Printed from projo.com
Pedestrian bridge opens at train station
01:00 AM EST on Thursday, January 13, 2005
By KATIE MULVANEY
Journal Staff Writer
SOUTH KINGSTOWN -- The pedestrian bridge at Kingston Station officially opened yesterday, easing the daily grind just a bit for some commuters.
"It's a lot faster than the shuttle," said John Bushoven, who commutes daily from Boston to do research at the University of Rhode Island.
Since the high-speed Acelas began running about four years ago, travelers had to take a shuttle bus from one side of the tracks to the other. Some commuters scrambled through the weeds, up a hill and across Route 138 when they cut their schedule close.
Now, they can dash up the stairs, over the footbridge and down another flight to catch a departing train.
"It's definitely a good thing," Bushoven said.
The Carlin Construction Co. began work the $4-million footbridge two years ago. Amtrak received approval for the two handicap elevators set in the bridge structure, clearing the way for the yesterday's opening, said Tracy Connell, Amtrak spokeswoman.
The "up and over" bridge opened briefly at Thanksgiving.
The walkway was designed in cooperation with the Friends of Kingston Station to complement the Victorian wood-frame station. It offers views of the tracks extending in both directions. The Carlin Co. built a similar bridge in Old Saybrook, Conn., but the Kingston bridge will be the first of its kind in Rhode Island.
The Friends of Kingston Station will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony in the coming months.
Katie Mulvaney can be reached by e-mail at kmulvaneXXXXXprojo.com or by phone at 277-7417.
Online at: http://www.projo.com/southcounty/content/projo_20050113_train13.1aa075.html
Thursday, January 13, 2005
Thursday, January 06, 2005
Printed from projo.com
Printed from projo.com
Kingston Station overpass is almost ready
01:00 AM EST on Thursday, January 6, 2005
By KATIE MULVANEY
Journal Staff Writer
SOUTH KINGSTOWN -- The new footbridge at the Kingston Train Station trembles as the Acela streaks underfoot. At three stories up, the walkway offers a bird's eye view of the high-speed train as it approaches and retreats like a silver bullet.
It's a sight all will soon be able to catch. Work is nearly complete on the $4-million pedestrian bridge, signalling yet another milestone for the storied station that dates to 1875 and sees 90,000 passengers a year.
"We look at it as a tremendous investment in Kingston," said Frank Heppner, chairman of the board of the Friends of Kingston Station. "We're moving into the era of major passenger traffic."
The "up-and-over" bridge was opened briefly to travelers at Thanksgiving. Amtrak is now awaiting final inspections and expects to permanently open the overpass by the month's end, according to Amtrak spokesperson Tracy Connell.
Previously, passengers simply walked across the tracks to catch a westbound train. Acelas, at 130 mph, made that practice too dangerous.
"They're just too fast, too quiet. It's too easy to have an accident," Heppner said.
A shuttle bus has taken passengers from one side of the tracks to the other since the high-speed trains began running about four years ago.
Carlin Construction Co. began work on the walkway for Amtrak two years ago. A high water table in the Kingston area forced the company to build a footbridge above the high voltage catenary lines instead of a tunnel, said David French, a flag conductor with Amtrak.
The company built a similar bridge in Old Saybrook, Conn., and another is under way in Guilford. But, it will be the only one of its kind in Rhode Island, French said.
The walkway was designed in cooperation with the Friends of Kingston Station to complement the Victorian wood-frame station. Windows lining the bridge offer views of the tracks heading east and west. Two towers, containing the stairwells, connect the crossover.
Late last month, workers put the finishing touches on the bridge as they awaited approval for two handicapped-accessible elevators.
"Kids will like it in the summertime," French said.
Inside Kingston Station, passengers were ready for the bridge to open.
"It gets you the other side without taking a bus. It works for me," said Bette Erickson, of Kingston, who was headed to Boston.
The Friends of Kingston Station plan to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the footbridge in the coming weeks.
Online at: http://www.projo.com/southcounty/content/projo_20050106_sktrain6.fb7c8.html
Kingston Station overpass is almost ready
01:00 AM EST on Thursday, January 6, 2005
By KATIE MULVANEY
Journal Staff Writer
SOUTH KINGSTOWN -- The new footbridge at the Kingston Train Station trembles as the Acela streaks underfoot. At three stories up, the walkway offers a bird's eye view of the high-speed train as it approaches and retreats like a silver bullet.
It's a sight all will soon be able to catch. Work is nearly complete on the $4-million pedestrian bridge, signalling yet another milestone for the storied station that dates to 1875 and sees 90,000 passengers a year.
"We look at it as a tremendous investment in Kingston," said Frank Heppner, chairman of the board of the Friends of Kingston Station. "We're moving into the era of major passenger traffic."
The "up-and-over" bridge was opened briefly to travelers at Thanksgiving. Amtrak is now awaiting final inspections and expects to permanently open the overpass by the month's end, according to Amtrak spokesperson Tracy Connell.
Previously, passengers simply walked across the tracks to catch a westbound train. Acelas, at 130 mph, made that practice too dangerous.
"They're just too fast, too quiet. It's too easy to have an accident," Heppner said.
A shuttle bus has taken passengers from one side of the tracks to the other since the high-speed trains began running about four years ago.
Carlin Construction Co. began work on the walkway for Amtrak two years ago. A high water table in the Kingston area forced the company to build a footbridge above the high voltage catenary lines instead of a tunnel, said David French, a flag conductor with Amtrak.
The company built a similar bridge in Old Saybrook, Conn., and another is under way in Guilford. But, it will be the only one of its kind in Rhode Island, French said.
The walkway was designed in cooperation with the Friends of Kingston Station to complement the Victorian wood-frame station. Windows lining the bridge offer views of the tracks heading east and west. Two towers, containing the stairwells, connect the crossover.
Late last month, workers put the finishing touches on the bridge as they awaited approval for two handicapped-accessible elevators.
"Kids will like it in the summertime," French said.
Inside Kingston Station, passengers were ready for the bridge to open.
"It gets you the other side without taking a bus. It works for me," said Bette Erickson, of Kingston, who was headed to Boston.
The Friends of Kingston Station plan to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the footbridge in the coming weeks.
Online at: http://www.projo.com/southcounty/content/projo_20050106_sktrain6.fb7c8.html
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
TGVweb - Acela Express Model
TGVweb - Acela Express Model
Fun for a rainy day project.. keep kids of all ages busy cutting out Acela paper model.
Fun for a rainy day project.. keep kids of all ages busy cutting out Acela paper model.
January 2005 Notice
First meeting of 2005
Friends Board
@ 715pm
@ Monday the 10th
@ RIRR Museum
@ Kingston Station
Mr. Everett Stuart will preside at this meeting.
Dr. Heppner is out of the country this week.
Members may attend in audience of the meeting.
Friends Board
@ 715pm
@ Monday the 10th
@ RIRR Museum
@ Kingston Station
Mr. Everett Stuart will preside at this meeting.
Dr. Heppner is out of the country this week.
Members may attend in audience of the meeting.
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