Coatesville station is an Amtrak intercity rail station located in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. It is served by most Amtrak Keystone Service trains. The station has two side platforms serving the outer tracks of the three-track Philadelphia to Harrisburg Main Line.

Coatesville, PA
A brick railway station with a wide platform and wooden canopy
The eastbound platform and disused station building in 2022
General information
LocationThird Avenue and Fleetwood Street
Coatesville, Pennsylvania
United States
Coordinates39°59′9″N 75°49′15″W / 39.98583°N 75.82083°W / 39.98583; -75.82083
Owned byAmtrak
Line(s)Amtrak Keystone Corridor
(Philadelphia to Harrisburg Main Line)
Platforms2 side platforms
Tracks3
ConnectionsSuburban Bus SEPTA Suburban Bus: 135
local transit TMACC: Coatesville Link
Other information
Station codeAmtrak: COT
History
Opened1830s
Rebuilt1868; 2021–2025 (under construction)
ElectrifiedJanuary 15, 1938[1]
Passengers
FY 202311,937 annually[2] (Amtrak)
Services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station
Parkesburg
toward Harrisburg
Keystone Service Downingtown
toward New York
     Pennsylvanian does not stop here
Former services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station
Parkesburg
toward Pittsburgh
Pennsylvanian Downingtown
toward New York
Preceding station SEPTA Following station
Parkesburg
Terminus
Parkesburg Line Downingtown
Preceding station Pennsylvania Railroad Following station
Pomeroy
toward Chicago
Main Line Caln
Future Services
Preceding station SEPTA Following station
Terminus Paoli/​Thorndale Line Thorndale
Location
Map

History

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Coatesville station opened during the 1830s on the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad, which later became part of the Main Line of the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR). The railroad built a two-story Italianate brick depot, now disused, in 1868.[3] Amtrak took over Philadelphia–Harrisburg Silverliner Service (now Keystone Service) from PRR successor Penn Central in 1972.[4]

The SEPTA Regional Rail Parkesburg Line served Coatesville from 1990 to 1996, when service to Downingtown was reduced due to budget cuts.[5]

Reconstruction

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In summer 2013, the Chester County Economic Development Council announced the selection of a developer for a project to revitalize the Coatesville station area. Total costs will be dependent on final design and engineering estimates, but the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has pledged approximately $20 million to the project. Under the plan, a new station with parking would be built just east of the historic depot, along the tracks between Third and Fourth Avenues.[6]

SEPTA indicated in March 2019 that Regional Rail service would be extended from Thorndale to Coatesville "in the near future."[7] The $21 million project was put out to bid in July 2021, with construction planned to last from late 2021 to 2025. A $1.65 million parking garage will also be built.[8][9] A groundbreaking ceremony was held on October 22, 2021, with Governor Tom Wolf in attendance.[10][11]

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References

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  1. ^ "Pennsy Completes New Electric Link". The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader. January 15, 1938. p. 1. Retrieved August 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ "Amtrak Fact Sheet, Fiscal Year 2023: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania" (PDF). Amtrak. March 2024. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  3. ^ "Coatesville, PA (COT)". Great American Stations. Amtrak.
  4. ^ Baer, Christopher T. (April 2015). "A GENERAL CHRONOLOGY OF THE PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD COMPANY ITS PREDECESSORS AND SUCCESSORS AND ITS HISTORICAL CONTEXT: 1972" (PDF). Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society.
  5. ^ "Septa Plan Draws Wail From Riders R5 Service To Parkesburg And Coatesville May Be Eliminated". Archived from the original on September 26, 2015.
  6. ^ "Coatesville Station". Amtrak's Great American Stations. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  7. ^ Rodgers, Lucas (March 7, 2019). "SEPTA Regional Rail set to return to Coatesville". Daily Local News. West Chester, PA. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  8. ^ Tanenbaum, Michael (July 14, 2021). "Construction on new Coatesville train station to start later this year, PennDOT says". PhillyVoice.
  9. ^ MediaNews Group (2021-07-14). "Coatesville train station bids authorized; construction to start this year". Daily Local News. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
  10. ^ Ralph, Pat (October 24, 2021). "Officials break ground on new Coatesville train station". Philly Voice.
  11. ^ Staff (October 22, 2021). "Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf Breaks Ground On New Coatesville Train Station". Philadelphia, PA: KYW-TV. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
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  Media related to Coatesville station at Wikimedia Commons