I don't know where to begin, but I think this station was designed by someone who doesn't take trains. The worst part of it is the long corridor to get to the trains. If you are departing, you have to roll your luggage down a long corridor, and in the middle of the corridor, there is a door that doesn't automatically open, so you have to hold your luggage while you open this door. Then at the bottom of the hill, there is a staircase and a small elevator. Why not an escalator? If you are arriving, then you have to take your luggage down a staircase or take the small elevator. Then, the worst part is you have to drag your luggage behind you up the long hill, opening that door in the middle of the corridor and dragging your luggage up the long hill.
Whose idea was it to design this? Whoever it was is out of touch with train travel. Train travel is more affordable than airline travel, so I would say the majority of people who take trains are of a lower-to-middle socioeconomic level. I don't recall long uphill corridors at any airports I've been to--they usually have moving walkways, escalators, plenty of elevators. Are train travelers not worthy of this, or are they only worthy of dragging their suitcase up a hill because they can't afford or choose not to travel on an airplane?
The front doors should open automatically. The button to hit to open the door is too far over to the left and unreasonable for a person with disabilities let alone a person with luggage or a stroller.
The parking is not free and it is far away unless it is handicapped parking. The meters are pay with credit card only and you must put in your license plate number. I find this to be an invasion of privacy--not a convenience. If someone drives you to the station, they have to put their number in. That is an invasion of their privacy.
There is no taxi stand.
And I'd been using the Cabarrus Street station for over 20 years. While it didn't have enough parking, there were plenty of taxis available. And the parking was conveniently located and free.
At the new station, your family/friends cannot go to the train with you. At the old station, they could go to the train with you, help carry bags, see you off. At the new station, you wait inside until you are called to go through the long, downhill corridor.
The entrance is difficult to find. And the city has to do something about the people on scooters who go on joy rides at night around the pick-up circle at the station.
The only pro to this station is that the train is level with the track. At the old station, you had to lift your bag up to the train, but here it is level.
Station and train staff are very helpful, friendly and provide top-quality service. My review has nothing to do with them, and I do not want my review to have repercussions on them. My criticisms are with those who designed and planned this station.
How can this station be fixed?
1. Install an escalator where the stairs/elevator are. Make a level walkway from the train to the lobby so people do not need to drag luggage up the steep corridor.
2. Make the front door automatically open for those with disabilities, luggage etc.
3. Get rid of the door in the middle of the corridor or make it automatically open.
4. Install pay by coin meters that do not require license plate numbers.
5. Add more signage at the entrance to let cars know where to go.
6. Install no trespassing signs and enforce that rule with people on scooters. read more