SEPTA Opens Rebuilt Accessible Ardmore Station

SEPTA completes $60.6 million rebuild of Ardmore Station with ADA-compliant platforms

SEPTA Opens Rebuilt Ardmore Station on Paoli Line

Riders on SEPTA's Paoli/Thorndale Regional Rail Line gained access to a fully rebuilt Ardmore Station on March 23, with officials celebrating the $60.6 million project at a ribbon-cutting ceremony April 10. The station at 39 Station Ave now features full ADA accessibility with new elevators, ramps, and high-level platforms. Ardmore serves one of the line's busiest stops, with the Paoli/Thorndale Line carrying more than 14,000 weekday passenger trips.

The reconstruction represents SEPTA's first major overhaul of Ardmore Station since 1957, when the agency replaced the original 1870s-era building. The latest project was part of SEPTA's Station Accessibility Program, which aims to bring older Regional Rail stations into compliance with modern accessibility standards. Officials from SEPTA, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Montgomery County, and Amtrak attended the April ceremony to mark the completion. The multi-year effort required careful coordination to maintain service throughout construction.

Construction began in 2019 but faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent supply chain issues that affected material deliveries and project timelines. The $60.6 million total cost covered design, construction, and support services for the complete station rebuild. Federal, state, and local funding partners supported the project, which required coordination among multiple agencies. Crews worked exclusively at night to allow trains to continue operating during daytime hours, minimizing disruption to the thousands of daily riders who depend on the station.

The rebuilt station includes a new inbound station building and outbound shelters designed for passenger comfort and weather protection. Additional improvements include upgraded lighting throughout the platform areas, new wayfinding signage, landscaping enhancements, and modern stormwater management systems. The high-level platforms eliminate the gap between train and platform, making boarding safer and more accessible for riders with mobility devices, strollers, or luggage. SEPTA said the accessibility upgrades align with federal requirements and improve service for all riders.

The station improvements benefit riders who've relied on Ardmore as a key connection point on the Paoli/Thorndale Line for decades. The accessibility upgrades ensure riders with disabilities can now independently access all station areas and board trains without assistance. Riders can check real-time train schedules and service updates through Moovit, which provides trip planning and arrival information for SEPTA's Regional Rail network.