Amtrak is beginning upgrades at historic rail stations in Latrobe and Greensburg, PA, to improve accessibility and preserve their character. The improvements will modernize the stations, enhance regional connectivity, and provide a better experience for travelers in the state.
Amtrak photo
Both stations set five-year ridership records in Amtrak’s 2024 fiscal year, with nearly 12,000 travelers using the Greensburg Station.
Amtrak announced on April 21, 2025, that it is beginning critical improvements and repairs at Latrobe (LAB) and Greensburg (GNB), two historic train stations located in western Pennsylvania that date back to the early 1900s.
Both stations are served daily by the national passenger rail service's Pennsylvanian train, which is financed primarily through funds made available by the state's Department of Transportation (PennDOT).
"Amtrak's preservation and revitalization of these historic train stations will help better serve residents and visitors in western Pennsylvania for decades to come," said David Handera, Amtrak's vice president of accessibility, stations and facilities. "We are dedicated to working with our partners to restore and modernize the stations we serve both here in the Commonwealth [of Pennsylvania] and across America."
Intercity rail provides a vital link between smaller towns like Greensburg and Latrobe and larger metropolitan areas such as Philadelphia and New York, noted Amtrak, offering an accessible travel option for work, education, healthcare and leisure.
Both stations set five-year ridership records in Amtrak's 2024 fiscal year, with nearly 12,000 travelers using the Greensburg Station and 3,400 passengers moving through Latrobe's.
"I applaud Amtrak's commitment to improving accessibility and preserving the historic character of the Latrobe and Greensburg stations," said Pennsylvania State Sen. Marty Flynn, democratic chair of the state senate's Transportation Committee. "These investments are essential to strengthening regional connectivity and ensuring all Pennsylvanians can benefit from reliable, modern passenger rail. From Pittsburgh to Philadelphia and everywhere in between, all travelers from and through Pennsylvania will be better served thanks to these essential upgrades."
Formal Work in Latrobe to Start Later in 2025
Final preparation is under way at LAB, first opened in 1903, before formal construction work begins later this year.
Improvements will bring the station up to code with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and include:
• constructing a new concrete platform and encasing canopy bases in concrete;
• installing new electrical service and lighting along the entire platform and ramp;
• adding two sloped walkways to connect the shelter entrance and new platform;
• building an accessible walkway from the public right-of-way to accessible parking, station shelter and the platform;
• designating accessible parking and an ADA-compliant ramp with handrails and canopy to the train platform;
• renovating the shelter entrance for accessible access;
• providing new concrete stairs, foundations and existing stair canopy foundations;
• resurfacing, striping and modifying the Latrobe station's parking lot; and
• updating the station's signage.
Greensburg's Station Set to Be Renovated in 2026
Currently in the design phase, GNB's project renderings and specifications recently reached 100-percent completion, according to Amtrak. Its construction is expected to begin in 2026.
The rail station first became operational in 1910.
The project team behind its renovations is actively seeking design approval from external third-party stakeholders, including Norfolk Southern (the host railroad), the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Officers (SHPO) and the building's owner.
Among the work planned for the Greensburg train station is:
• replacing the existing concrete low-level platform with two new ones;
• removing and relocating existing platform canopy structures that have new foundations and roofing, as well as new drainage systems;
• adding new stair and elevator platform enclosures;
• relocating the existing wheelchair lift enclosure and constructing a new concrete sloped walkway and landing area;
• designating two new ADA-compliant parking spaces;
• installing new platform wiring and lighting;
• constructing new concrete stairs from platform to tunnel level; and
• building two additional ADA-compliant restrooms and installing automatic entrance doors with new flooring at the existing tunnel hallway, utility room and restrooms that meet ADA standards.
State Rep. Ed Neilson, majority chair of the Pennsylvania House Transportation Committee, said, "The preservation and revitalization of these historic train stations will serve as a vital link from rural western Pennsylvania to bustling cities in the commonwealth. The improvements will help us stay connected to our history while moving us forward in transportation modernization."
The improvements at each rail station in Latrobe and Greensburg are being implemented by Amtrak in coordination with Norfolk Southern and PennDOT.
Amtrak added that each station upgrade is an essential components of its infrastructure investments across the United States, which the rail service said plays "an important role in upgrading the future customer experience and delivering a new era of passenger rail in America."
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