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Tom Crann
St. Paul, Minn.

A tour of St. Paul's Union Depot

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The Union Depot
The Union Depot was completed in 1923. The big, grand skylit lobby (known as the "head house") now contains a restaurant, and still open to the public today.
MPR Photo/Tom Crann

It's been nearly 40 years since passengers got on or off a train at St. Paul's Union Depot. But soon, the historic train station could become a major transit hub once again.

The Ramsey County Regional Rail Authority is expecting to assume ownership of the Union Depot's concourse this week.

Once it does, the Rail Authority plans to begin renovating the 86-year-old structure, so it can serve a number of different transit lines, including light rail and even high-speed rail to Chicago.

Recently, All Things Considered's Tom Crann took a tour of the Union Depot with Ramsey County Commissioner Jim McDonough, who serves as the Chair of the Ramsey County Regional Rail Authority.

Gallery
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Union Depot model
A model of what the renovated Union Depot will look like and how it will function.
MPR Photo/Tom Crann
1 of 12
The Union Depot
The Union Depot was completed in 1923. The big, grand skylit lobby (known as the "head house") now contains a restaurant, and still open to the public today.
MPR Photo/Tom Crann
2 of 12
Main lobby view
A wider view of the main lobby, showing marble trim, skylight and chandeliers. This is where travelers would enter or greet arriving passengers.
MPR Photo/Tom Crann