Case Study: Lancaster AMTRAK Project

Posted: January 2026

Dating back to 1834, the Lancaster Amtrak Station isn’t just a local transportation hub. It’s a historic, architectural landmark that has welcomed and transported passengers across Pennsylvania and the United States.

When the station’s platforms needed a major safety and accessibility overhaul, Wohlsen Construction needed a partner with the right technology, expertise, and team to carry the station forward for the next 100 years while also preserving its historic roots.

Faced with timeline delays, sinkholes, historical conservation concerns, and strict ADA guidelines, Wohlsen Construction turned to SWF Industrial to help honor the past and forge the future.

The Problem

The platform rebuild was a multi-year effort with tight requirements and real-world constraints.

The station remained active, with ongoing train traffic and strict access control. Renovation work was not allowed to slow down operations. Every upgrade had to meet modern safety expectations while respecting the station’s historic architecture.

Wohlsen needed a fabrication partner who could deliver:

OSHA-approved railings for passenger safety, including freight-side protection
ADA-compliant handrails and grab bar fabrication in stair areas
A solution that preserved the station’s historic look and feel
Reliable scheduling and coordination in a project with heavy oversight and approvals

The Solution

SWF focused on handrail fabrication and installation across the platforms, totaling more than 2,000 linear feet of OSHA-approved railings. Most of this work focused on protecting passengers from adjacent freight traffic and defining safe zones along platform edges.

In stairwells and transition areas, the challenge was more precise: keep existing and historic railing elements while meeting modern ADA height and code requirements.

SWF used advanced design and value engineering tools and processes to scan the area and model required additions for an exact, first-time fit. With that level of detail, SWF was able to fabricate custom rail extensions and grab rails that integrate cleanly with the existing structure.

The SWF team then faced a unique preservation project: removing deteriorated cast iron column bases and replacing them with historically correct castings. By sending an original base to a partner foundry, SWF obtained a mold to cast replacements for a safer, updated platform that matches the original column bases.

To ensure long-term performance outdoors, fabricated rail components were hot-dip galvanized and powder-coated by specialty partners, then delivered and installed by SWF onsite.

Throughout the project, SWF operated within strict access controls and active rail conditions, reinforcing the company’s commitment to safety on complex, live job sites.

The Result

Despite broader site delays caused by concrete settlement and sinkholes early in the project, SWF adjusted and maintained momentum. Rail systems were delivered and installed on schedule, meeting safety and accessibility requirements without compromising the station’s historic aesthetic.

The finished platforms support safer passenger flow, improved accessibility, and long-term durability in a demanding public setting. SWF is proud to partner in a project that demonstrates how modern infrastructure upgrades can honor the past while serving modern transportation needs.

Projects like the Lancaster Amtrak Station reinforce SWF’s experience supporting civil infrastructure initiatives that require precision, flexibility, and coordination across multiple stakeholders.

SWF Industrial: OSHA Handrail Fabrication Partners

SWF Industrial brings proven field coordination, safety-first execution, and the in-house capability to fabricate and install railing systems that stand firm against the test of time while meeting any spec or regulation.

Need OSHA handrail fabrication, grab bar fabrication, or OSHA-approved railings for civil infrastructure and transportation projects? Start a conversation with our team today.