Amtrak Completes Baltimore Platform Construction

Amtrak representatives and stakeholders gathered recently with state, local, and federal officials for a ribbon cutting to inaugurate a newly constructed boarding platform at Baltimore Penn Station. This project is part of Amtrak’s overall redevelopment of the station, a $150 million investment to improve customer experience and grow passenger rail. The new platform is scheduled to begin serving trains this spring.

“As we work to redevelop Baltimore Penn Station and enhance the customer experience, this new platform will help ease rail congestion and reduce delays on the Northeast Corridor,” said Amtrak President Roger Harris. “Amtrak ridership continues to grow, and this new platform will help us build future capacity while also improving operational flexibility.”

Baltimore Penn Station is the eighth busiest station on the Amtrak network, with more than three million Amtrak and MARC passengers moving through each year. Over the past year, Amtrak ridership increased 29 percent in Baltimore, surpassing the 24 percent growth in Amtrak ridership nationwide.

“Renovations and upgrades at Baltimore Penn Station, including the new boarding platform just finished, will modernize a historic hub for Baltimore residents and along the Northeast Corridor, helping to accommodate future ridership growth at one of Amtrak’s busiest stations,” said FRA Deputy Administrator Jennifer Mitchell. “The Federal Railroad Administration is proud to support work at Baltimore Penn Station and beyond as we invest billions from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to advance projects of national significance in Maryland, like replacing the B&P Tunnel, Bush River Bridge, Gunpowder River Bridge, and Susquehanna River Rail Bridge.”

The new boarding platform will provide more than 1,000 linear feet of space, including pedestrian pathways and new elevators for ADA accessibility. The project also includes a renovated headhouse, roofing, and historical restoration of the columns and canopies for each of the platforms. This new platform is one of two being built at the station. The second platform is scheduled for completion in Fall 2024.