Rensselaer station is an Amtrak station in Rensselaer, Indiana, served by the Cardinal. It was additionally served by the Hoosier State until 2019, when funding for the train was cut.[3]
History
A small shelter at Rensselaer was built in 1981 and maintained by the local Lions Club.[1][4] The former Monon Railroad station was demolished in 1981, and preceding this station was a two-story wooden depot built in 1900. Some of the brick pavement and red tile flooring from the second station is still visible today.[5]
In 2007, the shelter was renovated. Vandalized windows were replaced, and the exterior was repainted. The station was vandalized again in 2014.[6][7]
A new accessible concrete platform was constructed with funds from the 2009 stimulus bill. The platform, which cost around $500,000, was dedicated on April 20, 2011.[5] The 1979-built shelter was later demolished and replaced with a one-story brick building, funded by Amtrak, which opened on August 21, 2013.[4]
In December 2017, the station's concrete platform suffered damage in a 16-car derailment, triggered by a wheel detachment from a train car.[8] The damage was not repaired until Summer 2024, when new LED lighting was installed and accessibility features were improved.[9]
Services
The station interior features benches, a small heater, and electrical outlets. The building is unstaffed and does not feature restrooms, ticketing, baggage services, or vending. A small parking area exists to the west of the station.[5] As of FY 2023, Rensselaer is the fifth least-used Amtrak station in the network.[10]
| Year | Boardings | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 2,342 | 0.00% 
|
| 2013 | 2,239 | −4.40% 
|
| 2014 | 2,154 | −3.80%
|
| 2015 | 2,090 | −2.97%
|
| 2016 | 1,963 | −6.08%
|
| 2017 | 2,188 | +11.46% 
|
| 2018 | 1,816 | −17.00%
|
| 2019 | 1,754 | −3.41%
|
| 2020 | 482 | −72.52%
|
| 2021 | 522 | +8.30%
|
| 2022 | 503 | −3.64%
|
| 2023 | 509 | +1.19%
|
References
- ^ a b "New Stop for Amtrak". Vidette-Messenger of Porter County. Valparaiso, Indiana. January 17, 1981. p. 22. Retrieved October 17, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Amtrak Fact Sheet, Fiscal Year 2023: State of Indiana" (PDF). Amtrak. March 2024. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
- ^ "Amtrak suspends ticket sales for Hoosier State line after June 30". Indianapolis Business Journal. April 8, 2019. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
- ^ a b "New Amtrak Passenger Shelter Dedicated In Rensselaer, Ind" (Press release). Amtrak. August 21, 2013. Archived from the original on February 11, 2017.
- ^ a b c "Rensselaer, IN (REN)". Great American Stations. Amtrak.
- ^ Ake, Dave (August 20, 2007). "Amtrak station gets facelift". Newsbug.info. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
- ^ "Rensselaer police investigating vandalism at train depot". Newsbug.info. January 4, 2014. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
- ^ Fiala, Nick (December 23, 2017). "Rensselaer sighs with relief: None harmed in 16-car train crash". Newsbug.info. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
- ^ Tomlinson, Harley (July 3, 2024). "Amtrak to repair platform at Rensselaer station". Newsbug.info. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
- ^ a b "State Fact Sheets | Amtrak". www.amtrak.com. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
- ^ https://www.railpassengers.org/site/assets/files/2391/ren.pdf
- ^ https://rpav1.railpassengers.org/site/assets/files/2391/ren.pdf
External links
Media related to Rensselaer station at Wikimedia Commons
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