It opened May 1, 2014,[4] and marks the nine-year return of regular passenger rail service to Sanford following the closure of the Amtrak station in 2005.

Sanford is typical of most SunRail stations featuring canopies consisting of white aluminum poles supporting sloped green roofs and includes ticket vending machines, ticket validators, emergency call boxes, drinking fountains, and separate platforms designed for passengers in wheelchairs.

Lack of success from the Louisville expansion, high crew costs and several accidents threw the company into bankruptcy, and Auto-Train Corporation was forced to end its services in late April 1981.

[5][page needed] Amtrak acquired Auto Train in 1983, and still operates this service between Sanford and Lorton today.

[6] In its waning years, the former ACL depot served the Silver Star, Silver Meteor, and Sunset Limited until Amtrak closed the station on August 1, 2005, leaving Auto Train as the only passenger service to serve Sanford.