South Portsmouth–South Shore station explained

Style:Amtrak
S. Shore/S. Portsmouth, KY
Country:United States
Coordinates:38.7212°N -82.9637°W
Owned:Amtrak (shelter)
CSX Transportation (parking lot & platform)
Tracks:2
Opened:June 15, 1976
Rebuilt:2023
Accessible:Yes
Other Services Header:Former services
Other Services Collapsible:yes
Mapframe:yes

South Portsmouth–South Shore station is an Amtrak intercity rail station in South Shore, Kentucky. It primarily serves the city of Portsmouth, Ohio, located across the Ohio River.

History

In pre-Amtrak years several C&O trains served a different station in Portsmouth: Fast Flying Virginian (west to Cincinnati, and sections east to Washington, D.C., and Newport News), George Washington (sections west to Cincinnati and Louisville, and sections east to Washington, D.C. and Newport News) and the Sportsman (northwest to Detroit, and sections east to Washington, D.C., and Newport News).[1] Norfolk & Western trains called at another station in Portsmouth: Pocahantas (Cincinnati and Columbus – Norfolk) and Powhatan Arrow (Cincinnati – Norfolk).[2]

The station was opened as a flag stop for the James Whitcomb Riley and Mountaineer on June 15, 1976.[3] Service to the stop was suspended on April 29, 1979, but resumed on April 27, 1980. In January 2011, the station was made accessible (with a wheelchair lift) using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding. The original shelter, built when the station opened in 1976, was replaced by a brick structure in early 2023. In addition to the new station building, improvements include new lighting and fencing as well as a new concrete platform with tactile edging. [4]

Notes and References

  1. Chesapeake & Ohio, Tables 1, 2. Official Guide of the Railways . National Railway Publication Company . 93 . 9 . January 1961.
  2. Norfolk and Western, Tables 1, 5. Official Guide of the Railways . National Railway Publication Company . 93 . 9 . January 1961.
  3. News: Amtrack Service Called Successful. Portsmouth Daily Times. April 30, 1977. 3B. Newspaperarchive.com. July 23, 2018.
  4. Web site: South Portsmouth – South Shore, KY (SPM) . Great American Stations . Amtrak . August 2, 2023.