Victor Valley Transportation Center Explained

Victor Valley Transportation Center should not be confused with Victor Valley station (Brightline West).

Victorville, CA
Other Name:Victor Valley Transportation Center
Style:Amtrak
Address:16838/16858 D Street
Borough:Victorville, California
Country:United States
Coordinates:34.5375°N -117.2933°W
Mapframe:yes
Mapframe-Zoom:14
Owned:City of Victorville
Line:BNSF Cajon Subdivision
Platforms:1 side and 1 island platform
Tracks:3
Bus Stands:8
Accessible:Yes
Other Services Header:Former services
Other Services Collapsible:yes

The Victor Valley Transportation Center (Victorville station) is an intermodal transit center in Victorville, California. It is served by the daily Amtrak Southwest Chief train, as well as Greyhound Lines intercity buses and Victor Valley Transit Authority local buses.

History

The California Southern Railroad, a subsidiary of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad (Santa Fe), opened between Barstow and San Diego in 1885. In 1905, with the completion of the Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad, the Union Pacific Railroad (UP) began using trackage rights over the Santa Fe between Daggett and Riverside. Service to Victorville on the UP City of Los Angeles and Santa Fe Grand Canyon lasted until May 1, 1971, when Amtrak took over intercity passenger service.[1] [2] Amtrak only retained the Santa Fe Super Chief, which did not stop at Victorville.[3] The Desert Wind, added in 1979, also passed through Victorville without stopping.

Planning for an Amtrak stop at Victorville began in June 1986, and construction began in July 1990.[4] The stop opened with service by the daily Desert Wind on October 28, 1990.[5] The Southwest Chief (successor of the Super Chief) began stopping at Victorville on October 30, 1994.[6] [7] The Desert Wind was discontinued on May 12, 1997, leaving only the Southwest Chief serving Victorville.

In February 1994, a county funding agency approved construction of a transit center with a park-and-ride lot, bus plaza, and waiting room.[8] After delays, the $3.4 million Victory Valley Transportation Center opened on January 22, 2000.[9] On August 1, 2021, the transit center became the primary hub for Victor Valley Transit local bus service.[10], Amtrak plans to reconstruct the platform, parking area, and walkways for accessibility in FY 2024 to FY 2026.[11]

Notes and References

  1. News: Santa Fe Railway announces schedule changes for Trains 23 and 24 . Daily Press . June 13, 1968 . 2 . Newspapers.com.
  2. Book: Union Pacific Railroad Time Tables . 18 . September 7, 1969 . Union Pacific Railroad.
  3. News: Trains Are Crowded On Final Runs . The San Bernardino County Sun . May 1, 1971 . 1 . Newspapers.com.
  4. News: Work begins on Victorville Amtrak depot . Setsuko . Isoe . Daily Press . July 25, 1990 . A1, A8 . Newspapers.com.
  5. News: Victorville's Amtrak service is on line . Priscilla . Nordyke . The San Bernardino County Sun . October 29, 1990 . 7 . Newspapers.com.
  6. Book: Amtrak National Timetable: Spring/Summer 1994 . May 1, 1994 . 32 . Amtrak . Museum of Railway Timetables.
  7. Book: Amtrak National Timetable: Fall/Winter 1984/1985 . October 30, 1994 . 32 . Amtrak . Museum of Railway Timetables.
  8. News: Victorville OKs transit center . The San Bernardino County Sun . February 12, 1994 . 9 . Newspapers.com.
  9. News: Catchin' a ride: Ridership on public transit increasing . Press Dispatch . January 9, 2000 . A1, A8 . Newspapers.com.
  10. News: De La Cruz . Rene Ray . Victor Valley Transit Authority relocates transfer hub to Old Town Victorville . Victor Valley Daily Press . June 3, 2023.
  11. Web site: Amtrak Fact Sheet Fiscal Year 2023 State of California . 8 . Amtrak . March 2024.