Amtrak Station - WIL
4.4(32)google
2.0(4)yelp
TrainTransit HeritageHistoric Building
Overview
Amtrak (National Railroad Passenger Corporation in the United States) operates train stations and Amtrak Thruway transit hubs throughout the United States. All current and most former Amtrak train stations and Thruway Motorcoach stops have a three-letter station code (sometimes also referred to as a city code). These codes do not necessarily correspond with the list of IATA-indexed train stations or the three-character IATA airport codes, although many are the same.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration0.5-1 hour
Best TimeAn architectural wonder year-round, as this operational terminal is a registered landmark designed by famed architect Frank Furness. The best time to appreciate its historic design is mid-morning (9:00 AM to 11:00 AM) weekdays, when commuter rush subsides and sunlight floods the brick and polished timber halls.
Getting TherePerfectly positioned at 100 S French St, Wilmington. Drivers can utilize the large paid parking garage directly across from the tracks. This terminal serves as Delaware's premier multi-modal hub, directly hosting Amtrak regional trains, SEPTA regional rail (Wilmington/Newark Line), and over 15 core DART bus routes.
Travel Tips
- The Joseph R. Biden Jr. Railroad Station short-term drop-off apron implements a strict zero-tolerance code: active staging is capped at 2 minutes maximum, and the operator must remain inside the cockpit. Law enforcement officers actively patrol the ring; unattended idling vehicles are subject to immediate towing within 3 minutes.
- The historic brick and structural steel building routes access to elevated Northeast Corridor and SEPTA platforms via highly restrictive, steep stairwells. Travelers handling oversized luggage, double-wide strollers, or wheelchairs are legally barred from scaling open stairways; you must utilize the centralized ADA-compliant hydraulic elevators.
- During weekday commuter peak matrixes (6:30-8:30 AM, 5:00-7:00 PM), adjacent parking hubs like the Riverfront Station Garage experience massive congestion and lock down at maximum capacity. Drivers executing rail transfers must budget a 45-minute parking cushion and strictly avoid abandoning vehicles along neighboring narrow access alleys.
Reviews
Positive
- This historic brick station designed by Frank Furness boasts a classic, elegant exterior and a beautifully compact layout of top value.
- A vital Northeast Corridor stop; taking the high-speed train gets you to Philly in 20 mins, and NY or DC are exceptionally fast.
- The indoor departure monitors and automated announcements are clear and on-time; security is highly visible, keeping it safe and orderly.
- Accessibility retrofits are solid, featuring modern ramps, large elevators, and tactile paving to guarantee easy transit for luggage.
Heads up
- The station's integrated parking deck is exorbitantly expensive and fills fast during morning commute; nearby private lots inflate prices.
- As a compact historic station, the waiting concourse is small, getting heavily cramped and noisy when multiple trains are delayed.
- Dining infrastructure inside is very sparse; aside from a basic coffee cart and a few vending machines, proper hot meals are missing.
- The outdoor taxi and rideshare pickup zoning is confusing, often resulting in gridlock with passing local traffic due to poor flow.