Portland Oregon

Portland Union Station

This station opened in 1896. It was a joint project of the Union Pacific, the Northern Pacific, and the Southern Pacific railroads. All three lines used the station for the first two decades of its existence. They were finally joined, after a fight in which the WW I US Railway Administration got into the act, by the Spokane, Portland and Seattle. At the same time the US Railway Administration also allowed the Great Northern to use the station.

For most of its existence prior to 1950, the station saw in excess of 90 trains a day. While I came into this station on UP's Portland Rose from Pocatello ID (Yellowstone Park), and left on SP's Lark bound for Los Angeles (but we got off in San Francisco) when our family went west in the mid-1950's I do not remember anything about the station from that trip.

Today, it is a busy Amtrak terminal hosting 2 long distance trains, the Coast Starlight, and the Portland section of the Empire Builder, as well as 10 Cascades trains (southbound to Eugene, northbound to Seattle and Vancouver BC) a day. In addition, the bus station is just across the street and bus departures are announced in the station, particularly those which are Amtrak "Thruway" connections. In addition, the City of Portland is extending its Light Rail line so that one of its routes will call at the station.

The station, itself, is downtown near the Japanese-American Historical Plaza along the Wilamette River. It is also within walking distance of the Portland Classical Chinese Garden. This latter place makes a great place to spend a 3 to 4 hour layover!

When we were there in the summer of 2008, it was a busy station indeed. Maybe not all the time, but certainly when trains were arriving or departing.

While the interior has been "spruced up" it still reminds you of the way stations used to look, complete with wooden benches! Portland should be proud of what they have done to make the Amtrak traveler feel welcome.