Revolutionizing Travel In The Us: Amtrak Unveils Accessibility Upgrades At North Dakota Stations For Better Passenger Comfort

Published on October 18, 2025

Amtrak has announced a important finance aimed astatine improving accessibility for passengers astatine 5 stations successful North Dakota. This $30 cardinal finance is portion of a broader inaugural to guarantee that each Amtrak stations crossed nan state are accessible to each customers. The stations receiving these upgrades are located on nan Empire Builder route, which connects Seattle aliases Portland to Chicago. The changes, which are expected to heighten nan wide recreation acquisition for passengers, see nan building of caller boarding platforms, upgrades to position interiors, and improved signage to guideline visitors.

Enhancing Accessibility Across North Dakota Stations

The effort to heighten nan accessibility of Amtrak stations successful North Dakota is driven by Amtrak’s committedness to making recreation much inclusive and comfortable for each passengers. Amtrak’s Vice President of Accessibility, Dr. David Handera, stated that making stations accessible is simply a privilege for nan company, and these upgrades are portion of a continuous effort to amended nan acquisition for travelers. These investments will supply a much welcoming and businesslike situation for each passengers, ensuring that everyone, sloppy of mobility, tin easy entree train services crossed nan nationalist network.

The $30 cardinal inaugural targets improvements astatine 5 cardinal stations successful nan state. The upgrades will make these stations much accessible, offering passengers safer and much comfortable accommodation to usage while traveling. The improvements will besides thief meet nan accessibility requirements outlined successful nan Americans pinch Disabilities Act (ADA), further enhancing nan recreation acquisition for those pinch disabilities.

Major Upgrades to Key Stations

The pursuing stations successful North Dakota are group to use from nan upgrades:

• Devils Lake (DVL): $4.5 Million
• Fargo (FAR): $4.5 Million
• Rugby (RUG): $10.4 Million
• Stanley (STN): $0.4 Million
• Williston (WTN): $10 Million

Devils Lake Station Upgrades

Devils Lake Station, built successful 1907 by nan Great Northern Railway, holds a salient position successful nan city’s historical district. The upgrades to this position see nan building of a 300-foot actual boarding platform, designed pinch a brick finish. The level will beryllium equipped pinch a snowmelt system for improved information during wintertime months. The upgrades besides see sloped walkways, safety barriers, energy-efficient LED lighting, and detectable informing systems. These improvements purpose to heighten accessibility, ensuring that travelers tin safely and comfortably entree nan position sloppy of upwind conditions.

The task astatine Devils Lake is being led by Michael Baker International (MBI) arsenic nan creation firm, pinch Collage Companies providing wide contractor services. Construction Engineers of Grand Forks and different section suppliers and subcontractors contributed to nan project’s success, which is scheduled for completion adjacent month.

Fargo Station Upgrades

Fargo Station, which was primitively built successful 1906 by Great Northern Railway, is receiving a $4.5 cardinal upgrade. The improvements see nan building of a 645-foot actual boarding platform pinch accessible paths of travel. The position now features sloped accessible walkways, railings, egress gates, energy-efficient LED ray fixtures, and new signage. In addition, nan interior of nan position has been refreshed, ensuring a welcoming situation for each travelers.

GFT Infrastructure Inc. is nan creation patient responsible for nan upgrades, while Krische Construction Inc. provided wide contracting services. The task progressive respective section subcontractors, including Fargo Glass and Neset Survey, ensuring that nan activity was carried retired by section businesses.

Rugby Station Upgrades

Rugby Station, which was built successful 1907 and listed connected nan National Register of Historic Places, has received an awesome $10.4 million successful upgrades. The position now boasts a 750-foot actual boarding platform, equipped pinch a snowmelt system for information and enhanced accessibility. The upgrades besides see sloped walkways, safety barriers, energy-efficient LED lighting, and detectable informing systems. The position interior has besides been renovated to supply a much modern and comfortable acquisition for passengers.

MBI led nan creation of nan project, pinch Granite Construction Co. serving arsenic nan wide contractor. Local subcontractors from Rugby and crossed nan authorities provided materials and services, including Deplazes Readi-Mix, Lunseth Plumbing and Heating Co., and Riedhammer Masonry.

Stanley Station Upgrades

The Stanley Station, built successful 1922, has received a $0.4 cardinal upgrade. While nan task was smaller successful scale, it still importantly improved accessibility. The upgrades included nan building of a caller accessible way from nan position to nan designated parking area, arsenic good arsenic nan repair and replacement of detectable informing systems connected nan existing platform. Additionally, caller signage has been added passim nan station.

STV provided nan creation services for this upgrade, while KCI served arsenic nan wide contractor. Local subcontractors, including American Engineering Testing and Benchmark Land Surveying, played a captious domiciled successful completing nan project.

Williston Station Upgrades

Williston Station, which opened successful 1910 and is noted for its historical significance, has received $10 cardinal successful upgrades. The caller improvements see a 700-foot actual boarding platform pinch a snowmelt system and accessible paths of travel. The position now features sloped walkways, railings, egress gates, energy-efficient LED ray fixtures, and new signage to amended some information and accessibility.

MBI designed nan project, and KCI served arsenic nan wide contractor. Several North Dakota subcontractors contributed to nan project, including A&A Landscape, Fargo Glass, and Mowbray & Sons.

Ongoing Commitment to Accessibility

Amtrak’s committedness to accessibility is reflected successful nan much than $1 billion invested since 2011 successful upgrading stations crossed nan nationalist network. These upgrades, including nan caller improvements successful North Dakota, are portion of Amtrak’s extremity to guarantee 100% accessibility astatine its stations by 2029.

The investments are important not only for improving nan passenger experience but besides for ensuring safety, efficiency, and comfort for each travelers. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has played a captious domiciled successful backing these upgrades, furthering nan accessibility efforts astatine Amtrak stations nationwide.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Amtrak’s Accessibility

The improvements made astatine nan five North Dakota stations are conscionable portion of nan ongoing efforts to heighten nan travel experience crossed Amtrak’s full network. Over nan adjacent year, an further 50 stations are group to acquisition upgrades, pinch a projected finance of $311 million. As these efforts continue, Amtrak remains committed to providing a safe, accessible, and comfortable acquisition for each passengers, ensuring that its stations are welcoming to travelers of each abilities.