.

History

Cleveland Lakefront station after dedication ceremony, July 1977 Cleveland Lakefront station after dedication ceremony, July 1977.jpg
Cleveland Lakefront station after dedication ceremony, July 1977

Amtrak used to run its trains through Cleveland Union Terminal (now Tower City Center), which was built in 1928 and served as the main terminal for the Shaker Heights Rapid Transit, and in 1955, the crosstown Red Line. [4] By 1971, because of Cleveland Union Terminal's high rent, the massive size of the facility, and the need to switch to electric locomotives to access its enclosed platforms, the newly-formed Amtrak rerouted passenger service to the ex-Big Four Railroad tracks on January 2, 1972. The "platform" extended from the former Erie Railroad depot to the intersection of Superior Avenue and Old River Road, underneath the Detroit–Superior Bridge. [5] This stop was discontinued when the Lake Shore train ended service on January 5. [6] Construction of a temporary station began in September 1975. [7] This temporary station opened for Lake Shore Limited service on October 31, 1975. Groundbreaking of the current Lakefront Station was August 31, 1976, [8] with the station officially opened on June 29, 1977. The formal dedication of the station occurred on July 12. [9] According to Amtrak's employee magazine, a crowd of more than 300 gathered for the dedication of the $552,000 depot. Speakers included Mary J. Head, vice chairman of the Amtrak Board of Directors, and Cleveland Mayor Ralph J. Perk. Following the dedication ceremony, attendees were invited to tour the facility and enjoy cake and coffee. [10]

Lakefront Station has undergone little to no renovation since its opening. In recent years, its lack of modernization has become more noticeable, especially its appearance and lack of adequate signage. [11] In August 2012, when the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland was under construction, a Cuyahoga County official expressed a desire to keep Lakefront Station out of view, and even Amtrak officials conceded that the station had not aged well. [12] One proposed solution was to build a new station underground, but due to a lack of funding, the county settled on hiding the station behind trees and shrubs as a short-term solution. [12]

Services

Grade crossing at Lakefront Station that leads to the station's building. Cleveland Lakefront Amtrak.jpg
Grade crossing at Lakefront Station that leads to the station's building.

Cleveland has four daily trains: the Capitol Limited (trains 29 and 30) between Washington, D.C., and Chicago, and the Lake Shore Limited (trains 48/448 and 49/449) between Chicago and New York City/Boston. [3] As of January 2014, these trains were scheduled to arrive/depart from Cleveland at various times between 1:00 a.m. and 5:50 a.m. [13] [14] The timing of the departures and arrivals has drawn criticism, with Amtrak also trying to tinker with train schedules through suggestions, reminding people that the schedules are not set in stone. [15]

The Cleveland RTA Rapid Waterfront Line tracks separate the station building and Amtrak platform. [16] There is no platform for the Waterfront Line trains, but they will stop at the station upon request, with passengers discharging at the at-grade pedestrian connection to the building. The stop is not accessible. [17] However, the Waterfront Line does not run during most of the time of day that includes Amtrak arrivals or departures. [17] [18]

The Lake Shore Limited has served Lakefront Station from its opening in 1975. The Capitol Limited began stopping at Lakefront on November 12, 1990, after Conrail's abandonment of portions of the ex-Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railway in northwestern Indiana forced the re-routing of that train along with the Broadway Limited . Previously it had passed to the south, serving Canton. [19] Between 1998 and 2003, the Pennsylvanian served Cleveland, providing daylight service to Chicago and Philadelphia. Weak ridership prompted Amtrak to return the train to a Pittsburgh–New York schedule. [20]

On May 27, 2021, Amtrak released a long-range planning document detailing plans for multiple new corridor routes, including possible extensions of one round trip of the Pennsylvanian and Empire Service each to Cleveland. In addition, there are proposals for three round trips to Detroit via Toledo, and to Cincinnati via Columbus and Dayton. [21] However, Lakefront Station would be unable to accommodate this dramatic increase in service. For this reason, a group by the name of All Aboard Ohio is pushing for the restoration of rail service at Cleveland Union Terminal. [22]

Station layout

The Amtrak platform Cleveland Lakefront Station platform.png
The Amtrak platform
Cleveland Lakefront station, February 2021 Cleveland Lakefront Station - waiting room.png
Cleveland Lakefront station, February 2021

Amtrak trains stop on the southernmost track at a side platform; the RTA tracks do not have any true platforms, but RTA trains can stop on the walkway between the station building and Amtrak platform. [17] The structure has a porte-cochère, which protects passengers from inclement weather. [23] The interior was built with a similar design to that of the exterior, and features a central skylight. Shadows from its exposed trusses create different patterns on the brown brick floor, built in a basket-weaved pattern. [23] Exposed ductwork is visible throughout the trusses, as are the light fixtures. All of the ceiling elements are painted white, which tend to recede and produce a sense of airiness which is further enhanced by the floor-to-ceiling windows. [23] Banks of seats are located close to public telephones and a vending area. [23]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Capitol Limited</i> Amtrak service between Chicago, IL and Washington, D.C.

The Capitol Limited is a daily Amtrak train between Washington, D.C., and Chicago, running 764 miles (1,230 km) via Pittsburgh and Cleveland. Service began in 1981 and was named after the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's Capitol Limited which ended in 1971 upon the formation of Amtrak. It carries the Amtrak train numbers 29 and 30, which were previously assigned to the discontinued National Limited.

<i>Pennsylvanian</i> (train) Amtrak service between Pittsburgh, PA and New York City, NY

The Pennsylvanian is a 444-mile (715 km) daily daytime Amtrak train running between New York City and Pittsburgh via Philadelphia. The trains travel across the Appalachian Mountains, through Pennsylvania's capital Harrisburg, the Pennsylvania Dutch Country, suburban and central Philadelphia, and New Jersey en route to New York. The entire train ride takes about 9 hours total: 1.5 hours between New York and Philadelphia, 2 hours between Philadelphia and Harrisburg, and 5.5 hours between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh.

<i>Lake Shore Limited</i> American intercity passenger train service

The Lake Shore Limited is an overnight passenger train operated by Amtrak between Chicago and the Northeastern United States, with sections to New York City and Boston. The central segment of the route runs along the southern shore of Lake Erie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RTA Rapid Transit</span> Public transit network in Cleveland, Ohio

RTA Rapid Transit is a rapid transit and semi-metro system owned and operated by the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tower City Center</span> Mixed-use facility in Cleveland, Ohio

Tower City Center is a large mixed-use facility in Downtown Cleveland, Ohio, on its Public Square. The facility is composed of a number of interconnected office buildings, including Terminal Tower, the Skylight Park mixed-use shopping center, Jack Cleveland Casino, Hotel Cleveland, Chase Financial Plaza, and Tower City station, the main hub of Cleveland's four RTA Rapid Transit lines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Union Station (Pittsburgh)</span> Railway station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Union Station, also known as Pennsylvania Station and commonly called Penn Station, is a historic train station in Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was one of several passenger rail stations that served Pittsburgh during the 20th century; others included the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad Station, the Baltimore and Ohio Station, and Wabash Pittsburgh Terminal, and it is the only surviving station in active use.

The Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway, established in 1833, and sometimes referred to as the Lake Shore, was a major part of the New York Central Railroad's Water Level Route from Buffalo, New York, to Chicago, Illinois, primarily along the south shore of Lake Erie and across northern Indiana. The line's trackage remains a major rail transportation corridor used by Amtrak passenger trains and several freight lines; in 1998, its ownership was split at Cleveland, Ohio, between CSX Transportation to the east and Norfolk Southern Railway in the west.

<i>Michigan Services</i>

Michigan Services are three Amtrak passenger rail routes connecting Chicago, Illinois with the Michigan cities of Grand Rapids, Port Huron, and Pontiac, and stations en route. The group falls under the Amtrak Midwest brand and is a component of the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Station (Chicago terminal)</span> Railroad terminal in Chicago, Illinois

Central Station was an intercity passenger terminal in downtown Chicago, Illinois, at the southern end of Grant Park near Roosevelt Road and Michigan Avenue. Owned by the Illinois Central Railroad, it also served other companies via trackage rights. It opened in 1893, replacing Great Central Station, and closed in 1972 when Amtrak rerouted services to Union Station. The station building was demolished in 1974. It is now the site of a redevelopment called Central Station, Chicago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albany–Rensselaer station</span> Train station in New York State, US

Rensselaer Rail Station, signed as Albany–Rensselaer on its platforms, is a train station in Rensselaer, New York, located 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from downtown Albany across the Hudson River. Operated by the Capital District Transportation Authority, it serves as Amtrak's primary station for the Capital District. To emphasize the station's location across the river from Albany, as well as to distinguish from the Rensselaer station in Indiana, Amtrak refers to the station as "Albany–Rensselaer."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza (Toledo)</span>

Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza is the main passenger rail and intercity bus station of Toledo, Ohio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elyria station</span> Amtrak station in Ohio

Elyria station is an Amtrak station in Elyria, Ohio. Located at 410 East River Road, the building is a small bus stop-type shelter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cleveland railroad history</span>

Cleveland has been and continues to be deeply rooted in railroad history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hammond–Whiting station</span> Amtrak train station in Indiana

Hammond–Whiting station is an Amtrak intercity train station in Hammond, Indiana. The station is along the former Pennsylvania Railroad Fort Wayne Line, now owned by Norfolk Southern Railway. North of the station lies the former Baltimore and Ohio and Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railroad tracks. The station building and parking lot lies on the former New York Central Railroad mainline. Hammond–Whiting opened on September 11, 1982. Until the early 2000s, it was served by all Amtrak service that ran east from Chicago; today, it is only served by two daily Wolverine round trips.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waterloo station (Indiana)</span> Train station in Waterloo, Indiana served by Amtrak

Waterloo station is an Amtrak train station in Waterloo, Indiana. Waterloo is a small town of under 2,500 people; the station primarily serves the vastly larger population of Fort Wayne, which is some 25 miles (40 km) to the south. The station opened in 1990; in 2016, the former New York Central Railroad station building was moved and reopened for passenger use. The station has a waiting room and restroom facilities; it is open for only short periods before trains arrive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Settlers Landing station</span> Rapid transit station in Cleveland

Settlers Landing station is a station on the RTA Waterfront Line in Cleveland, Ohio. The station is located just south of the intersection of West Superior Avenue and Old River Road inside Settlers Landing Park, after which the station is named.

<i>Lake Cities</i> (Amtrak train) Former Amtrak passenger train

The Lake Cities was a daily passenger train operated by Amtrak between Chicago, Illinois and Toledo, Ohio via Detroit, Michigan. It operated from 1980 until 2004, when it was folded into the Wolverine. It replaced the St. Clair, a Chicago–Detroit train which operated in tandem with the Wolverine. The extension to Toledo gave travelers in Michigan the opportunity to connect with eastbound trains such as the Lake Shore Limited without backtracking to Chicago. Amtrak re-routed the train from Toledo to Pontiac, Michigan in 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cleveland Union Depot</span> Railway station in Cleveland, Ohio

Union Depot was the name given to two intercity railroad stations in Cleveland, Ohio. Union Depot was built as the first union station in Cleveland in 1853. After a large fire in 1864, a new structure was built, and was the largest train station in the United States until construction of Grand Central Depot in New York City in 1871. The depot was operated by multiple railroads until 1930, when all except the Pennsylvania Railroad dropped their services and utilized Cleveland Union Terminal, which opened that year. The Pennsylvania Railroad continued to use the depot until 1953, and the building was demolished in 1959.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transportation in Cleveland</span>

The transportation system of Cleveland is a network that includes several modes of transportation including sidewalks, roads, public transit, bicycle paths and regional and international airports.

References

  1. ↑ Juniewicz, Andrew M. (October 29, 1975). "500 welcome city's 1st passenger train since Amtrak left". No. 302. The Plain Dealer.
  2. ↑ "Amtrak Fact Sheet, Fiscal Year 2022: State of Ohio" (PDF). Amtrak. June 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Amtrak Lake Shore Limited Train Route Guide" (PDF). Amtrak. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Cleveland Union Terminal". Encyclopedia of Cleveland. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
  5. ↑ Clark, John (January 2, 1972). "Amtrak Signals Wrong Bus Line" . The Plain Dealer . Vol. 131, no. 2. p. 11. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  6. ↑ Toman, Jim; Blaine S. Hayes (1996). Horse trails to regional rails: the story of public transit in greater Cleveland. Kent State University Press. ISBN   978-0-87338-547-3.; 280, 295.
  7. ↑ "Amtrak Station to Be Built". The News-Herald. Port Clinton, Ohio. September 5, 1975. p. 6. Retrieved March 12, 2022– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  8. ↑ Baer, Christopher T. (April 2015). A GENERAL CHRONOLOGY OF THE PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD COMPANY ITS PREDECESSORS AND SUCCESSORS AND ITS HISTORICAL CONTEXT (PDF). Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Roadless Amtrak Station Dedicated". Toledo Blade . July 12, 1977. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Flag Raising, Speeches, Open House Highlight Dedication of New Cleveland Station". Amtrak News. July 15, 1977. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Search for Cleveland's Amtrak station can take travelers off track: Road Rant". The Plain Dealer. July 18, 2010. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  12. 1 2 "Cuyahoga County wants to hide Amtrak station from convention center view". The Plain Dealer. August 28, 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Capitol Limited Timetable" (PDF). Amtrak. January 2014. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Lake Shore Limited Timetable" (PDF). Amtrak. January 2014. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Amtrak to review service on routes through Cleveland". The Plain Dealer. March 11, 2010. Retrieved February 2, 2014. But that doesn't mean the schedule is set in stone for the Capital Limited. "Everything is on the table, and there are no bad ideas," he said.
  16. ↑ "Waterfront Line". Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  17. 1 2 3 "Amtrak (by request only) Rapid Station". Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. April 2, 2013. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  18. ↑ Berman, Jake (2023). Lost Subways of North America. University of Chicago Press. pp. 55–56. ISBN   978-0-226-82979-1.
  19. ↑ Welsh, Joe (2006). Pennsylvania Railroad's Broadway Limited. Saint Paul, MN: Voyageur Press. ISBN   978-0-7603-2302-1.
  20. ↑ Patch, David (December 11, 2002). "Amtrak trims Toledo service". Toledo Blade . Retrieved August 17, 2010.
  21. ↑ "Amtrak 2021 Corridor Vision" (PDF). May 27, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  22. ↑ Glaser, Susan; clevel; .com (April 15, 2021). "Rail advocacy group wants Cleveland Amtrak station back at Tower City". cleveland. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  23. 1 2 3 4 "Cleveland, OH – Great American Stations". Great American Stations. Retrieved February 2, 2014.

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Cleveland Lakefront station at Wikimedia Commons

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.