Arguments heard in recall case

PALMER -- The new South Palmer Station sat quietly against the backdrop of Pioneer Peak on Monday morning as Brett Flint, manager of the station's construction, made a final walk-through.

Flint walked past the shiny new telephones, rough-cut timber beams and stone pillars as he inspected the new facility. On Thursday the station will open with great fanfare, speeches and ribbon-cutting when the first train of passengers comes rolling in.

Landscaped with trees, flowers and grassy berms, the station was built using a grant from the Federal Transit Authority, with the Alaska Railroad Corp. managing the construction work on behalf of the Alaska State Fair.

Flint said the station will first be used as a state fair stop but future plans include a possible daily commuter rail from Palmer into Anchorage.

Flint said the parking lot near the station could serve future commuters, students and business people who regularly travel into Anchorage. Flint said these plans are probably still a few years away from being a reality, however.

For now the station mostly benefits the state fair, with seven days of service currently slated for this year's fair. The first train is scheduled to roll into Palmer on Thursday, the preview day of the fair, at 11:30 a.m., with ceremonies following.

"The train will come in and break a ribbon across the track," Flint said. The inaugural train ride is by invitation only, with regular public transportation beginning Saturday. Tim Thompson, a public affairs officer for the Alaska Railroad, said he expects more people will be using this year's train service to the fair -- more than 300 tickets have already been sold.

State Fair General Manager Joe Lawton said the train station provides a marked improvement from rail service in past years. "There was no waiting room or restroom before," Lawton said. "This station will put people right smack-dab in the middle of things."

Lawton said the station will later have historic pictures and other tourist attractions for visitors who pass through Palmer.

Two daily trains will run Aug. 28-31 and Sept. 4-6 from the Anchorage Railroad Depot to the South Palmer Station. The first train will depart Anchorage at 9 a.m. and arrive at the fair at 11 a.m. The train will then leave the fair at 4:30 p.m. and return to Anchorage at 6:15 p.m.

The second train leaves Anchorage at 2:30 p.m., arriving at the fair at 4:15 p.m. The train will then leave from the fair at 8:45 p.m., arriving back in Anchorage at 10:30 p.m.

Only one train leaves on Monday, Aug. 30 and Tuesday, Aug. 31. The Monday train departs Anchorage at 10:15 a.m., arriving at the fair at 12:10 p.m. It leaves the fair at 5 p.m. and arrives back in Anchorage at 7 p.m. Tuesday's train leaves Anchorage at 2:45 p.m. and arrives at the fair at 4:35 p.m. It then leaves the fair at 10:15 p.m. and arrives in Anchorage at 11:50 p.m.

The cost is $45 for adults ages 13 to 59, $42 for seniors, $23 for children ages 6 to 12, $18 for toddlers ages 2 to 5 and free for those under 2 years of age. The price includes tickets into the fairgrounds.

The station was designed by Rim Architects of Anchorage and constructed by Wasilla-based Collins Construction.

Contact Joel Davidson at joel.davidson@frontiersman.com.