remained open to customers and foot traffic during normal business hours until the freight agent was withdrawn, and then was used for the Borough's public-works purposes. The PRR was merged into the Penn Central Transportation Company on Feb. 1, 1968. Its long-distance passenger service was assumed by Amtrak on May 1, 1971, at which time the three most lightly-patronized of the four pairs of trains still making daily stops at the station were discontinued. Long-distance passenger-train service at Wilkinsburg ended on September 14, 1975 when Amtrak discontinued the stop, citing a total of 128 passengers boarding or alighting in the first six months of 1975, the lowest system-wide, a far cry from the Borough's and railroad's heyday when the borough's status as a dense bedroom community and commercial draw for the eastern suburbs meant that nearly every local train passing through stopped there, apparently second in importance once again to only East Liberty. The last train serving Wilkinsburg station was the National Limited, which operated daily between New York City and Kansas City, Missouri. By then, Wilkinsburg had a reputation as an unsafe neighborhood, and the stop was scheduled normally during darkness rather than in daylight. The right of way was conveyed to Consolidated Rail Corporation on April 1, 1976, then to Norfolk Southern Railway on June 1, 1999. During the brief resumption of commuter service with Conrail's Parkway Limited in 1981, the platforms had been removed and the stairways were inaccessible, so these two pairs of trains made their Wilkinsburg stop about two blocks southeast of the station, nearer the location of the predecessor stations; the building was not used. The station was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 18, 1985. Plans are underway for a $6.5 million renovation for Wilkinsburg station. Plans include a renovation of the existing site amenities and landscape, comprehensive restoration of the building’s exterior, restoration of significant historic spaces on the main floor, renovation of the lower level, new restrooms, new site utilities (including water, sewer, gas, and electrical service), and new mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection services (completed according to historic property standards). See also Wilkinsburg station (PAAC) National Register of Historic Places listings in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania References External links 1975 National Limited Timetable The Wilkinsburg Train Station Restoration Project Railway stations on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania Beaux-Arts architecture in Pennsylvania Wilkinsburg Wilkinsburg