Sandpoint station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sandpoint, ID
The station at Sandpoint in May 2017.
Location	450 Railroad Avenue Sandpoint, ID 83864
Owned by	BNSF Railway
Line(s)	BNSF Railway Kootenai River Subdivision
Platforms	1 side platform
Tracks	1
Construction
Disabled access	Yes
Other information
Station code	SPT
History
Opened	1916
Traffic
Passengers (2019)	6,726  6.14%
Services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station Spokane toward Seattle or Portland Empire Builder Libby toward Chicago
Former services Preceding station Amtrak Following station Spokane toward Seattle North Coast Hiawatha Paradise toward Chicago Preceding station Northern Pacific Railway Following station Granite toward Seattle or Tacoma Main Line Kootenai toward St. Paul
Sandpoint Burlington Northern Railway Station
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location in Idaho Show map of Idaho Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Sandpoint, Idaho
Area	0.3 acres (0.1 ha)
Built	1916
NRHP reference No.	73000682
Added to NRHP	July 5, 1973

The Sandpoint train station is located in Sandpoint, Idaho. It's a stop for Amtrak's Empire Builder train line. This station is special because it's the only Amtrak station still working in all of Idaho! The land where the station is located belongs to a company called BNSF Railway.

The station building is very old. It's the oldest active train station that used to belong to the Northern Pacific Railway. In 1973, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical building that should be protected. It's also known as the Sandpoint Burlington Northern Railroad Station or the Northern Pacific Depot.

Sandpoint Train Station History

The Sandpoint train station has been an important part of the community for a long time. It first opened in 1916. Over the years, many people have traveled through this station.

Keeping the Station Open

In 2009, Amtrak thought about moving the train stop in Sandpoint. This was because of a new road project called the Sand Creek Byway. But city leaders and the Idaho Department of Transportation (ITD) wanted to keep the station right where it was. They promised to help pay to keep Amtrak service at the original station.

Station Upgrades and Modernization

To help with the road project, the ITD paid BNSF Railway about $922,000. This money was used to make the station stronger or to build a new one.

By 2013, Amtrak was working with BNSF to make an agreement. This agreement would let Amtrak use parts of the building and the train platform. Once the agreement was ready, Amtrak planned to start fixing up the station.

Making the Station Accessible

As part of the improvements, Amtrak also paid for a new concrete platform. This new platform was designed to be ADA compliant. This means it was built to be easy for everyone to use, including people with disabilities. It also has special bumpy edges to help people know where the platform ends.

Recent Renovations

In May 2015, the station was fully restored. The work cost about $926,000. The station got a brand new roof with green tiles, which looked a lot like the original ones. The waiting room inside was also fixed up and made to look new again. These updates help the old station continue to serve travelers today.

• Amtrak – Stations – Sandpoint, ID