TEXARKANA, Ark. -- Recent storms not only caused power outages in the area but also caused damage to the local Amtrak station's elevator tower, making it unsafe to access the train platform.
The Texarkana station sustained storm damage and the train platform is not accessible at this time, according to a news release from Amtrak. The Texas Eagle Trains 21/421 and 22/422 are unable to serve the station, and Amtrak suspended ticket sales until further notice.
"It is not a platform problem but more of an access problem," Amtrak Public Relations Manager Marc Magliari said. "The storm caused damage to the elevator tower, but the problem is not the platform the problem is accessing the platform safely from the sidewalk to the platform."
The parking lot is under the shadow of the elevator tower.
The company moved out of the station last October due to other needed repairs and into a metal structure outside the building since December, according to Magliari.
"Until the elevator tower that is behind us is inspected and declared safe enough for us to operate in front of, we can't use that parking lot to access between the street and the platform," Magliari said.
Magliari said Amtrak awaiting action taken by the landlord and are in frequent conversations with both city managers and other city officials. Currently, there is no projected date as to when services will be back up and running.
"We are putting up some construction fencing behind the temporary facility to discourage people from getting close to the elevator tower," Magliari said.
Potential passengers are advised to use alternative stations, such as those in Hope, Arkansas, and Marshall, Texas, about 35 minutes north and 90 minutes south of Texarkana, respectively. Customers must make their arrangements to or from Texarkana, according to the release.
The Hope station is at 100 East Division Street. Train 21/421 departs southbound at 5:05 a.m. and Train 22/422 departs northbound at 9:11 p.m.
The Marshall station 800 North Washington Street, Suite 2. Train 21/421 departs southbound at 7:54 a.m. and Train 22/422 departs at northbound at 7:24 p.m.
For more information, visit Amtrak.com or call 800-872-7245.