Fort Madison station (1968–2021)

Fort Madison was an Amtrak train station in Fort Madison, Iowa, United States. The former Amtrak station was built in 1968 by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway—commonly referred to as the "Santa Fe." Located at the east end of a Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF—successor to the Santa Fe) freight yard, it was about a half hour walk away from downtown. It replaced a downtown Santa Fe complex that included a 1910 depot, Railway Express Agency (REA) building, and freight office.[4]

For the former Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway station in Fort Madison now used as the Amtrak station, see Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Passenger and Freight Complex Historic District.

Fort Madison, IA
The Southwest Chief at Fort Madison station in October 2015
General information
Location1601 20th Street,[1] Fort Madison, Iowa 52627
Coordinates40.6223°N 91.3375°W / 40.6223; -91.3375
Owned byBNSF Railway
Line(s)BNSF Railway Chillicothe / Marceline Subdivisions
Platforms1 side platform, 1 island platform
Tracks2
Other information
Station codeFMD
History
Opened1968[2]
ClosedDecember 15, 2021[2]
Passengers
20176,661[3] Increase 0.76%
Former services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station
La Plata
toward Los Angeles
 Southwest Chief Galesburg
toward Chicago
La Plata
toward Dallas or Houston
 Lone Star Galesburg (SF Depot)
toward Chicago
Preceding station Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Following station
Shopton
toward Los Angeles
 Main Line East Fort Madison
toward Chicago

On December 15, 2021, Amtrak moved its operations back to the historical Santa Fe Depot, located directly in downtown Fort Madison.

Original station restoration

The city, in collaboration with BNSF, Amtrak, the Iowa Department of Transportation, the Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission, and the North Lee County Historical Society (NLCHS), has worked since 2006 to restore the old Santa Fe station to accommodate an Amtrak waiting room and ticket office as well as exhibition and storage space for the NLCHS museum, which moved into the old depot in 1972.[4] Unfortunately, the depot remained susceptible to high water and was flooded several times in the late 20th century. Eventually, the city decided to sponsor a project to lift the depot off of its foundation, construct a new five foot high concrete base, and lower the building back into place; this work occurred during 2011.[4]

The total cost of the depot raising and restoration project is estimated at $3.2 million, and the city obtained funds from a diverse array of grant programs, including $1.5 million through the Federal Highway Administration's Transportation Enhancements program and $1.13 million through I-Jobs, a state investment program designed to renew Iowa's infrastructure, promote long-term economic growth, and help create and retain jobs.[4] Once the renovation was completed, Amtrak moved the Fort Madison stop to the depot, which also continues to house the NLCHS museum.[4]

References
  1. "Amtrak System Timetables". Amtrak. May 10, 2010. p. 12 – via Museum of Railway Timetables.
  2. Associated Press (December 14, 2021). "Amtrak Service Returns to Historic Fort Madison Station". KTVO-TV. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  3. "Amtrak Fact Sheet, FY2017, State of Iowa" (PDF). Amtrak. November 2017. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
  4. "Fort Madison, IA (FMD)". Great American Stations. Amtrak.

Media related to Fort Madison station at Wikimedia Commons

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