Amtrak Stations

Frequently-anticipated questions:

• What does this data set describe?
  1. How should this data set be cited?
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
• Who produced the data set?
  1. Who are the originators of the data set?
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
• Why was the data set created?
• How was the data set created?
  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
• How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?
  1. How well have the observations been checked?
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the data, including topology?
• How can someone get a copy of the data set?
  1. Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
  2. Who distributes the data?
  3. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?
  4. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
  5. How can I download or order the data?
• Who wrote the metadata?

What does this data set describe?

1. How should this data set be cited?

   National Atlas of the United States, 200509, Amtrak Stations: National Atlas of the United States, Reston, VA.

   Online Links:

   • <http://nationalatlas.gov/atlasftp.html>

2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

   West_Bounding_Coordinate: 125

   East_Bounding_Coordinate: -70

   North_Bounding_Coordinate: 51

   South_Bounding_Coordinate: 24

3. What does it look like?

4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

   Calendar_Date: Sep-2005

   Currentness_Reference: Publication date

5. What is the general form of this data set?

6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
   1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

      This is a Vector data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):

      • Point (823)

   2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest 0.000278. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.000278. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal degrees.

      The horizontal datum used is North American Datum of 1983.
      The ellipsoid used is GRS1980.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257222.
      

7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

   Amtrak Station (described by amtrakx020.dbf)

   A location where Amtrak offers train and bus services. (Source: National Atlas of the United States)

   Shape

   The representation of the entity in the data. (Source: National Atlas of the United States)

   Value	Definition
   Point	0-dimensional element.

   Amtrakx020

   Internal feature number. (Source: National Atlas of the United States)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	1
   Maximum:	823

   Longitude

   The longitude of the point in decimal degrees, with six implied decimal places. (Source: Amtrak)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	-124211990.000
   Maximum:	-70290493.000

   Latitude

   The latitude of the point in decimal degrees, with six implied decimal places. (Source: Amtrak)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	24555935.000
   Maximum:	50331532.000

   Pointid

   A unique number assigned to each record by Amtrak. (Source: National Atlas of the United States)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	1.000
   Maximum:	937.00

   Featid

   The Amtrak station code, a unique, three-character identifier assigned to the Amtrak station. (Source: National Atlas of the United States)

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	Amtrak City Code List
   Codeset Source:	Amtrak

   Descript

   The Amtrak station name. (Source: Amtrak)

   There is no predefined set of valid station names.

   Stfips

   The 2-digit FIPS code of the State or State equivalent in which the station is located. (Source: National Atlas of the United States)

   Value	Definition
   <blank>	The station is located outside of the United States.

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	Codes for the Identification of the States, the District of Columbia and the Outlying Areas of the United States, and Associated Areas, FIPS 5-2.
   Codeset Source:	U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology

   Str_Addres

   The street address of the station. (Source: Amtrak)

   There is no predefined set of valid addresses.

   City

   The name of the city where the station is located. (Source: Amtrak)

   There is no predefined set of valid city names.

   State

   The 2-character FIPS code of the State or State equivalent in which the station is located, or the two-character abbreviation for the Canadian province in which the station is located. (Source: National Atlas of the United States)

   Value	Definition
   BC	British Columbia
   ON	Ontario
   QC	Quebec

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	Codes for the Identification of the States, the District of Columbia and the Outlying Areas of the United States, and Associated Areas, FIPS 5-2.
   Codeset Source:	U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology

   Zipcode

   The U.S. Postal Service ZIP Code for the station, or the Canadian postal code for the station. (Source: National Atlas of the United States)

   Value	Definition
   <blank>	The ZIP code or postal code is unknown.

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	Address Information Systems Viewer
   Codeset Source:	U.S. Postal Service

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	Canadian Postal Code Directory
   Codeset Source:	Canada Post

   Status

   The station status in 2000. (Source: Federal Railroad Administration)

   Value	Definition
   ACTIVE	The station is open.
   BUS	The station is served by a thruway bus, not by a train.
   BUS/SEASON	The station is served by a thruway bus in certain seasons only.
   CONNECTING	The service offered by the station consists of a VIA Rail Canada Service operated train connecting with an Amtrak train.
   FERRY/BUS	Service at the station is provided by a combination of ferry and bus.
   SEASONAL	Service at the station is available on a seasonal basis.

   Rr1

   The primary or only operator of service at the station, indicated by the Association of American Railroads' Rule 260 reporting/identification mark for the railroad line providing operations for Amtrak at that station. The reporting/identification mark may be two, three, or four characters long. (Source: Federal Railroad Administration)

   Value	Definition
   BUS	Service is provided by a thruway bus.

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	Rule 260 reporting/identification marks
   Codeset Source:	Association of American Railroads

   Rr2

   The first additional provider of service at the station, indicated by the Association of American Railroads' Rule 260 reporting/identification mark for the railroad line providing operations for Amtrak at that station. The reporting/identification mark may be two, three, or four characters long. (Source: Federal Railroad Administration)

   Value	Definition
   <Blank>	There is no additional provider at the station.

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	Rule 260 reporting/identification marks
   Codeset Source:	Association of American Railroads

   Rr3

   Second additional provider of Amtrak service at that station, indicated by the Association of American Railroads' Rule 260 reporting/ identification mark for the railroad line providing operations for Amtrak at that station. The reporting/identification mark may be two, three, or four characters long. (Source: Federal Railroad Administration)

   Value	Definition
   <Blank>	There is no additional provider at the station.

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	Rule 260 reporting/identification marks
   Codeset Source:	Association of American Railroads

   Rr4

   Third additional provider of Amtrak service at that station, indicated by the Association of American Railroads' Rule 260 reporting/ identification mark for the railroad line providing operations for Amtrak at that station. The reporting/identification mark may be two, three, or four characters long. (Source: Federal Railroad Administration)

   Value	Definition
   <Blank>	There is no additional provider at the station.

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	Rule 260 reporting/identification marks
   Codeset Source:	Association of American Railroads

   Rr5

   Fourth additional provider of Amtrak service at that station, indicated by the Association of American Railroads' Rule 260 reporting/ identification mark for the railroad line providing operations for Amtrak at that station. The reporting/identification mark may be two, three, or four characters long. (Source: Federal Railroad Administration)

   Value	Definition
   <Blank>	There is no additional provider at the station.

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	Rule 260 reporting/identification marks
   Codeset Source:	Association of American Railroads

   Rr6

   Fifth additional provider of Amtrak service at that station, indicated by the Association of American Railroads' Rule 260 reporting/ identification mark for the railroad line providing operations for Amtrak at that station. The reporting/identification mark may be two, three, or four characters long. (Source: Federal Railroad Administration)

   Value	Definition
   <Blank>	There is no additional provider at the station.

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	Rule 260 reporting/identification marks
   Codeset Source:	Association of American Railroads

   Ticket_off

   Whether there is a ticket office in the station. (Source: National Atlas of the United States)

   Value	Definition
   <Blank>	Unknown
   N	No
   Y	Yes

   Checked_ba

   Whether the station handles checked baggage. (Source: National Atlas of the United States)

   Value	Definition
   <Blank>	Unknown
   N	No
   Y	Yes

   Bag_help

   Whether assistance with luggage is available at the station. (Source: National Atlas of the United States)

   Value	Definition
   <Blank>	Unknown
   N	No
   Y	Yes

   Hp_access

   The wheelchair-accessibility of the station. (Source: National Atlas of the United States)

   Value	Definition
   <Blank>	Unknown
   F	Full. All station facilities are wheelchair accessible.
   N	Not wheelchair accessible
   P	Partial. A wheelchair-accessible path exists between the street and the train platform.

   Enclosed_w

   Whether the station has an enclosed waiting area. (Source: National Atlas of the United States)

   Value	Definition
   <Blank>	Unknown
   N	No
   Y	Yes

   Restrooms

   Whether there are public restrooms in the station. (Source: National Atlas of the United States)

   Value	Definition
   N	No
   Y	Yes

   Pay_phones

   Whether there are public telephones in the station. (Source: National Atlas of the United States)

   Value	Definition
   N	No
   Y	Yes

   Food

   The kind of food service facilities in the station. (Source: National Atlas of the United States)

   Value	Definition
   <Blank>	Unknown
   N	No food service facilities.
   R	Full service.
   RS	Full service and snack bar.
   RSV	Full service, snack bar, and vending machines.
   RV	Full service and vending machines.
   S	Snack bar.
   SV	Snack bar and vending machines.
   V	Food vending machines.

   Atm

   Whether there is an automated teller machine in the station. (Source: National Atlas of the United States)

   Value	Definition
   N	No
   Y	Yes

   Short_park

   The type of short-term parking available at the station. (Source: National Atlas of the United States)

   Value	Definition
   <Blank>	Unknown
   $	Paid parking.
   F	Free parking.
   N	No parking.

   Long_park

   The type of long-term parking available at the station. (Source: National Atlas of the United States)

   Value	Definition
   <Blank>	Unknown
   $	Paid parking.
   F	Free parking.
   N	No parking.

   Car_rental

   Whether car rental is available at the station. (Source: National Atlas of the United States)

   Value	Definition
   <Blank>	Unknown
   N	Car rental is not available.
   OC	Call for service.
   Y	A car rental agency is available at the station.

   Taxi

   Whether taxi service available at the station. (Source: National Atlas of the United States)

   Value	Definition
   <Blank>	Unknown
   N	No taxi service is available.
   OC	Call for service
   Y	There is a taxi stand at the station.

   Inter_bus

   Whether intercity bus service is available within two blocks of the station. (Source: National Atlas of the United States)

   Value	Definition
   <Blank>	Unknown
   N	No
   Y	Yes

   Transit

   Whether there is a public transit connection at the station. (Source: National Atlas of the United States)

   Value	Definition
   <Blank>	Unknown
   N	No
   Y	Yes

   Customs

   Whether there is a customs checkpoint at the station. (Source: National Atlas of the United States)

   Value	Definition
   <Blank>	Unknown
   N	No
   Y	Yes

   Amtkexp

   Whether Amtrak Package Express service is available at the station. (Source: National Atlas of the United States)

   Value	Definition
   <Blank>	Unknown
   N	No
   Y	Yes

   Great_vac

   Whether Amtrak Great Vacations package(s) are available at the station. (Source: Amtrak)

   Value	Definition
   <Blank>	Unknown
   N	No
   Y	Yes

   Self_tix

   Whether a Quik-Trak ticket machine is available at the station for credit/debit ticket sales. (Source: National Atlas of the United States)

   Value	Definition
   <Blank>	Unknown
   N	No
   Y	Yes

   Splc

   The six-digit Standard Point Location Code of the station/city. The first two digits of the code identify the province, State, or part of a State in which the station is located. The first four digits identify the county or part of a county in which the station is located (the province or State identifier followed by a county identifier for that area.) The final two digits identify a specific place within the province or State and the county. (Source: National Atlas of the United States)

   Value	Definition
   000000	A place holder used for stations where no Standard Point Location Code has been determined.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	026600
   Maximum:	889547

   NODE

   In the Federal Railroad Administration's 1:2,000,000-scale rail network, the identification number of the node for the station/city. (Source: National Atlas of the United States)

   Value	Definition
   0.000	The station or city does not correspond to a node in the FRA 1:2,000,000-scale rail network.

   Range of values
   Minimum:	43.000
   Maximum:	99997.000

   Pa

   An indication of the positional accuracy of the station location. (Source: National Atlas of the United States)

   Value	Definition
   100K	The longitude and latitude were either taken from the previous version of the BTS database or were located manually at the correct street address, using the TIGER/line (TM) 95 street and the FRA 1:100,000-scale rail networks.
   2MIL	The location of the station was outside the area covered by the TIGER/line(TM) 95 street and the FRA 1:100,000-scale rail networks. The station longitude and latitude were determined using the Federal Railroad Administration 1:2,000,000-scale networks.
   E100	The longitude and latitude were determined manually using the TIGER/line(TM) 95 street and the FRA 1:100,000-scale rail networks, but because the station did not have a specific street address, the location is an estimated or educated guess.

   Version

   The version of the data in the National Transportation Atlas Database. (Source: National Atlas of the United States)

   Value	Definition
   5	The data are Version 5 of the Amtrak Station data from the National Transportation Atlas Databases (NTAD).

   Revison

   A 2-digit number that will be incremented individually for each record whenever a change is made to one of its fields. (Source: Research and Innovative Technology Administration's Bureau of Transportation Statistics)

   Value	Definition
   00	No changes have been made to the fields.

Who produced the data set?

1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
   • National Atlas of the United States

2. Who also contributed to the data set?

3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
   Gita Urban-Mathieux
   National Atlas of the United States
   12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
   Reston, VA 20192
   

   703-648-5175 (voice)
   [email protected]
   

Why was the data set created?

These data are intended for geographic display and analysis at the national level, and for large regional areas. The data should be displayed and analyzed at scales appropriate for 1:2,000,000-scale data. No responsibility is assumed by the National Atlas of the United States in the use of these data.

How was the data set created?

1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

   Amtrak (source 1 of 1)

   Research and Innovative Technology Administration's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (RITA/BTS), 2005, Amtrak Stations - National Transportation Atlas Database (NTAD) 2005: Research and Innovative Technology Administration's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (RITA/BTS), Washington, DC.

   Online Links:

   • <http://www.bts.gov/gis/>

   Type_of_Source_Media: CD-ROM

   Source_Contribution: Spatial and attribute information

2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

   Date: Aug-2005 (process 1 of 1)

   The Amtrak Stations point shapefile was downloaded from the National Transportation Atlas Database CD-ROM. The shapefile was projected to geographic coordinates. Stations with a status of closed, future, or future/bus were deleted. Minor edits were performed.

   Data sources used in this process:

   • Amtrak

3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

1. How well have the observations been checked?

   Attribute data were extracted from the station listings in the Spring/Summer 2000 Amtrak National and Summer/Fall 2000 Amtrak Northeast Timetables, and reflect station characteristics as of July 9, 2000. Additional data, as required, were obtained from earlier year timetables.

2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?

   The database includes all Amtrak railroad and thruway bus stations listed in the Amtrak timetables mentioned above. Regional commuter railroad stations that are not also served by Amtrak are not included in this version; those stations are currently included in the Fixed-Guideway Transit Network database. The database does not include information on passenger boardings; those data are considered to be proprietary by Amtrak.

5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?

   No checks for topological consistency were performed on this map layer.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access_Constraints: None

Use_Constraints:

None. Acknowledgment of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (RITA/BTS) National Transportation Atlas Databases (NTAD) 2005 and (or) the National Atlas of the United States of America would be appreciated in products derived from these data.

1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
   Earth Science Information Center, U.S. Geological Survey
   507 National Center
   Reston, VA 20192
   

   1-888-ASK-USGS (1-888-275-8747) (voice)
   

   Contact_Instructions:

   In addition to the address above there are other ESIC offices throughout the country. A full list of these offices is at <http://geography.usgs.gov/esic/esic_index.html>.

2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

   Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the U.S. Geological Survey, no warranty expressed or implied is made by the U.S. Geological Survey regarding the utility of the data on any other system, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. No responsibility is assumed by the U.S. Geological Survey in the use of these data.

4. How can I download or order the data?
   • Availability in digital form:

     Data format:	ESRI Shapefile
     Network links:	<http://nationalatlas.gov/atlasftp.html>

     Data format:	SDTS
     Network links:	<http://nationalatlas.gov/atlasftp.html>

   • Cost to order the data: There is no charge for the map layer.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:

Last modified: 08-Sep-2005

Metadata author:

Peg Rawson
National Atlas of the United States
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
Reston, VA 20192

703-648-4183 (voice)
[email protected]

Metadata standard:

FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)