Ashland Transportation Center

Ashland Transportation Center is an intermodal transit station in Ashland, Kentucky. Jointly operated by the City of Ashland and CSX Transportation, it currently serves Amtrak's Cardinal train as well as the Ashland Bus System, Greyhound Lines, and regional shuttles. It is located at 99 15th Street near downtown Ashland.

Ashland, KY
Ashland Transportation Center
General information
Location	99 15th Street Ashland, Kentucky United States
Coordinates	38°28′51″N 82°38′22″W
Owned by	CSX Transportation & City of Ashland[1]
Line(s)	CSX Kanawha Subdivision
Platforms	1 side platform
Tracks	2
Connections	Ashland Bus System Greyhound Lines Mor'Trans Northeast Kentucky Community Action Agency Sandy Valley Transportation Services
Construction
Accessible	Yes
Other information
Station code	Amtrak: AKY
History
Opened	March 11, 1998
Closed	March 24, 1975 (Temporarily to Catlettsburg)
Passengers
FY 2023	1,579[2] (Amtrak)
Services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station South Portsmouth–South Shore toward Chicago Cardinal Huntington toward New York
Former services Preceding station Amtrak Following station Cincinnati (River Road) toward Chicago James Whitcomb Riley 1974–1975 Huntington toward Washington, D.C. James Whitcomb Riley and George Washington 1971–1974 Huntington toward Washington, D.C. or Newport News Preceding station Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Following station Russell toward Cincinnati Main Line Catlettsburg toward Washington, D.C. or Old Point Comfort Terminus Ashland – Elkhorn City Catlettsburg toward Elkhorn City Rush toward Louisville Louisville – Ashland Terminus
Location

History

Chesapeake and Ohio era

The station is located in a former Chesapeake and Ohio Railway freight house originally built in the 1890s. Railway services formerly operated out of the Chesapeake and Ohio passenger station nearby (currently a PNC Bank branch). In the early 1960s the following named trains served the station daily: Fast Flying Virginian (west to Cincinnati, and sections east to Washington, D.C., and Newport News), George Washington (sections west to Cincinnati and Louisville, and sections east to Washington, D.C., and Newport News) and the Sportsman (northwest to Detroit, and sections east to Washington, D.C., and Newport News).^[3]

Prior to the 1971 shift of long-distance passenger train services from private companies to Amtrak, the C&O's George Washington had a main section going north to Columbus, Ohio and Detroit, Michigan, a section running west from Ashland to Louisville, and east-bound sections going to Washington, D.C., and Newport News.^[4]

Amtrak era

In 1975, Amtrak abandoned the original station (which served the daily James Whitcomb Riley train) in favor of nearby Tri-State Station in Catlettsburg. The city purchased the former freight house in 1997 using more than $500,000 in federal funds obtained through the Intermodal Surface Transportation Enhancement Act of 1991 in order to restore it as an intermodal transit station serving rail as well as buses.^[1] Amtrak moved rail services to the restored facility on March 11, 1998.^[5][1]

The station is jointly owned by the City of Ashland and CSX Transportation and is operated in co-operation with the city, Amtrak, Greyhound Lines and the Ashland Bus System. The station has an enclosed waiting area with restrooms and water fountains, but no Amtrak station services area available. There is a Greyhound ticket agent available at specified times. The station serves Amtrak's Cardinal, trains 50 and 51. The tracks at the station are currently owned by CSX Transportation.

Mor'Trans, Sandy Valley Transportation Services and Northeast Kentucky Community Action Agency provide connections to Ashland from surrounding counties.^[6][7][8]

References

1. "Great American Stations: Ashland, KY (AKY)". Amtrak. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
2. "Amtrak Fact Sheet, Fiscal Year 2023: Commonwealth of Kentucky" (PDF). Amtrak. March 2024. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
3. "Chesapeake & Ohio, Tables 1, 2". Official Guide of the Railways. 93 (9). National Railway Publication Company. January 1961.
4. "Chesapeake & Ohio, Table 1". Official Guide of the Railways. 102 (12). National Railway Publication Company. May 1970.
5. "State hit by blast of cold temperatures". The Harlan Daily Enterprise. The Associated Press. March 12, 1998. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
6. "Intercity Bus Mortrans". www.ftsb.org.^{[dead link‍]}
7. "Transportation Services".
8. "Intercity".

External links

• Ashland, KY – Amtrak
• Ashland, KY – Station history at Great American Stations (Amtrak)
• Ashland, Kentucky Amtrak Station (USA Rail Guide -- Train Web)