Amtrak Completes Wilmington Station Renovations

Pictured above (from left to right): Governor John Carney, Mayor Mike Purzycki, Amtrak EVP Laura Mason, Senator Tom Carper, White House Senior Advisor Mitch Landrieu, Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, FRA Administrator Amit Bose

$11.6 million investment improves accessibility and brings the station to a state of good repair

WILMINGTON, Del. – Amtrak is excited to announce that renovations to fully repair, modernize, and improve accessibility at Amtrak’s Wilmington, Delaware, Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Railroad Station, are now complete. Major updates included adding two new escalators and interior stairs and improving station accessibility.

“The Wilmington Station is an important transportation hub on the Northeast Corridor and this $11.6 million project is a critical investment in the station,” said Amtrak Executive Vice President, Capital Delivery Laura Mason. “Amtrak is grateful for the Delaware Federal Delegation’s continued support in funding Department of Transportation grant programs, support of the IIJA and continued partnership.”

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“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is delivering billions of dollars to upgrade and modernize our nation’s passenger rail, including $22 billion for Amtrak, and a key part of that investment is ensuring that all passengers can use Amtrak stations and service,” said Senior Advisor to the President and Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator Mitch Landrieu. “With help from the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Amtrak has upgraded 20 stations across the country to full ADA accessibility, and over the next five years we will work together to upgrade dozens more. This is just one of the many ways that the Biden-Harris Administration is making our nation’s transportation systems more accessible to every single American.”

“Americans need and deserve world-class passenger rail, and that includes Americans with disabilities, our aging population, and others who rely on and benefit from modern, accessible, and convenient rail stations,” said Federal Railroad Administration Administrator Amit Bose. “We’re excited to see renovations completed at the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Railroad Station and other stations nationwide, and we know there is more to come. President Biden’s Investing in America agenda includes historic funding for rail and unprecedented opportunities to upgrade stations, services, and vital infrastructure that will benefit local communities and lay the foundation for world-class passenger rail service.”

“Each year, more than half a million Amtrak passengers rely on the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Railroad Station to get to work or school, visit family and friends, and even travel someplace new. I am one of them, taking a train to and from our nation’s Capitol each day,” said U.S. Senator Tom Carper, Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. “In the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we were able to secure $22 billion for Amtrak to make much-needed repairs, address maintenance backlogs, and modernize train stations like the one in Wilmington. This investment is our biggest step forward yet for the future of passenger rail, which is key to reducing roadway congestion, improving air quality, and keeping us competitive in a global economy.”

“Amtrak is a critical link for Delaware, and I’m glad to see it expanding access to clean, safe train travel for more Delawareans,” said U.S. Senator Chris Coons. “As a frequent Amtrak rider, I see the use Joseph R. Biden Jr. Railroad Station gets in downtown Wilmington, and I know that Wilmington and its surrounding communities will truly appreciate improved, renovated access that also brings the station into ADA compliance. Investment in this infrastructure keeps Wilmington connected to the world.”

“Over the past year, 600,000 people have passed through the Joseph R. Biden Train Station in Wilmington for work or for fun, carrying with them the grand experience of riding an Amtrak train,” said Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester. “It’s been a priority of President Biden and his administration to invest in our nation’s infrastructure – from our roads and bridges to ports and rail. And thanks to this historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this mission is being realized across the country, including here in Delaware. It’s critical that the Wilmington Station’s infrastructure remains up to date as more and more people opt to travel by train, and I’m thrilled to celebrate with Amtrak, the Biden Administration, and my congressional colleagues, Senators Carper and Coons, as we unveil a more accessible and inclusive Wilmington Train Station.”

“The Biden Station has been a part of our community since 1908, serving 600,000 customers last year,” said Governor Carney. “The investments from the Federal government ensure that this station serves our city and regional infrastructure for years to come.”

In fiscal year 2023, Amtrak served more than 600,000 customers at the Wilmington Station, which is ranked as the 20^th busiest station on the Amtrak network. Originally built in 1908, the station was rededicated as the Joseph R. Biden Jr. Railroad Station in Spring 2011 after undergoing a major restoration.

Amtrak has invested nearly $800 million since 2011 in accessibility upgrades and improvement projects at 119 stations across Amtrak’s national network to ensure a safe, efficient, and comfortable travel experience for all customers including those with disabilities. The ADA related improvements include repairs and upgrades to platforms, ramps and sidewalks, renovations to entranceways and restrooms, with 20 stations brought into ADA compliance in fiscal year 2023. Another 35 stations are targeted to be brought into ADA compliance in fiscal year 2024 at a forecasted investment of $195 million.

Amtrak is advancing 143 station designs and 39 station construction projects as part of an ongoing commitment to provide 100% accessibility at all stations, where Amtrak is responsible, by 2029.

As part of the next phase of the Wilmington Station project, additional repair and improvement work is planned for the station and adjacent rail beds over the coming years. This project also aligns with other station upgrades on the Northeast Corridor, including boarding platform improvements nearing completion in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore.

For more information about the history of Wilmington Station, please visit Great American Stations.