Amtrak and Partners Open New Brattleboro Station with Platform Upgrades

Brand new-station and first-ever full length level platform in the state enhances customer experience

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. – Amtrak, in conjunction with the town of Brattleboro, state of Vermont, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), New England Central Railroad (NECR) and the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans), officially opened the all-new Brattleboro Station for train travel, which also includes the state’s first-ever full length level boarding train platform. The new station also features new interior and exterior accessible waiting areas, along with other modernization and accessible improvements inside, on the platform, and in the parking lot.

🎙️ Amtrak Vice President, Accessibility, Stations and Facilities, Chief Accessibility Officer Dr. David Handera: When we first began construction two years ago, we promised a better, more accessible, and more inviting station for Amtrak travelers – and we are proud to deliver on that promise today. This is what modern passenger rail looks like and what Vermont residents and visitors deserve.”

👷🏽‍♀️ About the project: The new station will feature a waiting room with fixed seats for passengers and additional standing room, and a new ADA-accessible single-occupant restroom.

• A new level boarding platform, which is 345-feet long, and 48 inches above the top of the rail, provides travelers with heavy luggage, families with strollers, or those with accessibility needs with a more seamless and safer experience.
• In addition, there are also two ramps and two sets of stairs leading from the parking level up to the new platform.
• A covered, outdoor waiting area with benches and more standing room
• Other platform upgrades include a new electric snow melt system, lighting, railings, a detectable warning edge, and signage for a safer experience.
• The Brattleboro Words Trail interactive art installation features stories about key literary figures from the Brattleboro area, including Rudyard Kipling, Robert Frost and Lucy Terry Prince, among others. The Exhibit, designed by Brattleboro artist Cynthia Houghton, will permanently occupy the platform-facing outside wall of the new train station.

This project represents a total $10 million federal investment administered by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).

🗺️ The big picture: 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:

“The new Amtrak platform and station in Brattleboro is a good step forward in strengthening our state’s public transportation network and ensuring better access to Amtrak services for all Vermonters. With the first level-boarding platform in our state and new accessible waiting areas, every traveler can now board a train in Brattleboro with dignity and ease. I look forward to continuing the fight in Washington for more federal funding to further improve passenger rail service here in Vermont,” said Senator Bernie Sanders.

“I’m delighted to have helped secure funding for the all-new Amtrak Station in Brattleboro, which makes vital accessibility and hospitality improvements for all passengers. The completion of this modernized station will be a blueprint for other rural passenger rail infrastructure projects across the country. I was proud to support the bipartisan infrastructure law and will continue to support federal investments in our state’s transportation infrastructure to ensure Vermonters and visitors alike have rail service they can rely on,” said Senator Peter Welch.

“This is a big day for Brattleboro, and for public transit in Vermont,” said Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL). “I’m proud to help mark the official ribbon cutting for the new Brattleboro Train Station. Now, thanks to federal funding, folks will be able to get to and from this community with greater ease for many years to come. I’m particularly excited that this station will be our state’s first level train station, making it more accessible for Vermonters with disabilities. Thank you, Amtrak!”

“This is indeed an event to celebrate. This beautiful new station represents an investment in our town of Brattleboro and the state of Vermont. It’s a building worthy of the enthusiasm of townspeople and Vermonters in general for rail transportation. And it will encourage local, out of state, and foreign visitors to travel by train. We are so grateful to Amtrak for their vision and for their sincere interest in our town,” said Representative Molly Burke.

The Vermont Senate Transportation Committee appreciates that Amtrak has funded and built this modern and convenient new station. As the southernmost stop, the station will welcome travelers to Vermont in a location nestled between the Connecticut River, New Hampshire mountains and the vibrant, historic Brattleboro downtown. For Vermont residents who travel to New York, Philadelphia or Washington, DC, the new station will make the trip much more comfortable.