Amtrak Completes Lancaster Station North Platform Rehabilitation Project
Written by Jennifer McLawhorn, Managing Editor
Lancaster Station.
Amtrak
LANCASTER, Pa. - Amtrak, along with PennDOT, announced it has completed the North Platform reconstruction at Lancaster Station, the second busiest Amtrak station in Pennsylvania.
The South Platform was restored in November 2024. Beginning November 7, the North Platform will return to service after 10 months of work. According to Amtrak, the platform is fully accessible. During construction, crews demolished the previous platform and foundations in order to construct new foundations and platform panels. Crews also worked on the canopy structure and baggage building, restored interior and exterior stairwells, and reprofiled the track for better boarding and installed a new overhead catenary system.
In the pedestrian overpass, crews installed a new roof, removed carpet, repaired terrazzo flooring, and made historically accurate window replacements. Additionally, they added insulation to help with climate efficiency and reducing condensation. At the station building, there are HVAC pump and valve replacements, improvements to the window and main entrance door, repairs to the structural concrete wall, and selective brick repointing. Wohlsen Construction Co provided contracting services, and GFT Infrastructure, Inc (previously Gannett Fleming Inc.) served as the designer of record for the project.
Amtrak says it is coordinating work with PennDOT on the ongoing pedestrian bridge extension project on the north side of the station. Work on that project is slated to be completed in fall 2026.
“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.”
