Amtrak Continues Improvement Work at Saratoga Springs Station

Customers will benefit from station upgrades and platform improvements

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – Amtrak is making significant progress and recently completed several key milestones on its station and platform improvements at Saratoga Springs Station (SAR), which is served daily by the Adirondack and Ethan Allen Express, and received nearly 38,000 Amtrak guests in Fiscal Year 2025. Demolition and track work have officially started, highlighting the biggest step of the project to date.

“The upgrades to Saratoga Springs Station remain on track and are just a few stops away for our customers to start experiencing,” said Amtrak Vice President, Chief Accessibility Officer Dr. David Handera. “These improvements support Amtrak’s goals to enhance the customer experience, make travel for families easier, and bring greater integrated and comprehensive accessibility to our stations all across the country.”

The Saratoga Springs Station project will include the following upgrades in coordination with the Capital District Transportation Authority:

• A new 600’ long, level boarding platform featuring an integrated snow melt system and accessible paths of travel to and from the station building.
  • Customers will no longer require steps to get on or off a train for a more seamless and safer experience due to the new platform sitting 4 feet above the top of the rail.
• LED light fixtures that provide full coverage lighting at the platform
• Yellow-painted safety detectable warning system at the platform edge
• New station and wayfinding signage
• A new microphone and speaker system for the ticket counter inside the station

This project represents a total $12.5 million federal investment administered by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). The Saratoga Springs Station improvements are on track for completion in summer 2027.

These upgrades represent Amtrak’s broader effort to improve travel for families and bring integrated, comprehensive accessibility to stations nationwide, ensuring a more inviting and inclusive travel experience for all customers. Across the Amtrak network, 19 stations were brought into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act in the twelve months ending Sept. 30 (Fiscal Year 2025) and another 50 stations are targeted for completion this fiscal year (2026) at a forecasted investment of $311 million.

The Amtrak ADA Stations Program is advancing 134 station designs and 100+ station construction projects as part of Amtrak’s ongoing commitment to providing accessibility by working toward 100% completion by 2029 using funds provided by Congress through the Federal Railroad Administration.

Reactions:

“These upgrades and enhancements to the Saratoga Springs Rail Station will provide residents with greater accessibility and an improved experience when they catch an Amtrak train or visit our beautiful Spa City, Saratoga County and the 44^th Senate District,” said Senator Jim Tedisco (R,C-Ballston Lake), Ranking Member of the NYS Senate Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation.

Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner (D-Round Lake) said, “It’s incredibly encouraging to know that timely progress is being made at the Saratoga Springs train station. The upgrades – from improved lighting and winterized platforms to enhanced systems and signage – represent a real commitment to safety and user experience. Just as importantly, Amtrak’s focus on accessibility ensures that travelers of all abilities will be able to navigate travel with more ease. This is exactly the kind of thoughtful, inclusive investment our communities deserve.”

“It is hard to underestimate the iconic and practical value of our train station in Saratoga Springs. Thank you for continuing to improve this valuable service to our community,” said Saratoga Springs Mayor John Safford

” The new high-level platform at Saratoga Springs we’ll speed boarding and alighting and slightly shorten travel time for customers using the Adirondack and Ethan Allen trains. The Empire State Passengers Association is excited to see Amtrak advancing this project in Saratoga,” said ESPA Executive Director Steve Strauss.