Chico station

Chico is a passenger station in the South Campus Neighborhood of Chico, California served by Amtrak. It is located at West Fifth and Orange streets and is used by Amtrak's Coast Starlight service. The station was built by the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1892.The terminal is partially wheelchair accessible, has an enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public pay phones, free short-term and long-term parking. Trains run between Seattle, Washington and Los Angeles, California with a northbound and a southbound train departing from the station daily. The Greyhound bus station is also located at Fifth and Orange Streets.Of the 74 California stations served by Amtrak, Chico was the 59th-busiest in FY2012, boarding or detraining an average of approximately 30 passengers daily.The city and the Chamber of Commerce saved the current structure from demolition through an agreement with the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1987. That same year, the depot was listed in the National Register of Historic Places as the Southern Pacific Depot. The building is also home to the Chico Art Center.History In the film Magic Town, James Stewart stepped off the train into Chico at the station. This is the story of a pollster who discovers the perfect small town that reflects all of America's trends. Eventually, the town is spoiled by all of the media attention.During his 1952 Vice Presidential campaign, Richard Nixon was talking on the pay phone at the station when he got the news from the campaign headquarters that he would have to respond to the Checkers issue with the 'Checkers speech'.In 1996, the Olympic Torch arrived in Chico at the Amtrak station. The torch was carried through the closed streets with thousands of Chicoans celebrating along the path.