Atlantic Coast Line The station was built in 1963 by the
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, and was the third station in the city's history built to serve Atlantic Coast Line passenger trains. It replaced a 1913 downtown St. Petersburg facility, at 2nd Avenue South and 9th Street, following the city's request that rail service be relocated away from the downtown area. The first station in St. Petersburg, built by the
Orange Belt Railway shortly after its arrival in 1888, was located on 1st Avenue South where
Priatek Plaza now stands. Major long distance trains that served the station included west coast sections of the
Champion which originated in New York City, the
City of Miami (originating from Chicago) the
South Wind (originating from Chicago) and the
Southland (originating from Chicago). Each of these (excepting the
Southland) ran as a combined section from
Jacksonville, Florida.
Seaboard Coast Line By 1968, the station's operations came under the banner of the
Seaboard Coast Line Railroad, formed by the merger of Atlantic Coast Line with rival company
Seaboard Air Line Railroad. The two formerly independent passenger operations were consolidated at this location, resulting in the closure of St. Petersburg's Seaboard Air Line Station.
Amtrak The station's service under Seaboard Coast Line continued until 1971, when
Amtrak assumed operation of most of the nation's passenger rail service. Assigned station code STP, the St. Petersburg Amtrak station was serviced by trains such as the
Champion, Floridian, Silver Star, and Silver Meteor. On February 1, 1984, passenger rail service to St. Petersburg came to an end following the discontinuation of all Amtrak rail services in
Pinellas County. Operations continued from the St. Petersburg station for
Amtrak Thruway bus service, linking passengers to rail connections in
Tampa and
Orlando. The station served as a boarding location for the bus service until the 1990s, when the station was closed.
Current status After its usage as a train station ended, the former St. Petersburg station was renovated for use by a pharmaceutical company. ==See also==