The original 1990 Shore Line East stations were built before the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed and had low-level platforms that were not handicapped accessible.
A 2003 agreement between the Connecticut Department of Transportation (which operates Shore Line East) and Amtrak (who owns the tracks) included a requirement that all Shore Line East stations have second platforms added before Shore Line East service could be increased.
Having two platforms allows SLE trains to use both tracks, providing greater operational flexibility.
Clinton, Madison, and Branford were rebuilt between 2005 and 2008 with a high-level platform and provisions for a second, while Old Saybrook and Guilford were rebuilt in 2001 and 2005 with two platforms each.
However, Westbrook was not rebuilt due to delays with a land swap between the Connecticut Department of Transportation and the town of Westbrook, which was necessary to allow the rebuilding.

The swap, in which the state traded a parcel of land on Route 145 for the town's garage site off Norris Avenue (which became part of the expanded parking lot), was begun in 2004 and mostly agreed to in late 2005, but was not finalized until 2006 when the state agreed to pay $1.5 million for the town to build a new garage on the Route 145 site.
Town highway operations were moved to the Route 145 site in September 2011, allowing site clearing to begin in November, and ground was broken for the $14.4 million station in January 2012.

After demolition work over the next several months, the new parking lot was graded in June 2012 and a temporary platform was constructed west of the old one.
Construction of the 204-foot-long platforms took place in the third quarter of 2012, while the pedestrian bridge was lifted into place in March 2013.
The station was delayed by the unexpected discoveries of a buried concrete mass and utilities under the new station site.
The new station was formally opened on March 25, 2014.
Full bidirectional service to Westbrook began with the schedule change of May 11, 2014.
The original 1990 Shore Line East stations were built before the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed and had low-level platforms that were not handicapped accessible. A 2003 agreement between the Connecticut Department of Transportation (which operates Shore Line East) and Amtrak (who owns the tracks) included a requirement that all Shore Line East stations have second platforms added before Shore Line East service could be increased. Having two platforms allows SLE trains to use both tracks, providing greater operational flexibility. Clinton, Madison, and Branford were rebuilt between 2005 and 2008 with a high-level platform and provisions for a second, while Old Saybrook and Guilford were rebuilt in 2001 and 2005 with two platforms each. However, Westbrook was not rebuilt due to delays with a land swap between the Connecticut Department of Transportation and the town of Westbrook, which was necessary to allow the rebuilding.
The swap, in which the state traded a parcel of land on Route 145 for the town's garage site off Norris Avenue (which became part of the expanded parking lot), was begun in 2004 and mostly agreed to in late 2005, but was not finalized until 2006 when the state agreed to pay $1.5 million for the town to build a new garage on the Route 145 site. Town highway operations were moved to the Route 145 site in September 2011, allowing site clearing to begin in November, and ground was broken for the $14.4 million station in January 2012.
After demolition work over the next several months, the new parking lot was graded in June 2012 and a temporary platform was constructed west of the old one. Construction of the 204-foot-long platforms took place in the third quarter of 2012, while the pedestrian bridge was lifted into place in March 2013. The station was delayed by the unexpected discoveries of a buried concrete mass and utilities under the new station site. The new station was formally opened on March 25, 2014. Full bidirectional service to Westbrook began with the schedule change of May 11, 2014.
Westbrook station (Connecticut)