Lancaster Amtrak Station North Platform Completion Marks Major Milestone for Station Rehabilitation Project

Infrastructure Upgrades Enhance Safety and Accessibility at Historic Lancaster Station

LANCASTER, Pa. - In partnership with PennDOT, Amtrak is proud to announce the completion of the reconstruction of the North Platform at Lancaster Station, a new, fully accessible high-level platform. The North Platform is scheduled to return to service on November 7, ahead of schedule, marking a significant achievement in the station's ongoing modernization efforts.

"With the completion of the North Platform, Lancaster Station now features two fully accessible high-level platforms-marking a significant milestone in our commitment to a safer, more convenient, and inclusive travel experience for all passengers," said Amtrak EVP Strategy & Planning Jennifer Mitchell. "Thanks to the commitment of our project teams and partners, we're proud to deliver critical infrastructure improvements ahead of schedule."

"These upgrades to the Lancaster station will make it more modern and accessible," said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. "Passenger rail is critical to Pennsylvania's transportation network, and PennDOT is proud of our investments to improve it in Lancaster and beyond."

Project highlights include:

• North Platform:
  • Returning to service on Nov. 7 after being closed for 10 months of construction
  • Demolition of existing platform and foundations
  • Construction of new foundations and platform panels
  • Rehabilitation of canopy structure and baggage building
  • Restoration of exterior and interior stairwells
  • Reprofiled track for improved boarding/alighting; new overhead catenary system installed

• South Platform:
  • Reconstructed and returned to service in November 2024

• Pedestrian Overpass:
  • New roof installation
  • Carpet removal and terrazzo flooring repair
  • Historically accurate window replacements
  • Insulation added to reduce condensation and improve climate efficiency

• Station Building:
  • Window and main entrance door rehabilitation
  • HVAC pump and valve replacements
  • Structural concrete wall repairs
  • Selective brick repointing

The designer of record for the project is GFT Infrastructure, Inc (formerly Gannett Fleming Inc.). Wohlsen Construction Co, a Mid-Atlantic based firm in business since 1890, provided general contractor services. Additional Pennsylvania and Mid-Atlantic based subcontractors and suppliers included, Coastal Drilling (Mt. Morris, Pa.), LV Concrete (Lancaster, Pa.), Window Repairs and Restoration (Philadelphia, Pa.), SM Johns & Son Construction (Mount Joy, Pa.), SWF Industrial (Wrightsville, Pa.), and Smith Midland (Midland, Va.).

Amtrak is coordinating this work in tandem with PennDOT's ongoing pedestrian bridge extension project designed to provide connector access to a new parking lot on the north side of the station. This project is anticipated to be completed in fall 2026.

The Lancaster Station is the second busiest Amtrak station in Pennsylvania and the 25th busiest in the United States, serving 464,190 customers in FY24, a 22% increase from the prior year. Lancaster Station opened in 1929 and today it is served by Keystone Service and Pennsylvanian trains, which are financed primarily through funds made available by PennDOT.