Amtrak spokesperson Kimberly Woods says the decision to no longer staff the Amtrak station in Prince was based on several factors.
“The business model for ticketing has changed, cash sales are down because people are buying online. Printing tickets at stations is also down. Customers are printing travel documents at home or using their computers and smartphones,” she says. “More than seven out of 10 Amtrak tickets are being booked and purchased via the self-service channels.”
Wood says that a station caretaker will open and close the station for scheduled arrivals and departures three days a week. The Cardinal’s train crew will handle passengers boarding on and off and checked baggage will be offered through self-service system instead of an agent.
Woods also says that the railroad will continue to invest in the Prince station to keep it in a state of good repair. The railroad recently completed $1.5 million in Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant improvements that respects the historic nature of the station. The improvements consisted of compliant concrete ramps, platform enhancements, and renovations to the station’s restrooms.
The Chesapeake & Ohio built the distinctive depot in 1946 as a way to promote the Class I railroad’s regenerated interest in luxurious passenger rail service. The station was designed using modern architectural qualities for the post-World War II era, including large plate glass windows, terrazzo flooring, and high ceilings. The one-of-a-kind station was to be a prototype for other stations along the route of the proposed and ultimately ill-fated Chessie passenger train. The luxurious train never entered service and no other stations were built to the same specifications as Prince.
Today, the station serves as the closest train station to the City of Beckley, located about 12 miles to the west. The population of Prince, nestled in the valley of the New River Gorge is home to only 116 residents, but serves travelers throughout different communities in southern West Virginia.
According to Amtrak statistics, the station handled 2,925 passengers in 2015.
Prince wasn’t the only station to lose an agent recently. The ticket offices at Worcester MA, Meriden CT and Berlin CT also have been closed over the past 2 months and I’m sure there are others. Worcester’s massive Union Station will remain open but the CT stations are closed as well. The Meriden station (a c.1970 structure) will be demolished, the vintage 1900-built Berlin station was supposed to be rebuilt (separately funded from Hartford Line commuter rail work) but it is unknown if it will ever be reopened. (Both stations will be getting new hjgh-level platforms and enclosed but unheated waiting areas as part of the Hartford Line project).
It should be noted that agents did other things than sell tickets – kept waiting rooms open, provided security, janitorial work and assisted disabled passengers. I know this for a fact – my station, Berlin CT, was one of the ones closed.
According to Amtrak’s on-line handbook for station design, even a station with ten times that annual usage would not qualify for an agent. This move appears to be long overdue. This “self-service” baggage checking is interesting…will that be made available at stations where you currently can’t check baggage, such as Clifton Forge?
The Prince Depot is quite charming for those who haven’t visited the station in the New River gorge. This station was constructed at this location because its proximity to Beckley and other neighboring towns because it gave the C&O the highest passenger loading of any other station stops in this region of West Virginia.
The signature “Chessie” embedded as a terrazzo design in the waiting room floor, is one of many features which makes this historic station, such a delight to travelers and visitors alike. The high windows permit light to flood the waiting area; natural light can be somewhat limited during certain times and seasons. The station reflects careful thought and planning on the part of the C&O planners.
Ticket agents and reservationists are becoming as relevant as elevator operators. Travel agencies may fill that human void of trip planners while ticket purchases are done online.
Joseph, they’re not but go along with the man’s delusion
Wow I haven’t used an agent for years. Amtrak’s site is very user friendly. An now you are able to buy your tickets using points.
As far as being ada compliant, its not Amtrak its the law.
Coal is dead because its expensive, dirty and inefficient. For the coal miners its sad but for the rest if the world its time to move on.
The article does not mention how many of the passengers served by the station were in need of ADA-compliant access, but assuming 10% (probably high) and using a 10-year horizon, the ADA improvements work out $508 and change per such passenger. At that rate each affected passenger could probably afford to hire two strong attendants to carry them up/down/over any obstacle present.
One apperciates the desire of the disabled to be independent, but this is a bit steep.
So less than 3% of passengers do not use high-tech ticketing options. Therefore Amtrak can save enough money by forcing people to use high-tech options to cover the loss of revenue when many of those passengers simply quit travelling or use another mode of transportation.
Yes. A truly strange coincidence
Locally we built and fully staff a station with volunteers
That’s a staggeringly low number of passenger for an agent.
Probably didn’t sell enough raspberry berets in that station.
Or maybe Prince the town needed a fancy occultic symbol for its name…
Ok, some one’s got to say it: how can they close the Prince the depot the same day that Prince the singer dies?
The EPA closing coal mines?? Really?
Maybe a daily “Cardinal” would help. Should be lots of passengers queueing up, as the EPA shuts down more coal mines.
Have you ever tried to ask a simple question via your smart phone? Makes an agent justified and appealing!