Victor Valley Transportation Center

The Victor Valley Transportation Center (Victorville station) is an intermodal transit center in Victorville, California. It is served by the daily Amtrak Southwest Chief train, as well as Greyhound Lines intercity buses and Victor Valley Transit Authority local buses.

Victorville, CA
The Victor Valley Transportation Center in 2012
General information
Other namesVictor Valley Transportation Center
Location16838/16858 D Street
Victorville, California
United States
Coordinates34°32′15″N 117°17′36″W / 34.53750°N 117.29333°W / 34.53750; -117.29333
Owned byCity of Victorville
Line(s)BNSF Cajon Subdivision
Platforms1 side and 1 island platform
Tracks3
Bus stands8
Bus operators
Construction
AccessibleYes
Other information
Station codeAmtrak: VRV
Passengers
FY 20235,352[1] (Amtrak)
Services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station
San Bernardino Southwest Chief Barstow
toward Chicago
Former services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station
San Bernardino Desert Wind
Discontinued in 1997
Barstow
toward Chicago
Preceding station Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Following station
Hesperia Main Line Oro Grande
toward Chicago
Location
Map

History

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The former Victorville station in 1979

The California Southern Railroad, a subsidiary of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad (Santa Fe), opened between Barstow and San Diego in 1885. In 1905, with the completion of the Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad, the Union Pacific Railroad (UP) began using trackage rights over the Santa Fe between Daggett and Riverside. Service to Victorville on the UP City of Los Angeles and Santa Fe Grand Canyon lasted until May 1, 1971, when Amtrak took over intercity passenger service.[2][3] Amtrak only retained the Santa Fe Super Chief, which did not stop at Victorville.[4] The Desert Wind, added in 1979, also passed through Victorville without stopping.[5]: 209 

Planning for an Amtrak stop at Victorville began in June 1986, and construction began in July 1990.[6] The stop opened with service by the daily Desert Wind on October 28, 1990.[7]: 156 [8] The Southwest Chief (successor of the Super Chief) began stopping at Victorville on October 30, 1994.[5]: 192 [9][10] The Desert Wind was discontinued on May 12, 1997, leaving only the Southwest Chief serving Victorville.[7]: 151 

In February 1994, a county funding agency approved construction of a transit center with a park-and-ride lot, bus plaza, and waiting room.[11] After delays, the $3.4 million Victory Valley Transportation Center opened on January 22, 2000.[12] On August 1, 2021, the transit center became the primary hub for Victor Valley Transit local bus service.[13] As of 2024, Amtrak plans to reconstruct the platform, parking area, and walkways for accessibility in FY 2024 to FY 2026.[14]

References

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  1. ^ "Amtrak Fact Sheet, Fiscal Year 2023: State of California" (PDF). Amtrak. March 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  2. ^ "Santa Fe Railway announces schedule changes for Trains 23 and 24". Daily Press. June 13, 1968. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Union Pacific Railroad Time Tables (PDF). Union Pacific Railroad. September 7, 1969. p. 18.
  4. ^ "Trains Are Crowded On Final Runs". The San Bernardino County Sun. May 1, 1971. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b Warner, David C.; Goldberg, Bruce (2021). Fifty Years of Amtrak Trains: A Comprehensive Survey of Amtrak Routes: 1971–2021. Bucklin, Missouri: White River Productions. ISBN 978-1-932804-70-6.
  6. ^ Isoe, Setsuko (July 25, 1990). "Work begins on Victorville Amtrak depot". Daily Press. pp. A1, A8 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b Sanders, Craig (2006). Amtrak in the Heartland. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-34705-3.
  8. ^ Nordyke, Priscilla (October 29, 1990). "Victorville's Amtrak service is on line". The San Bernardino County Sun. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Amtrak National Timetable: Spring/Summer 1994. Amtrak. May 1, 1994. p. 32 – via Museum of Railway Timetables.
  10. ^ Amtrak National Timetable: Fall/Winter 1984/1985. Amtrak. October 30, 1994. p. 32 – via Museum of Railway Timetables.
  11. ^ "Victorville OKs transit center". The San Bernardino County Sun. February 12, 1994. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Catchin' a ride: Ridership on public transit increasing". Press Dispatch. January 9, 2000. pp. A1, A8 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ De La Cruz, Rene Ray. "Victor Valley Transit Authority relocates transfer hub to Old Town Victorville". Victor Valley Daily Press. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  14. ^ "Amtrak Fact Sheet Fiscal Year 2023 State of California" (PDF). Amtrak. March 2024. p. 8.
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