Centralia station (Washington) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Centralia, WA
Amtrak inter-city rail station
Centralia Union Depot in 2011
Location	210 Railroad Avenue Centralia, Washington 98531 United States
Coordinates	46°43′03″N 122°57′10″W / 46.7174°N 122.9529°W / 46.7174; -122.9529
Owned by	BNSF Railway & City of Centralia
Line(s)	BNSF Railway Seattle Subdivision
Platforms	1 side platform
Tracks	1
Connections	Twin Transit
Construction
Parking	Free
Disabled access	Yes
Other information
Station code	CTL
History
Opened	1912
Rebuilt	2002
Traffic
Passengers (2018)	28,218  12.1%
Services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station Kelso toward Eugene–Springfield Amtrak Cascades Olympia-Lacey toward Vancouver, British Columbia Kelso toward Los Angeles Coast Starlight Olympia-Lacey toward Seattle
Former services Preceding station Amtrak Following station Olympia-Lacey toward Seattle Pioneer Discontinued in 1997 Kelso toward Chicago Joint Great Northern/Northern Pacific/ Union Pacific service Preceding station Great Northern Railway Following station Chehalis toward Portland Portland–Seattle Line Bucoda toward Seattle Preceding station Northern Pacific Railway Following station Chehalis toward Portland Portland–Seattle Line Bucoda toward Seattle Preceding station Union Pacific Railroad Following station Chehalis toward Portland Portland–Seattle Line Bucoda toward Seattle
Centralia Union Depot
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location	210 Railroad Avenue Centralia, Washington
NRHP reference No.	88000608
Added to NRHP	1988
Location
Centralia, WA Location in Washington (state) Show map of Washington (state) Centralia, WA Location in the United States Show map of the United States

The Centralia Union Depot is a historic Amtrak train station located in Centralia, Washington, United States. It is a key stop for two important Amtrak passenger trains: the Cascades and the Coast Starlight. The train tracks and platforms at the station are owned by the BNSF Railway company. If you need to travel locally, Twin Transit provides bus connections from the station.

History of the Centralia Train Station

Building the Original Station

The Centralia Union Depot was built by the Northern Pacific Railway (NP) and first opened its doors in 1912. This was actually the third train station built in Centralia since train service began there in 1880.

The station was built with strong bricks. It was made to handle a huge increase in people living in the area. Between 1900 and 1914, Centralia's population grew by 400%!

A Busy Hub for Travelers

Just two years after it opened, the Centralia Union Depot was incredibly busy. Every day, 44 passenger trains and 17 freight trains used the station. The area around the station was also very lively. There were 14 hotels, 5 theaters, and 8 banks in the downtown area, all close to the depot.

Changes and Decline

In 1970, the Northern Pacific Railway merged with another company to form the Burlington Northern Railroad (BN). Then, on May 1, 1971, Amtrak began running passenger train services on the route between Seattle and Portland.

At first, Amtrak trains didn't stop in Centralia. However, this changed on July 12, 1971, when Centralia was added as a stop. Over time, as more people started driving cars on Interstate 5, the Centralia Union Depot began to show its age. The city's downtown area also faced economic challenges.

Bringing the Station Back to Life

In the mid-1980s, local leaders in Centralia realized the station needed help. They started a big project that would last two decades. Their goal was to have the city buy the station and restore it. This was part of a larger plan to make the downtown area better.

In 1996, the Burlington Northern Railroad merged with another company to create the BNSF Railway. This merger encouraged the city of Centralia and the state's Department of Transportation to work with BNSF. They wanted to buy the depot.

After the city bought the station, they began planning its historic restoration. The work happened in two main parts:

Phase 1: Exterior Restoration (1996)

The first part of the project focused on the outside of the building. Workers fixed parts of the structure that were falling apart. They also put back roof dormers (windows that stick out from the roof) that had been removed. A new tile roof was installed, and the brick exterior was repaired. New utilities were added, and new parking lots were built at each end of the building.

Phase 2: Interior Restoration (2000)

The second part of the project focused on the inside of the station. New floors were put in, and the original woodwork and brass fittings were restored. An Amtrak ticket office was created, along with a baggage room and a freight room. A new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system was installed, and an elevator was added.

The entire restoration project was finished in April 2002. The city celebrated this achievement during its "Railroad Days" festival. The Centralia Union Depot is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as an important historical building.

• Amtrak – Stations – Centralia, WA