Charleston station is an Amtrak station in Charleston, West Virginia, United States, that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is served by the Cardinal. The Cardinal operates as Train 50 Eastbound towards Washington D.C. and New York City departing Chicago on Saturdays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. The train operates as Train 51 Westbound towards Chicago departing New York on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Trains only operate to the station on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

Charleston, WV
Charleston station, April 2009
General information
Location	350 MacCorkle Avenue Southeast Charleston, West Virginia United States
Coordinates	38°20′47″N 81°38′18″W
Owned by	General Corporation
Line(s)	CSX Kanawha Subdivision
Platforms	1 side platform
Tracks	2
Connections	Kanawha Valley Regional Transportation Authority
Construction
Parking	Yes
Disabled access	Yes
Other information
Station code	Amtrak: CHW
History
Opened	1905
Passengers
2018	11,251[1]  14.7%
FY 2021	5,155[2] (Amtrak)
Services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station Huntington toward Chicago Cardinal Montgomery toward New York
Former services Preceding station Amtrak Following station Huntington toward Chicago James Whitcomb Riley 1974–1977 Thurmond toward Washington, D.C. James Whitcomb Riley and George Washington 1971–1974 Prince toward Washington, D.C. or Newport News Preceding station Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Following station Barboursville toward Cincinnati Main Line Cabin Creek toward Washington, D.C. or Old Point Comfort
Chesapeake and Ohio Depot
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Show map of West Virginia Show map of the United States
Area	0.5 acres (0.2 ha)
Architect	J.C. & A.L. Pennock
Architectural style	Classical Revival, Beaux Arts
MPS	South Hills MRA
NRHP reference No.	84000782[3]
Added to NRHP	October 26, 1984

Description

The station was originally owned by the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway. In September 2010, the station was purchased by General Corporation, a commercial real estate company based in Charleston. The station is located on the south bank of the Kanawha River, opposite downtown Charleston which lies on the north bank. Much of the station's outdoor space is covered by the South Side Bridge which allows both vehicular and pedestrian traffic to access the downtown areas. A fine dining establishment, Laury's Restaurant, occupies much of the station's interior.

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984 as the Chesapeake and Ohio Depot and part of the South Hills Multiple Resource Area.[3] It is a two-story, brick and stone structure in the Neo-Classical Revival style. The facade features a shallow pavilion of paired Roman Doric columns facing the Kanawha River. It also has a low hipped, tile-covered roof with bracketed deep eaves.[4]

Budget cuts in 2018 eliminated staffing of the station by an Amtrak station agent.[5] Staffing of the station was reinstated in October 2020.[6] Tickets to and from Charleston must be purchased in advance or from the ticket agent, as there are no Quik-Trak kiosks available. The station also provides checked baggage service.[7]

See also

• List of Amtrak stations
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Kanawha County, West Virginia

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Charleston station (West Virginia).

• Charleston, WV – Amtrak
• Charleston, WV – Station history at Great American Stations (Amtrak)
• Charleston Amtrak Station (USA Rail Guide -- Train Web)
• National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form
• General Corporation
• Laury's Restaurant