Jeffersonville station

Jeffersonville, IN
Amtrak regional rail station
The Kentucky Cardinal at Jeffersonville in August 2001
General information
Location500 Willinger Lane
Jeffersonville, Indiana, US
Coordinates38°18′6″N 85°45′5″W / 38.30167°N 85.75139°W / 38.30167; -85.75139
Platforms1 side platform
Other information
Station codeLJV
History
OpenedDecember 17, 1999
ClosedJuly 6, 2003
Former services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station
Indianapolis
toward Chicago
Kentucky Cardinal Louisville
Terminus
Jeffersonville
Pennsylvania Railroad regional rail station
General information
LocationMitchell Avenue
Jeffersonville, Indiana
History
Opened1929
Former services
Preceding station Pennsylvania Railroad Following station
Sellersburg
toward Chicago
Chicago – Louisville Louisville
Terminus

Jeffersonville station refers to one of two former train stations in Jeffersonville, Indiana, United States. The first, a Pennsylvania Railroad station, operated beginning in 1929 and is currently preserved in a new location. The newer station was opened by Amtrak in 1999 as part of the Kentucky Cardinal service and closed in 2003 after that service was terminated.

Original Pennsylvania Railroad station

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The Pennsylvania Railroad opened a passenger station in Jeffersonville in 1929 on Mitchell Avenue.[1] In 1937, the station was used to evacuate people affected by the Ohio River flood of 1937.[1][2]

After its passenger service terminated, management of the station facility was turned over to Jeff–Clark Preservation, a volunteer group, in 1985. The station was relocated, and it came under the management of the Jeffersonville Main Street group in 2019 for future preservation. Presently,[when?] it is known as Preservation Station.[1]

New Amtrak station

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In November 1999, public speculation arose regarding the possibility of Amtrak service returning to the Louisville region after the discontinuation of the Floridian in 1979. It was reported by local news media that the Jeffersonville government had sold two acres of land to the Louisville and Indiana Railroad, which owned the railroad tracks in the area. The land was reportedly to be used for the potential construction of a new Amtrak station in Jeffersonville.[3]

In early December, Amtrak announced the upcoming opening of the new Jeffersonville station, constructed on Willinger Lane, and the start of the Kentucky Cardinal service. Originally, Jeffersonville served as the southern terminus of the route; plans to extend the service to nearby Louisville were discussed but not immediately implemented.[4]

The first train to the station traveled on December 17, 1999, marking the station's opening date.[4][5] With the Kentucky Cardinal service, Amtrak eliminated the Greyhound shuttle service that had previously operated from the Jeffersonville area to carry passengers to train connections in Indianapolis.[4] The station's opening was generally received positively by local government leaders, who emphasized the new connections for the region's residents to the rest of Amtrak's routes.[4][5]

On July 6, 2003, less than four years after the station's opening, Amtrak discontinued the Kentucky Cardinal service as a result of poor ridership.[6]

Potential future reopening

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As recently as 2023, it has been reported that Amtrak is considering reestablishing service to the Louisville region, including Jeffersonville.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Boyle, John (2019-08-14). "Jeffersonville Main Street to take over Preservation Station". News and Tribune. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  2. ^ "Penna Lines Has Big Job". The Greenfield Daily Reporter. 1937-01-26. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-06-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Hall, Gregory A. (1999-11-23). "S. Indiana city contemplates return of passenger rail service". The Courier-Journal. pp. B2. Retrieved 2023-06-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b c d Hall, Gregory A. (1999-12-03). "Amtrak service coming to Jeffersonville". The Courier-Journal. pp. 1, A12. Retrieved 2023-06-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b Poynter, Chris (1999-12-19). "All aboard! Amtrak back after 20 years". The Courier-Journal. pp. B1, B3. Retrieved 2023-06-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Cativo, Fulvio (2003-07-04). "Amtrak halts Louisville's link north". The Courier-Journal Indiana. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-06-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Jones, Alexis (2023-01-31). "Is Louisville ready for Amtrak again? City is one step closer to proposed line connection". WHAS-TV. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
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Media related to Jeffersonville station at Wikimedia Commons