Below are the words we heard last year, and yes they have now come true.
Yesterday, on a beautiful cloudless blue sky, gentle breeze,
wear-a-sweater Autumn afternoon, we at last paid a visit to check out
our brand new train/transportation station in the heart of the city. . . . . and
quite honestly we were blown away!
'Today (in 2017) it's a gravel-filled construction site.
But this time next year? Expect something amazing at Raleigh's
new Union Station, says the project engineer.'
Raleigh Union Station is completed and open for business - at least for
AMTRAK train service. Bus traffic and hopefully light rail will be added later.
We had such a fun time exploring the station as well as conversing with
other Saturday visitors on the outdoor observation deck - we do love to
meet and chat with interesting people.
There was a dad with his young son who longs to ride trains;
a Brazilian couple our age who moved here 25 years ago; a very
nice Jordanian gentleman who came to the US many years back and
owns a business with his family here; a young couple with a beautiful
7 month baby boy who were good listeners, despite us being older than
their grandparents!
All in all it was a busy visit.
I loved that the architect has taken what was a huge ironworks company
supply warehouse, built in the 1940's, renovated and expanded it, but
kept many of the original elements incorporating them into the new
contemporary construction.
The station timepiece hanging from a vintage ironworks gantry.
'Raleigh Union Station fits within efforts to support the expansion of mass transit
options in North Carolina's central region. Raleigh is a rapidly growing city, and
with that comes a need for transportation facilities to meet current and future
transit demands.
Raleigh Union Station will not only serve Amtrak passengers, but also
act as a multi-model transit center connecting riders to other forms of transit.
Offering this level of service will address congestion and land development
concerns, while also providing a transportation hub that will continue to
revitalize Downtown Raleigh and its Warehouse District.'
'The station retains elements of the old steel warehouse, including the massive steel pillars and ceiling beams in the main hall. Two gantries overhead that used to move steel around the building are fixed in place, as is the big sliding steel door on the back wall. The walkway leading to and from the train platform is lined with rusted steel plates salvaged from the warehouse.'
All photos via iPhone
Hope you had a great weekend too.
We actually started out just to take Bob's desktop computer to the repair
shop - it crashed yesterday morning as, like us, it's showing it's age I fear!
The ride through downtown became a "let's find a parking place and take a
walk around" mini sightseeing tour! It's years since we both worked downtown
and the many changes always bring surprises, some good, others bad.
We must say however time definitely doesn't stand still. . . . . . the entire
cityscape is an ongoing project.
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It sounds wonderful! A city needs a bustling station. And sometimes there’s nothing like time spent in a well-loved city.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant new and repurposed building.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting! I LOVE travelling on trains but I've only managed it on three occasions in my life. One when we visited relatives in England — we took a train to Gloucestershire. Twice here in Brisbane — one a school event and one to travel past the city to a book fair last year. My son took me on the latter and I was so thrilled to be on a train. If I use public transport, it's always bus because it's closest to us. Maybe when I'm next in Brisbane city, I will explore our own train station.
ReplyDeleteSO, I can imagine what fun you had exploring the new station! And how lovely that you chat with other people too — I tend to strike up conversations like that also. It sounds like you had such an enjoyable time and the pics look wonderful!
I love this train station. How very, very special. Plus meeting all those interesting people just makes a day more special.
ReplyDeleteIt is the sign of a city that is very much alive when there are constant changes and work in progress. I like the look of the station, mixing old and new.
ReplyDeleteThat station looks amazing! I love that you take time to chat with interesting people!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like a wonderful hub for transport within Raleigh and to other parts of the State.
ReplyDeleteRetaining sections of the old iron works pays homage to it's previous life.
Amazing that it was competed within a year - hats off to the team who made it happen.
I love airports because of the hustle and bustle and the excitement of flying off to far away lands!
People watching is so interesting - I'm called the 'observer'!
My imagination can run away from me at times, devising where travellers are going, with whom and why!
We're watching Michael Portello's Great Continental Railway Journeys - have you seen it?
Another interesting post Mary.
xx
OOh, maybe Alex and I can ride into there one day. What fun! It really does look lovely.
ReplyDeleteSopeaking of which, if you ever make it through Denver again, you simply must stop over at the Union station there. Incredible and with stores inside it you;d love. The architecture alone will also blow you away....plus it's very close to the Tattered Cover Bookstore which is America's largest independent bookstore in the country.