After 20 years of planning and six years of construction, Ardmore’s reimagined train station finally opens Monday in the heart of downtown. The overhauled stop brings high-level platforms, a refreshed station building and major accessibility upgrades that officials say should make travel smoother for both daily commuters and visitors. Riders will see upgraded shelters, easier boarding and new elevators where there used to be only stairs and low-level platforms.
What’s New at the Station
The rebuilt Ardmore Station now features ramp and elevator access, upgraded waiting areas with new passenger shelters, a renovated station building and fully high-level inbound and outbound platforms designed to speed boarding, according to SEPTA. The project is part of the agency’s Station Accessibility Program and its broader 12-year capital-investment effort to make regional rail easier to use for riders with mobility needs.
A Long Time in the Making
The opening caps “20 years of planning and six years of construction,” as CBS News Philadelphia reported. Earlier this winter, The Philadelphia Inquirer noted that SEPTA had begun the final phase of work, including finishing the roof, installing message boards and testing elevators, and at that point officials had not yet announced a public completion date.
Service and Rider Experience
SEPTA says service on the Paoli/Thorndale Line will not be disrupted by the switch to the rebuilt platforms, and agency officials expect boarding times to shorten once trains start using the new high-level edges, according to SEPTA. The stop also sits on the Keystone Corridor and has historically been used by Amtrak’s Keystone trains as well as SEPTA regional rail services, providing a regional-rail link that benefits Main Line commuters. Wikipedia details Ardmore’s long role on the Main Line and its connections to Center City.
What This Means for Downtown Ardmore
The station’s reopening arrives as township leaders and Amtrak move forward with a transit-oriented development plan that could add public parking along with new commercial and residential buildings around the stop, according to Lower Merion Township. Local reporting also notes a wave of new apartments and retail openings near Suburban Square that are already reshaping downtown foot traffic and the business mix. The Inquirer covered those developments earlier this year.
Where to Find Schedules and More
SEPTA says the station will begin regular service on Monday, and riders should keep an eye on station message boards and official schedules for platform assignments and any early-week testing updates. Expect small adjustments as crews wrap up message-board work and elevator testing during the first days of operation.
