Early History The first rail station in Flagstaff was built in 1886 by the
Atlantic and Pacific Railroad (A&P). That depot, constructed of wood, burned down and was replaced in 1889 by a stone structure which still stands to the present day. In the 1890s, the A&P was acquired by the
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad (AT&SF).
Early 20th Century History The AT&SF built the present depot in 1925, with a public grand opening celebration held on January 5, 1926. The first trains to use the depot were on January 6, 1926.
Late 20th Century On May 1, 1971, Amtrak took over operation of the AT&SF's passenger trains and continues to operate the Flagstaff Station from the historic 1926 depot, which it now shares with the Flagstaff Visitor Center. The building and two adjacent parking lots are owned by the City of Flagstaff, while the tracks are owned and operated by the AT&SF's successor, the
BNSF Railway.
Recent History Both the former Santa Fe Depot and the Atlantic and Pacific Depot that it replaced are contributing properties to the
Railroad Addition Historic District. In October 2024, the city was awarded a $5 million federal grant to build a second platform serving a new third main track, south of the existing two main tracks, replacing a no longer used freight track which once served clients south and west of the depot. The project will also modify the existing platform for better accessibility under the
Americans with Disabilities Act. The 1926 depot will celebrate its 100th anniversary as an active train station in January of 2026. == Routes ==