Gastonia station is an Amtrak train station in Gastonia, North Carolina, United States. Located at 350 Hancock Street, it is about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) northeast of downtown Gastonia.

Gastonia, NC
Gastonia station in October 2021, post-renovation.
General information
Location350 Hancock Street
Gastonia, North Carolina
United States
Coordinates35°16′09″N 81°09′45″W / 35.2692°N 81.1624°W / 35.2692; -81.1624
Owned byNorfolk Southern Railway
Line(s)Charlotte District
Platforms1 side platform
Tracks2
Construction
Parking10 spaces
AccessibleYes
Other information
StatusFlag stop; unstaffed
Station codeAmtrak: GAS
History
Opened1966
Rebuilt2020
Original companySouthern Railway
Passengers
FY 20231,818[1] (Amtrak)
Services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station
Spartanburg Crescent Charlotte
toward New York
Former services
Preceding station Southern Railway Following station
Bessemer City
toward Birmingham
Main Line Lowell
Location
Map

History

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Gastonia station before renovation

The station was originally built in 1966 by Southern Railway, before being acquired by Norfolk Southern Railway. Previously, Amtrak's Gastonia stop was located on Air Line Avenue; however, it was moved in 1987 due to an effort to relocate the city's railroads.[2]

In January 2020, Amtrak began an eight-month project to improve the historically "bare-bones," in terms of amenities, facility. The project includes a new 360-foot (110 m) concrete platform that is accessible compliant, railings, lighting and signage, along with accessible ramps and parking stalls; the station will have a new accessible entrance with a power-operable door, and renovate the waiting room and restroom.[3] In April 2023, Amtrak completed the $3.2 million project, with upgrades that makes the station fully compliant to the Americans with Disabilities Act.[4]

Services

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The station, operated by Amtrak as a flag stop (customers must have booked a reservation for the train to stop) provides inter-city rail service via the Crescent. The station opens one hour before train arrival time and closes one half hour after train departure.[5][6] The station facility has a heated waiting room with restroom.

References

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  1. ^ "Amtrak Fact Sheet, Fiscal Year 2023: State of North Carolina" (PDF). Amtrak. March 2024. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  2. ^ "Gastonia, NC GAS Great American Stations". Great American Stations. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  3. ^ Barrett, Michael (January 27, 2020). "Improvements underway at Amtrak station in Gastonia". The Gaston Gazette. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  4. ^ Druga, Melina (April 11, 2023). "Amtrak completes $3.2M North Carolina station project". Transportation Today. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  5. ^ "NC By Train". NC By Train. Archived from the original on January 8, 2018. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  6. ^ "Gastonia, North Carolina Train Station (GAS)". Amtrak. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
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