(The following appeared on the St. Louis Post-Dispatch website on November 19.)
ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Amtrak trains began using the new Gateway Transportation Center in downtown St. Louis early today, marking the end to the “temporary” buildings passengers used for 30 years.
The new glass-and-steel center on South 15th Street, near the Scottrade Center, also serves as a depot for Greyhound buses. It has four train platforms and 10 bus bays. Bus passengers began using the building in June.
Construction began on the $27 million building in 2006. Amtrak was expected to move into the station in the fall of 2007, but work fell behind schedule. Most recently, track work and platform construction kept Amtrak from moving into the building.
Passengers can reach the tracks by walking through an enclosed walkway and two sets of stairs, escalators and elevators to the train platforms below. Greyhound and Amtrak passengers will share the lobby and a deli, and fast-food restaurants will be opening in the future.
Rich Eichhorst of St. Louis was the first to board the first train out, the 4:35 a.m. train to Bloomington, Ill. He belongs to a group of transportation enthusiasts that try to be the first to first to board or the last to ride anything.
“It left right on time, and was smooth,” Eichhorst said.
Eichhorst, 67, is a retired Hazelwood East high school teacher of social studies and history. He is president of American Association of Railroaders, and six members of his group boarded the first train this morning. About eight other people were at the depot waiting for the train, too, he said.
Eichhorst says he can now claim to be the last person to board a train at the old Union Station — “30 years and 19 days ago” — and the first person to board a train at the new depot.
“We can’t all climb Mount Everest or go into space,” he quipped.
Eichhorst already has concerns about the new station, which has fewer seats than both the old Amtrak and Greyhound stations.
“Ridership is increasing, but the number of available seats is diminishing,” he said.
Marc Magliari, Amtrak spokesman, said more seats are on order.
A grand opening is planned for 10:45 a.m. Friday.