Palo Alto | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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A southbound train leaving Palo Alto station in 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
General information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Location | 95 University Avenue Palo Alto, California | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Coordinates | 37°26′37″N 122°09′55″W / 37.44361°N 122.16528°W | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Owned by | Stanford University; City of Palo Alto | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Line(s) | PCJPB Peninsula Subdivision[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Platforms | 2 side platforms | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tracks | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Connections |
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Construction | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Parking | 389 spaces; paid | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bicycle facilities | 178 racks and 94 lockers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accessible | Yes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fare zone | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
History | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Opened | 1890 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rebuilt | 1893, 1896, 1941 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Original company | Southern Pacific | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Passengers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2018 | 7,764 per weekday[2] ![]() | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Services | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Palo Alto Southern Pacific Railroad Depot | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Built | 1940-41 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Architect | John H. Christie[3] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Architectural style | Streamline Moderne | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NRHP reference No. | 96000425[3] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Added to NRHP | April 18, 1996 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Palo Alto station (also called Palo Alto Transit Center) is an intermodal transit center in Palo Alto, California. It is served by Caltrain regional rail service, SamTrans and Santa Clara VTA local bus service, Dumbarton Express regional bus service, the Stanford University Marguerite Shuttle, and several local shuttle services. Palo Alto is the second-busiest Caltrain station after San Francisco, averaging 7,764 weekday boardings by a 2018 count. The Caltrain station has two side platforms serving the two tracks of the Peninsula Subdivision and a nearby bus transfer plaza.
The San Francisco and San Jose Railroad was built through then-empty land north of Mayfield in 1863. The first Palo Alto station was opened in 1890 to serve the then-newly established Stanford University. It was replaced by a larger depot in 1896. The Southern Pacific Railroad opened a new station in 1941 as part of a grade separation project. Designed by John H. Christie, it was constructed in the Streamline Moderne style to match the railroad's Daylight series of streamlined passenger trains. Intercity service to Palo Alto ended in 1971; the Peninsula Commute service continued and was renamed Caltrain in 1985. The station building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Palo Alto Southern Pacific Railroad Depot in 1996.