Delray Beach station

Delray Beach station is a train station located off South Congress Avenue (SR 807) in Delray Beach, Florida. It is served by Tri-Rail commuter rail service plus two daily Amtrak intercity trains – the Template:Lnl and Template:Lnl. The station has two side platforms, with parking and a bus loop to the west of the southbound platform. The former station building, located to the north, has been reused as municipal offices.

The original Seaboard Air Line Railroad (SAL) station opened in 1927 as part of the railroad's extension to the east coast of Florida. It was designed by Gustav Maass of the West Palm Beach architectural firm of Harvey & Clarke in the Mediterranean Revival style. Amtrak took over passenger service in 1971, with 1–3 daily round trips stopping at Delray Beach. The station was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986 as Seaboard Air Line Railway Station.

An architect purchased the station building in 1888. Tri-Rail service began in 1989, but moved to a new station to the south in 1991 after a dispute with the owner. Amtrak relocated to the newer station in 1995. It was rebuilt with a second platform and a footbridge in 2003–2005. The former station building passed through several private owners and was purchased by the city in 2005. After being damaged by arson in 2020; it was rebuilt from 2021 to 2024 for use as municipal offices.

Station design

A one-story Mediterranean Revival building with yellow stucco walls and red tile roof

The former station building in 2011

The current station is located east of South Congress Avenue (SR 807) about Template:Convert south of West Atlantic Avenue (SR 806).<ref name=monday /><ref name=trirail>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It has two side platforms serving the two tracks of the South Florida Rail Corridor, which runs north-south through the station. A footbridge connects the platforms.<ref name=rebuild /> A 127-space parking lot and bus loop are located on the west side of the station.<ref name=tdp>Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp

The former station building is located north of West Atlantic Avenue on the north side of the tracks. It is constructed of stucco over a wood frame in the Mediterranean Revival style. When in railroad use, the north portion of the building was a freight warehouse. The south portion contained two waiting rooms, which were originally segregated by race, with separate entrances and bathrooms. An office with ticket counters was located between the waiting rooms. At the southern end of the station was an open arcade. Two small square towers were located over the southern waiting room, with an octagonal tower over the office. A Template:Convert-long canopy was located next to the tracks.<ref name=nrhp /> The building has been modified by several renovations; the canopy was removed in the reconstruction after the 2020 fire.<ref name=nrhp /><ref name=entity /> Template:Clear left

History

Original station

A one-story Mediterranean Revival building with yellow stucco walls and red tile roof. In the foreground is a steel canopy.

Delray Beach station in 1979

During the 1920s Florida land boom, the Seaboard Air Line Railroad (SAL) extended into southern Florida with the construction of the East Coast Extension (Florida Western and Northern Railroad and Seaboard–All Florida Railway). Construction of the latter line through Delray (soon merged as Delray Beach) began in early 1926. Plans for the Delray station were completed in August 1926.<ref name=nrhp /> Freight service began in November 1926; passenger service began on January 8, 1927, with the Orange Blossom Special.<ref name=nrhp /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Delray station was designed by Gustav Maass of the West Palm Beach architectural firm of Harvey & Clarke. Built in the Mediterranean Revival style, it was nearly identical to nearby stations at Deerfield Beach and Boynton Beach.<ref name=nrhp /> The north portion of the building was originally a covered freight platform; it was enclosed and remodeled in 1958.<ref name=nrhp />

The SAL and rival Atlantic Coast Line Railroad merged into the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad in 1967. By 1970, Delray Beach was served by 4–5 daily round trips: the New York–Miami Template:Lnl and Template:Lnl plus the seasonal Template:Lnl; and the Chicago–Miami South Wind and City of Miami (on alternating days).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Amtrak took over intercity passenger service on May 1971, retaining all except the City of Miami.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The South Wind was changed to daily operation; it became the Template:Lnl later in 1971.<ref name=50years>Template:Fifty Years of Amtrak Trains</ref>Template:Rp The Silver Meteor ceased stopping at Delray Beach effective December 15, 1972.<ref name=50years />Template:Rp Seasonal winter service – called the Florida Special, Template:Lnl, and finally Miamian – that operated during Amtrak's first four years did not stop at Delray Beach.<ref name=miamian>Template:Multiref2</ref>

The access road to the station from West Atlantic Avenue (SR 806) was cut off in the 1970s by the construction of the interchange with Interstate 95, leaving only a less-convenient driveway from Mount Ida Road to the north.<ref name=feb15>Template:Cite news</ref> The Floridian was discontinued on October 9, 1979.<ref name=50years />Template:Rp The Tampa–Miami Template:Lnl operated from November 21, 1982, to April 30, 1985, with Delray Beach as an intermediate stop.<ref name=50years />Template:Rp The Silver Meteor resumed stopping at Delray Beach on April 29, 1984, while the Silver Star ceased stopping.<ref name=50years />Template:Rp The station was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 4, 1986, as Seaboard Airline Railroad Station.<ref name=nrhp>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In early 1988, an architect purchased the station building for $196,000 and began restoration of the structure.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Relocation

A railway station with a single platform and a half-cylinder metal canopy

The 1991-opened station in 2002

Tri-Rail commuter service began on January 9, 1989, with the existing Amtrak station in Delray Beach as one of the intermediate stops. It was not intended to be the permanent location for the city's Tri-Rail stop.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The city considered two proposals that year: constructing a $1.5 million access road from West Atlantic Avenue, or moving the station Template:Convert north to North Ida Road.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Tri-Rail continued to use the property without a formal lease agreement. In December 1990, the private owners began charging for parking because they had not received any payment from Tri-Rail. Tri-Rail obtained a temporary injunction to stop the charging; the agency intended to build a temporary parking lot on other property nearby.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Silver Star resumed stopping at Delray Beach on April 6, 1991.<ref name=50years />Template:Rp

Tri-Rail ceased operations at Delray Beach on May 2, 1991, when the injunction expired; Amtrak trains continued to stop. At the time, the station had about 200 daily Tri-Rail boardings. The situation was complicated by a bank foreclosing on the property.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Tri-Rail considered three sites for a replacement station; in mid-May, the county chose a site off South Congress Avenue adjacent to county administrative offices.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The new station opened on August 26, 1991.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=key /> The foreclosure auction for the old station took place the same day.<ref name=monday>Template:Cite news</ref> The mortgage holder, American National Bank, purchased the property for $120,000. The sale was subject to Amtrak's right to continue to occupy the station until its contract with track owner CSX Transportation expired in 1996.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=key>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1992, the bank offered to sell the property to the Delray Beach Historic Society for $200,000 – half the asking price – for use as a railroad museum. However, the society did not have the funds to buy and renovate the station.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Amtrak proposed in October 1993 to close the station due to low ridership and the poor condition of the building.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The station agents were withdrawn in November 1993, but Amtrak trains continued to stop.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A family trust purchased the building for $180,000 in December 1993. By that time, the structure was boarded up; the roof leaked and had collapsed in one section.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The tri-weekly Template:Lnl was extended to Miami on April 4, 1993, with Delray Beach among the added stops.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On April 2, 1995, Amtrak service was relocated to the Tri-Rail station.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=feb15 />

Later changes

A stucco building with fire damage

Fire damage to the former station in 2020

The Sunset Limited was cut back to Template:Amtk on November 10, 1996; the same day, Amtrak began operating the Template:Lnl, a third daily New York–Miami train.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=50years />Template:Rp The Silver Palm was renamed Template:Lnl in 2002; it was cut back to Savannah, Georgia, on November 1, 2004, leaving Delray Beach with two daily Amtrak round trips.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On November 10, 2024, the Silver Star was merged with the Template:Lnl as the Floridian.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>

In the mid-1990s, the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) – which operates Tri-Rail – began a project to double track the Tri-Rail corridor. The agency awarded a $231 million contract for the Palm Beach County segment in August 2001.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Several stations were modified in 2003–2005 with a second platform and a footbridge. Those at Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Boca Raton, Lake Worth, Mangonia Park, and West Palm Beach were all built to the same design.<ref name=rebuild>Template:Multiref2</ref> The rebuilt Delray Beach station cost about $4.5 million.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2010, the state proposed to build a 395-space parking deck at the station by 2015.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In 2020, the SFRTA identified the station as a long-term opportunity for transit-oriented development.<ref name=tdp />Template:Rp

The former station building was sold in April 1996 for $325,000. The new owner made $100,000 in renovations and began using it as an office and storage space that December.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It was sold several more times in the following decade. In May 2005, the city purchased the building for $1.575 million.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The city used it for storage but planned a restoration. On February 25, 2020, the building was significantly damaged by a fire set by four teenagers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In January 2021, the city approved plans for a $2.6 million restoration to convert the building into municipal offices. It was partially funded by $1.8 million in insurance money.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The renovations were completed in November 2024.<ref name=entity>Template:Cite news</ref> Template:Clear left

External links

• Template:Commons category-inline

• Tri-Rail – Delray Beach station