WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Amtrak Plans Expansion, Not Replacement, for New London Station (New London-WTNH) _ They talked about it for two-years, but now it seems Amtrak's plans for a new train station in New London are derailed for good. Instead of relocating, Amtrak now says it will continue to operate out of the city's historic Union Station. Even though ultra-modern high-speed rail service is just months away, many passengers are applauding the decision. News Channel 8's Peter Standring has the story. It's not exactly Grand Central, but people certainly seem to like New London's train station. Bob McKenna for one says it's fabulous. Bob McKenna, Mystic: "The station's fine, it's adequate, it's beautiful architecture. It's great, it's the anchor of downtown." Maybe so, but it is small and old and so for the last 2 years Amtrak has been planning to move out of Union Station. The idea was to build a new train station next door. But now Amtrak officials say that project probably won't happen. They say they're leaning toward staying right here. Chris Riley, Amtrak: "There was a number of hoops to jump through and as we get closer to October we needed to have this issue resolved." That's because in October Amtrak's hi-speed rail service is expected to start. They're anticipating a huge jump in ridership. Some passengers aren't so sure staying here is the best move. Gerry Sherman, Waterford: "It's small, yes... With the growth that they expect to come in here, they may need a larger station, I don't know." Most likely Amtrak will simply try to make this station larger, which is fine by most folks, especially historic preservationists. Union Station is more than a 100-years-old and they didn't want to see it closed. Sally Ryan, "New London Landmarks": "It's something we're very proud of that we have in our town such an important piece of architecture. We're much happier not to have a new railroad station!" Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Amtrak Plans Expansion, Not Replacement, for New London Station
(New London-WTNH) _ They talked about it for two-years, but now it seems Amtrak's plans for a new train station in New London are derailed for good. Instead of relocating, Amtrak now says it will continue to operate out of the city's historic Union Station. Even though ultra-modern high-speed rail service is just months away, many passengers are applauding the decision.
News Channel 8's Peter Standring has the story.

It's not exactly Grand Central, but people certainly seem to like New London's train station. Bob McKenna for one says it's fabulous.

Bob McKenna, Mystic: "The station's fine, it's adequate, it's beautiful architecture. It's great, it's the anchor of downtown."

Maybe so, but it is small and old and so for the last 2 years Amtrak has been planning to move out of Union Station. The idea was to build a new train station next door. But now Amtrak officials say that project probably won't happen. They say they're leaning toward staying right here.

Chris Riley, Amtrak: "There was a number of hoops to jump through and as we get closer to October we needed to have this issue resolved."

That's because in October Amtrak's hi-speed rail service is expected to start. They're anticipating a huge jump in ridership. Some passengers aren't so sure staying here is the best move.

Gerry Sherman, Waterford: "It's small, yes... With the growth that they expect to come in here, they may need a larger station, I don't know."

Most likely Amtrak will simply try to make this station larger, which is fine by most folks, especially historic preservationists. Union Station is more than a 100-years-old and they didn't want to see it closed.

Sally Ryan, "New London Landmarks": "It's something we're very proud of that we have in our town such an important piece of architecture. We're much happier not to have a new railroad station!"

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