By the Numbers: Arkadelphia has the loneliest passenger train station in Arkansas

Of the 28,315 passengers who climbed aboard Amtrak’s Texas Eagle in Arkansas during 2023, the Arkadelphia station accounted for a mere 3.7% of those train tickets.

With daily departures to and from Chicago and San Antonio, the Texas Eagle makes twice-daily stops in six Arkansas cities: Texarkana, Hope, Arkadelphia, Malvern, Little Rock and Walnut Ridge.

Daily Chicago-bound departures are scheduled to leave the Arkadelphia station at 9:57 p.m., and daily departures to San Antonio leave at 4:14 a.m.

Arkadelphia has the least-used station along the route in Arkansas. Here’s a look at Amtrak’s 2023 passenger numbers, according to an Amtrak fact sheet:

Texarkana: 5,293
Hope: 1,417
Arkadelphia: 1,050
Malvern: 1,464
Little Rock: 16,474
Walnut Ridge: 2,617

However, passenger numbers in Arkadelphia have shown an increase over a three-year period, from 811 in 2020; 589 in 2021; and 986 in 2022. A Covid-era slump in local ticket sales mirrors statewide statistics.

Passenger numbers fell sharply during the Covid pandemic. A four-year average of 32,700 Arkansas passengers dropped to an average of 17,100 passengers during the two-year pandemic. In Arkansas alone, 2020 saw a 38% drop in Amtrak passengers boarding and detraining in the state — a decrease of 11,600 passengers from 2019. Even fewer passengers boarded in 2021. Ticket sales began to climb the following year with 25,263 passengers.

At the Arkadelphia station, a four-year average (2016-2019) of 1,347 passengers fell to an average of 700 passengers during the pandemic. In Arkadelphia, 2020 saw a 41% drop — a decrease of 578 passengers from 2019, with even fewer passengers boarding the next year. In line with state stats, local ticket sales began to normalize in 2022.

Annual ticket revenue in Arkadelphia tallied $90,641 in 2023. Conversely, Little Rock’s Union Station — where 58% of Arkansas passengers climb aboard — contributed more than $1.4 million in 2023 ticket sales. The average Texas Eagle trip was 545 miles and the average fare was $89, according to Amtrak’s 2022 passenger statistics.

Most Arkansas passengers ride the train from Little Rock to Chicago. A majority of those who board at Arkadelphia are traveling to Chicago, with the other top destinations being St. Louis and Dallas. The average trip from the Arkadelphia in 2022 was 531 miles, with an average fare of $83.

A project to improve compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act is currently under way at the Arkadelphia station. The $3.7 million project will make improvements to the depot, parking area and replace the existing platform.