New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal

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New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal

Viewed from Loyola Avenue, 2007
Station statistics
Address 1001 Loyola Ave.
New Orleans, LA 70113
Lines
City of New Orleans
Crescent
Sunset Limited
Platforms 4 Active
Tracks 6 Active
Other information
Opened 1954
Rebuilt 2005 Renovation
Accessible Handicapped/disabled access
Code NOL
Owned by New Orleans Belt & Terminal Railway
Traffic
Passengers (2007) 125,978 ▲ 22%
Services
Preceding station   Amtrak   Following station
Terminus City of New Orleans
toward Chicago
Crescent
toward New York
Sunset Limited Terminus
Sunset Limited
closed
toward Orlando

New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal (NOUPT) is the main train station in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is served by Amtrak passenger trains, and played a role in the recovery efforts from Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Contents

[edit] NOUPT history

The New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal (NOUPT) was opened in 1954 to consolidate passenger rail operations from the city's other railroad stations. It was at the time, an ultramodern facility - completed just at the time that air travel was taking off at the expense of rail travel. The station was constructed just to the west of the older New Orleans Union Station.

The stub-end terminal consists of a modern waiting hall (with the famous history mural now restored), and covered platforms. The freight and express houses are now the domain of the New Orleans Arena and Main Post Office.

The station is the major Southern hub for Amtrak, with three trains (Sunset Limited, City of New Orleans and Crescent) serving the city. Amtrak also operates a coach and engine yard near the terminal.

In the 1970s, parts of two platforms were shortened to allow for Greyhound Lines to build an intercity bus terminal, sharing the terminal with Amtrak and creating an intermodal facility.

NOUPT was built next to the old Union Station. Parts of the station property also are over what once was the turning basin for the New Basin Canal. The main lead track to the terminal follows the path of the old canal (which was filled in) and the Pontchartrain Expressway/I-10.

[edit] Hurricane Katrina

Hurricane Katrina impacted NOUPT - at one point, the terminal was used as a temporary jail - however, it was spared from major damage. Amtrak provided the first commercial transportation after the storm out of New Orleans.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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