Salem station (Oregon) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Salem, OR
Location	500 13th Street SE Salem, OR United States
Coordinates	44°55′56″N 123°01′41″W / 44.93222°N 123.02806°W / 44.93222; -123.02806
Owned by	State of Oregon
Line(s)	Union Pacific Railroad
Platforms	1 side platform
Tracks	1
Connections	Cascades POINT Greyhound Lines
Construction
Parking	25 long term spaces
Bicycle facilities	Yes
Disabled access	Yes
Other information
Station code	Amtrak code: SLM
History
Opened	1918
Rebuilt	2000
Traffic
Passengers (2017)	63,311  3.41%
Services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station Albany toward Eugene–Springfield Amtrak Cascades Oregon City toward Vancouver, British Columbia Albany toward Los Angeles Coast Starlight Portland toward Seattle
Former services Preceding station Southern Pacific Railroad Following station Turner toward Oakland Pier Shasta Route Chemawa toward Portland
Salem Southern Pacific Railroad Station
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
A close up picture at night.
Area	2.7 acres (1.1 ha)
Built	1918 (1918)
Architect	Christie, J.H.; Stebinger Bros.
Architectural style	Queen Anne, Beaux-Arts
NRHP reference No.	10000015
Added to NRHP	February 12, 2010

Salem is an Amtrak train station located in Salem, Oregon, United States. It is a busy place where people catch trains like the Amtrak Cascades and the long-distance Coast Starlight. These trains connect Salem to cities like Portland, Oregon. You can also find Greyhound Lines buses and other local buses stopping at this station.

History of the Salem Train Station

The side of the Salem train station where trains stop.

The current Salem train station was built in 1918. It was made for the Southern Pacific Railroad. This station is actually the third one to be built in the same spot.

Earlier Stations in Salem

The first train station was built in 1871. Sadly, it burned down in 1885. A second station was built in 1889. This station had a special design called Queen Anne style. People used to think it also burned down in 1917. But old newspaper reports say it was taken apart because it looked old and messy. Only a small part for baggage was left.

Building the Current Station

The station you see today was designed by John H. Christie. He was the main architect for Southern Pacific. This building has a grand style called Beaux-Arts. It is made of strong stone and brick, known as masonry.

It is one of only five masonry train stations left along the original Southern Pacific West Coast line. The other similar stations are in Albany, Medford, Roseburg, and Eugene.

Station Restoration and Use

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) worked to restore the station. This big project was finished in 2000. Amtrak now rents the station from ODOT for a very low price: just $1 a year! In return, Amtrak helps take care of the building and its grounds.

An old building from 1889 is also part of the station area. It was once used for freight and baggage. This building is the oldest freight depot still standing in Oregon. After the 1917 event, this old depot was moved to a new spot. It wasn't used much after the 1970s. But ODOT fixed it up in the late 2000s. Now, Greyhound Lines uses it for their bus services.

Historic Recognition and Ridership

Both the main station and the old baggage depot are important. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 12, 2010. This means they are recognized as important historical places.

In 2011, many people were using the Amtrak trains from Salem to Portland. About 24,146 people boarded trains during that year.

In 2013, Greyhound Lines moved all their operations to this station. They first used a part of the main station building. Then, after more renovations in 2018, they moved into the restored old freight shed.

• Amtrak – Stations – Salem, OR