Train station conjures up San Mateo history

Before the construction of the San Francisco to San Jose railroad, travelers would have to make the journey from San Francisco to the end of the line in Palo Alto by stagecoach, which took nine hours compared to one hour and fifteen minutes by train, making traveling on the train similar to sending e-mail on the Internet. Main street in San Mateo was originally an open shopping area to the west of the railroad station where a large plaza stood with many businesses facing the tracks. Later this area became hidden by a large parking complex that overshadowed the entire area.

In 1880 the second train was built and stood in place until February of 1925 when a third station was put in place. A white stucco building, the station faced the wide open space of the Main Street shopping plaza. In 1976 the third station was built, and along with the station came a parking complex that sandwiched the small block like station and gave San Mateo a structure which became the equivalent of San Francisco's old Embarcadero Freeway. During this time many of the ticket agents working at the station frequently complained of the noise and fumes from automobiles around the station in which they worked.

Another point of historical note was the "40" line which ran between San Francisco and San Mateo from 1919 to 1944. This rail line started in San Francisco as part of the Market Street Railway and was part of an interurban line of streetcars called "subs" which made its way to San Mateo in 40 minutes giving it its name. The San Mateo train station witnessed many historical events such as the visit of President Theodore Roosevelt, who came through town by train in 1909.

Plans for the new or current station were put in motion in 1997 with work starting in 1998 and being completed recently this fall. On Tuesday October 10 at 5:30 p.m. the city will officially inaugurate its newest downtown commuter train station.