Crews Set For Train Depot Relocation
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowMoving day is here for a project designed to put a historic train station back into service. Once it’s relocated near the existing Amtrak boarding area, improvements to the more than 130 year-old Waterloo Depot are expected to be complete in June. Town Council President David Bolton believes the refurbished landmark will boost ridership at the DeKalb County stop.
Bolton adds the project will help the northeast Indiana community with business attraction. "Over 20,000 passengers a year use the train and it’s a natural fit to tap into that customer base. This will be one of the nicest train depots that people will travel by on their way to either Chicago, New York City or Washington D.C. This will give people a taste of what it must have been like to ride a train during the Industrial Revolution."
Town officials say the station ranked third in 2014 among Indiana stations for Amtrak ridership. It is located along the transportation company’s Capitol Limited route, which travels between Chicago and Washington D.C. and the four-time-a-day, Chicago to New York and Boston Lake Shore Limited route.
The project is funded through a $1.8 million U.S. Department of Transportation TIGER II grant, which includes supporting modernization of the electronic information display system, improved parking and free wi-fi connectivity for guests.
"The Waterloo Train Depot was built in 1884 and refurbishing it was complete in 2010. This Train Depot played a central role in Waterloo’s history and it will once again play a significant role in its future. The Train Depot will be used 365 days a year for Amtrak passengers and provide modern conveniences for its customers," said Bolton.
It is expected to be moved to a new block foundation next month. A grand opening is scheduled for June 24, which will coincide with the opening of a new Town Hall.