Kingston station (Rhode Island) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kingston, RI
Kingston station building and platforms in May 2017
Location	1 Railroad Avenue West Kingston, Rhode Island United States
Coordinates	41°29′02″N 71°33′39″W / 41.4840°N 71.5607°W / 41.4840; -71.5607
Owned by	State of Rhode Island
Line(s)	Amtrak Northeast Corridor
Platforms	1 side platform 1 island platform
Tracks	3
Connections	RIPTA: 64, 66
Construction
Parking	150 spaces
Bicycle facilities	Yes
Architectural style	Stick/Eastlake
Other information
Station code	Amtrak: KIN
History
Opened	June 1875 (current station)
Rebuilt	May 31, 1998 October 30, 2017
Traffic
Passengers (FY2019)	174,747 (Amtrak)
Services
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Former services Preceding station New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Following station Kenyons toward New Haven Shore Line Wickford Junction toward Boston
Kingston Railroad Station
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
NRHP reference No.	78000018
Added to NRHP	April 26, 1978

Kingston is a historic train station located in West Kingston, Rhode Island. It sits on the important Northeast Corridor railway line. This station was built in 1875 by the New York, Providence and Boston Railroad. It replaced older stations that had been there since 1837. Today, most Northeast Regional trains operated by Amtrak stop here. The station has also been considered for future commuter train service.

Station History

Early Days and Changes

Kingston station when it was new in 1875

The New York, Providence and Boston Railroad opened in November 1837. The train tracks did not go through the main village of Kingston. Because of this, a new village called West Kingston grew up around the train station.

The current station building has been used continuously since it opened in June 1875. For many years, Kingston Station also served the Narragansett Pier Railroad. This local train line connected Kingston to Narragansett Pier. The trip was about 8.5 miles (13.7 km) and took around 20 minutes. Passenger service on this line ended in 1952. In 2000, the old train tracks were turned into a bike path called the William C. O'Neill Bike Path.

Train Services Over Time

An Acela Express train speeding through Kingston at 150 mph (240 km/h)

By the 1960s, Kingston station had regional train service. Trains ran from Boston to New York City. There was also a single commuter train trip from New London to Boston. When Amtrak took over most intercity train services in 1971, this commuter trip continued.

Later, the state of Rhode Island funded a new commuter trip. This train ran between Westerly and Providence, stopping at Kingston. This service lasted until June 1977. Other local trains, like the Clamdigger and the Beacon Hill, also stopped at Kingston for a few years. However, these services eventually ended due to fewer riders and less funding. After 1981, Kingston only had intercity trains stopping there.

The station was recognized as an important historical site. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 26, 1978.

A group called "The Friends of Kingston Station" helped save the station. They were very important in getting it repaired after a fire in December 1988.

Most Northeast Regional trains stop at Kingston. However, Acela trains usually do not. Kingston is on a special part of the track where Acela trains can go very fast, up to 150 miles per hour (240 km/h). Signs and announcements warn passengers about the fast-moving trains. Sometimes, Acela trains do stop at Kingston in emergencies. This is because it's the only station nearby with high-level platforms that can let passengers off Acela trains.

Former Railroad Museum

For a while, one part of the station building was home to the Rhode Island Railroad Museum. This museum was run by the Friends of The Kingston Railroad Station. It was open on Sunday afternoons. The museum showed old items from Rhode Island railroads. A popular part was a working model train set that showed Kingston in 1948. The museum later closed. The space is now being used as a second waiting room for passengers. This is because more people are using the station.

Station Upgrades

Modernizing the Station

New high-level platforms being built in January 2016

In 2009, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) asked for money to improve the station. They wanted to add a siding (an extra track) and a new platform. This would allow more local trains to stop, possibly including future commuter trains.

On June 29, 2015, Amtrak and local officials started a big project to expand the station. This project replaced the old, low platforms with new, high-level platforms. These new platforms make the station much more accessible for everyone, including people with disabilities. This is important because of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).

The project also added a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) long third track. This new track allows fast Acela Express trains to pass through the station. Meanwhile, Northeast Regional trains or future commuter trains can be stopped at the station. The work also included installing drainage, strong walls, and poles for the overhead electric wires (catenary wires) for the new track. The inside of the station building was also renovated. The project cost about $41 million. Most of the money came from federal grants and RIDOT, with Amtrak providing the rest. The station renovations were officially finished on October 30, 2017.

Future Commuter Service

Kingston is currently one of only three stations on the Northeast Corridor in this area. It is only served by Amtrak trains. It does not have local commuter train service. The other two stations are Westerly and Mystic.

Since 1994, there have been discussions about bringing commuter train service to Rhode Island. Reports suggested that the Northeast Corridor would be the best route. In 2001, RIDOT looked at plans for commuter train service from Westerly to Providence. This plan included a stop at Kingston. It also suggested new stops at Wickford Junction and T.F. Green Airport.

The idea was to extend either the Shore Line East service or the MBTA Commuter Rail's Providence/Stoughton Line. Or, it could be a completely new service. Commuter service to T.F. Green Airport began in December 2010. Service to Wickford Junction started in April 2012. The possibility of extending service further south to Kingston is still being considered.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington County, Rhode Island