Biden's Name to Grace New Rail Station

Open house to celebrate reopening of renovated Wilmington station

Frequent train rider, Vice President Joe Biden will be forever linked with the Wilmington train station.

In honor of the long-time Amtrak rider and strong advocate of passenger rail, the newly renovated station will be dedicated as the Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Railroad Station on Saturday.

As a U.S. Senator from Delaware for 36 years, Biden regularly traveled by train between Wilmington and Washington, D.C.

Wilmington Station underwent a nearly two-year, $37.7-million renovation. Funding for the project included $20 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The station is the 12th busiest in the Amtrak system, serving more than 696,000 passengers in Fiscal Year 2010. SEPTA and Delaware Transit Corporation passengers also use the station.

Amtrak said passengers will enjoy a larger concourse, safety improvements and a new passenger information display system. The renovation also included enhancements to the station's accessibility for people with disabilities.

The dedication ceremony will feature musical entertainment and food. It's free to the public.

The open house will go from noon until 3 p.m.


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