Martinsburg station

Martinsburg station

Company type	Train station
Industry	Transportation, Rail transport
Founded	1848
Headquarters	Martinsburg , United States
Products	Passenger rail services

Martinsburg station is a train facility located in Martinsburg, West Virginia, United States. It is served by the MARC Brunswick Line commuter rail and intercity routes operated by Amtrak. The station consists of a single side platform positioned on a siding track along the CSX Cumberland Subdivision. A footbridge spans over the siding and the two main tracks, connecting passengers to the historic Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Martinsburg Shops complex nearby.

History

The station incorporates a refurbished railroad hotel dating from 1848 to 1876, complemented by a contemporary station extension. It lies within the boundaries of the Baltimore and Ohio and Related Industries Historic District and is recognized as one of the oldest railroad stations still standing in the United States. During the Civil War in 1863, General Stonewall Jackson's forces destroyed the adjacent roundhouses and shops. Additionally, Martinsburg holds significance as the starting point of the Great Railroad Strike of 1877.

In May 1971, Amtrak took over intercity rail operations; meanwhile, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) mainline discontinued most intercity services but maintained limited commuter runs, with Martinsburg serving as the western endpoint for one of three daily round trips. Intercity service was reinstated by Amtrak on September 8, 1971, with the introduction of the Parkersburg–Washington route, which was subsequently renamed Potomac Turbo and then Potomac Special in 1972.

On May 7, 1973, the Potomac Special was succeeded by the Cumberland–Washington service. The Cincinnati–Washington route commenced on October 31, 1976; at that time, the Blue Ridge service was shortened to terminate at Martinsburg and rescheduled as an extra commuter train. The Shenandoah was replaced by the Chicago–Washington line on October 1, 1981. In 1986, responsibility for the Blue Ridge shifted to MARC, integrating it into the former B&O Brunswick Line commuter network. On November 10, 2024, the Capitol Limited combined with another service to create the Floridian.