Thursday, May 23, 2024 Amtrak has completed $3.5 million in improvements at the Newbern-Dyersburg Station, enhancing accessibility and comfort for passengers. The City of New Orleans, an Amtrak service, stops here twice daily on its route between Chicago and New Orleans via Carbondale, Memphis, and Jackson.
“With construction, renovation, repair, and upgrade projects at stations across the country, station accessibility is a priority we’re actively pursuing with funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,” said Dr. David Handera, Amtrak Vice President, Accessibility, Stations and Facilities. “We want all of our stations to provide a welcoming and comfortable environment for every customer,” he said yesterday at a ribbon-cutting at the station in West Tennessee with state tourism commissioner Mark Ezell and Newbern Mayor Pam Mabry.
The station, a 104-year-old facility that houses the Newbern Depot & Railroad Museum, an Amtrak waiting area, and a large room for community events, now features a new 350-foot platform designed with accessibility in mind, blending modern needs with historical elements. Additional upgrades include new parking for disabled persons, improved public pathways with slopes and safety features, energy-efficient LED lighting, a modern wheelchair lift within a secure area, and updated signage. Local subcontractors carried out much of the work.
These enhancements are part of Amtrak’s Accessible Stations Program, which has invested ove.
