Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Ocala's Train Station


To say this is a train station is to stretch the limits of language.  There are tracks that run along behind this building but no passenger trains run on those tracks.

It's my understanding that a few years ago, an Amtrak train ran once a day from Ocala to Lakeland, Florida and another Amtrak train ran from Ocala to Jacksonville.  That does not happen anymore.

This train station is used as a bus stop.  And it is best defined by what it does not include rather than what it does include.

ATM not available
No elevator
No pay phones
No Quik-Trak kiosks
No restrooms
Unaccompanied child travel not allowed
No Vending Machines
No Wi-Fi
Arrive at least 15 minutes prior to departure
How long before departure to be at the station.


Evidently, Amtrak provides bus service to places where Amtrak trains run.  Somewhere on the Internet you can probably find a bus schedule.  I think I'll drive or fly.  But if I fly I still have to get to Orlando or Tampa or Jacksonville.

Such a deal!


16 comments:

Francisco Manuel Carrajola Oliveira said...

Gosto da perspectiva.
Um abraço e Bom 1º de Maio.

Andarilhar
Dedais de Francisco e Idalisa
Livros-Autografados

GreensboroDailyPhoto said...

"defined by what it does not include"

So true...

Janis
GDP

Tom said...

...customer service at its best!

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Bet it was fab when it was a working station Lowell, it's a nice building, lovely lamps ✨

Sharon said...

Amtrak is a rare sight these days. The only place I know of one in Arizona is way up north. Two years ago when I stayed over night in Winslow Arizona was the last time I actually saw a working Amtrak train in Arizona.

silvia de angelis said...

Una bella stazione davvero!
Un saluto,silvia

Bill said...

Sounds like you can get a miserable experience if you take Amtrak. I know when we lived in Oregon, the train was always hours late. It ran from Seattle to LA and my daughter used to take it when visiting us. She would come from Portland and get off at Klamath Falls where we lived. The last time, she was two hours late. Cargo trains had priority over Amtrak at certain points on the rails. Doesn't make any sense to me but people were always frustrated with their service and this happened almost all the time.

William Kendall said...

I like the style of the building.

Given a choice between buses and trains, I'd take the train anytime.

RedPat said...

I love a nice train ride. Too bad all of yours are disappearing.

I don't know about the difference in wages but I do know that our teachers are very well paid here unlike what we have been seeing on the news about some of your states.

Taken For Granted said...

So sad that train travel has become transportation of the past. Last year we loved traveling by train in Spain, but it has almost disappeared from the Midwestern U.S. We can get a train in Omaha, NE or Fargo, ND, but these trains leave in the middle of the night, and are often many hours late. We also have an old railroad station, but it is now an office building.

Gosia said...

train station looks nice

magiceye said...

Looks very pretty despite what it lacks.

Kay said...

In the spirit of your comment today about not laughing much these days, I will reserve my otherwise cranky comment. I like the reds in this shot. And the place seems tidy (which probably is fitting for its lack of use and amenities).

Small City Scenes said...

We just got a new train station in Stanwood. Well actually it is just a boarding station--but nice and there was a lot of fanfare when it was going up and at the opening. The last train station was torn down in the 70s---so you see it was big excitement for a small town
MB

Kate said...

It is a good-looking building, tho. DH and I took an Amtrak from St Paul to Seattle about 2 years ago. My idea and, fortunately, my spouse is tolerant. Not an experience I would like to repeat, but I am glad we tried it. Was impressed by the staff on the train, tho; very hard workers and friendly.

Maria Rodrigues said...

There are also many train stations around here that are down, but many of them are not as well maintained as this.
The building is beautiful.
Greetings
Maria from
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"Photographers deal in things which are continually vanishing and when they have vanished there is no contrivance on earth which can make them come back again." — Henri Cartier-Bresson