DeLand station

DeLand station is a train station in DeLand, Florida, United States. It is served by Amtrak (the National Railroad Passenger Corporation) and SunRail commuter rail service. It is about three miles west of downtown DeLand, at the location formerly known as DeLand Junction. DeLand station was originally built in 1918,^[4] and stood across from the former Volusia County Fairgrounds.

DeLand, FL
Deland station in March 2008
General information
Location	2491 Old New York Avenue (County Route 4110) DeLand, Florida United States
Coordinates	29.01709°N 81.35239°W / 29.01709; -81.35239
Platforms	1 side platform 1 island platform
Tracks	2
Connections	Amtrak Thruway: Daytona Beach[1][2]
Construction
Parking	Yes
Bicycle facilities	Yes
Accessible	Yes
Other information
Station code	Amtrak: DLD
History
Opened	1918
Rebuilt	June 6, 1988
Passengers
FY 2023	16,606[3] (Amtrak)
Services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station Winter Park toward Miami Silver Meteor Palatka toward New York Silver Star      Auto Train does not stop here Preceding station SunRail Following station DeBary towards Poinciana SunRail Terminus
Former services Preceding station Amtrak Following station Sanford Until 2005 toward Miami Silver Meteor Palatka toward New York Silver Star Palatka toward Los Angeles Sunset Limited 1993–2005 Sanford toward Orlando or Miami Sanford toward St. Petersburg Floridian Jacksonville toward Chicago Preceding station Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Following station Orange City toward Tampa Main Line DeLeon Springs toward Richmond
Future services Preceding station Amtrak Following station Winter Park toward Miami Floridian Nov. 2024 Palatka toward Chicago
Location

History

Station gazebo

When the Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West Railroad (and later the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad) ran passenger service along the line, they also ran local passenger service to Downtown DeLand. The DeLand Spur, which begins immediately south of the DeLand Station (the northern turnout actually cuts across the DeLand Station passenger platform), runs three miles east to Downtown DeLand and terminated at the College Arms Hotel (a public housing high-rise with the same name currently occupies the site). The track ran several blocks east of the hotel to provide freight service to local businesses and was graded all the way to Lake Helen, where it would have connected to the Atlantic and Western Railway, but track was ultimately never laid past Downtown DeLand. The station was acquired by Amtrak and restored in 1988, although a second track at the station fell into disuse and has not been maintained properly since. Up until 2005, when it was truncated to New Orleans, the station also served as a stop for the Sunset Limited.

In 2006, the station was rededicated following a $424,000 restoration undertaken through a partnership between Volusia County, Amtrak, and CSX Transportation; funding primarily came from the Florida Department of Transportation.^[5] Work included installation of a new roof and platform canopy, remodeling of the bathrooms, and painting of the building in historically appropriate colors. In 2007, the station received a Preservation Award from the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation.^[5]

Construction on the SunRail platform in March 2024

DeLand station was planned as the northern terminus of the SunRail commuter rail system. This led to the resumption of maintenance of the neglected second track and other station upgrades. The station saw the addition of an 184-space park, ride lot, and bus drop-off area.^[6] The station could "spur economic development on the west end of the city, heading toward the St. Johns River."^[7] Ground broke on the extension in May 2023.^[8] The new service to DeLand began on August 12, 2024.^[9]

References

1. "Amtrak Passenger Trains". Daytona Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
2. "Silver Meteor Timetable" (PDF). Amtrak. p. 11. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
3. "Amtrak Fact Sheet, Fiscal Year 2023: State of Florida" (PDF). Amtrak. March 2024. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
4. Mulligan, Michael (2008). Railroad Depots of Central Florida. Arcadia Publishing. p. 20. ISBN 9780738553900.
5. "DeLand, FL (DLD)". Great American Stations. Amtrak. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
6. "DeLand Amtrak Station (SunRail)". Archived from the original on February 28, 2009. Retrieved March 29, 2009.
7. Harper, Mark (May 25, 2019). "SunRail at 5: Ridership for commuter train is growing, but will it ever run to DeLand?". Gatehouse Media. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
8. Dahm, Daniel (May 22, 2023). "SunRail breaks ground on new DeLand station". ClickOrlando.com. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
9. Myrie, Donovan (August 12, 2024). "SunRail's DeLand station is finally open. Here's what's next for the rail system". WKMG. Retrieved August 12, 2024.

External links

Media related to DeLand (Amtrak station) (category) at Wikimedia Commons

• DeLand, FL – Amtrak
• DeLand, FL – Station history at Great American Stations (Amtrak)
• DeLand/Amtrak station (SunRail)
  • DeLand SunRail Station Concept
  • DeLand SunRail Station Redevelopment Plan
• DeLand Amtrak Station and Downtown Spur (USA Rail Guide — Train Web)