The Elizabethtown station is located on South Wilson Avenue, off of Pennsylvania Route 241 (West High Street). In addition to being used by passengers originating from Elizabethtown and surrounding Lancaster County, residents of nearby Dauphin and Lebanon counties utilize the Elizabethtown station as well.[3] It sees twenty-six arrivals by the Keystone Service on weekdays, thirteen from both Harrisburg and New York Penn Station, and seven from each on weekends.[4] The Pennsylvanian arrives once daily from both New York and Pittsburgh Union Station.[4] The station is 18 miles (29 km) east of Harrisburg, 86 miles (138 km) west of 30th Street Station in Philadelphia, and 179 miles (288 km) from New York.[4] The station was the 7th busiest in Pennsylvania with an annual ridership of 22,232 passengers in fiscal year 2021, a decrease of 52.2 percent from the previous year.[5][6]
The station is equipped with Amtrak's Quik-Trak ticket machines, public restrooms, information kiosks, and wireless internet.[3] As the Elizabethtown station is unstaffed, all tickets from the station need to be pre-paid, purchased from Quik-Trak, or from a conductor on board the train.[7] Parking is in a 45-vehicle lot located in front of the station and a 100-vehicle "overflow lot [located] down the street."[3] The Red Rose Transit Authority's Route 18 transit bus provides service between the station, Elizabethtown, Mount Joy, and Lancaster.[8]
In August 1998, the station building was leased to Amtrak for 99 years by the borough of Elizabethtown for $1 per year after ownership was transferred to the borough; ownership of the platforms and right-of-way was retained by Amtrak.[3][20] Renovations began in August 2009 and were funded by $9.3 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The station was cited by U.S. SenatorTom Coburn as an example of pork barrel spending in the stimulus bill.[21] Elevators were built and the station's two platforms were raised, per the requirements of Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.[3] The platforms were also lengthened to accommodate longer trains. Canopies were erected over the platforms to provide protection from the elements for waiting passengers. The station building was completely remodeled, including restoration of the original wood furnishings, replacement of broken slateroof tiles, and masonry repointing.[3] The completed station was unveiled in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 4, 2011.[3]