Amtrak Virginia
| Amtrak Virginia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Locale | Virginia |
| Transit type | Inter-city rail |
| Number of lines | 4 |
| Website | Amtrak Virginia |
| Operation | |
| Began operation | 2009 |
| Operator(s) | Amtrak |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 4 ft8+1⁄2in(1,435 mm)standard gauge |
Amtrak Virginiais the collective name forVirginia's state-supportedAmtraktrain service, all of which falls under theNortheast Regionalbrand. Amtrak Virginia trains run betweenWashington, D.C.,and one of four southern termini:Richmond,Newport News,Norfolk,orRoanoke.Trains generally continue north from D.C. along theNortheast Corridor,providing one-seat rides from Virginia toBaltimore,Philadelphia,New York City,andBoston.
The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority has overseen Amtrak Virginia since 2020.[1][2]
History
[edit]After Amtrak took over intercity passenger service on May 1, 1971, rail service in Virginia was limited to a small number of long-distance trains, where they were often not suited to regional travel. Regional service south to Newport News began on June 14, 1976, when Amtrak ended the Newport News section of theJames Whitcomb Rileyand theColonialwas added in its place with two daily round trips from Boston to Newport News via Alexandria, Richmond and Williamsburg.
Virginia and Amtrak partnered in 2009 under the brandAmtrak Virginiato expand passenger rail service within the Commonwealth, making Virginia the 15th state to fund state services in addition to federally funded routes.[3]One dailyNortheast Regionalround trip was extended from Washington toLynchburgviaManassasandCharlottesvilleon October 1, 2009, supplementing the existingCrescentservice.[4]In the first month, ridership doubled expectations.[5]On July 20, 2010, Amtrak added an additionalNortheast Regionalfrequency from Washington toRichmond Staples Mill Road station,increasing the Washington-Richmond corridor to eight daily round trips with hourly northbound morning service.[6]
A further extension south from Richmond to Norfolk alongNorfolk Southerntracks was planned by the Department of Rail & Public Transportation (DRPT), and the Commonwealth of Virginia in cooperation with Amtrak. Certain track upgrades (e.g., passing sidings, replacing track to increase operating speeds) between Richmond and Norfolk that were necessary to enable this extension were funded jointly by Norfolk Southern and DRPT. Service started on December 12, 2012.[7]A second daily Norfolk round trip on weekdays was added on March 4, 2019.[8]Schedules for the Newport News trains are also being modified[needs update]to improve service to the Hampton Roads region.[9]
On August 9, 2013, it was announced that Amtrak hoped to complete track and infrastructure upgrades in order to bring train service to Roanoke by 2016.[10]The project encountered delays, and by late 2016 service was planned to begin in late 2017 with a single train extended from Lynchburg serving the city daily after construction of theRoanoke stationplatform, which was to begin in early 2017 and take most of the year.[11]Amtrak began service to Roanoke on October 31, 2017.[12]
In December 2017 the DRPT started the Virginia Breeze, a state bus service operated byMegabusfor areas not served by rail. As of May 2023[update]there are four daily routes that terminate atWashington Union Station,with stops at a few other Amtrak Virginia stations.[13][14]
On December 19, 2019, Virginia GovernorRalph Northamannounced a $3.7 billion program to expand rail service in Virginia, which includes doubling the frequency of Amtrak service between Richmond and Washington.[15][16]As part of the program, the commonwealth paidCSX Transportation$525 million to purchase 223 miles of track and 386 miles of right-of-way, a deal which was finalized on March 31, 2021.[17]One round trip was extended from Staples Mill to Main Street in September 2021 as the first service expansion under the program.[18]Service changes on July 11, 2022, added a second daily Roanoke round trip and an additional Norfolk weekday round trip (making three round trips on weekdays and two on weekends).[19][20]That change resulted in July 2022 ridership on the state-supported Virginia routes being 20% higher than June 2022 and 29% higher than July 2019.[21]
Proposed expansion
[edit]Extension of the route south of Roanoke toChristiansburg, Virginia,nearVirginia Tech,is proposed, with further extension toBristol, Virginia/Tennesseeas a long-range possibility. In 2021, the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) and Norfolk Southern reached an agreement for the state to purchase part of the formerVirginian Railwayfor service to the New River Valley. A station was to be built atMerrimac,between Christiansburg and Blacksburg, with service by 2025.[22]As of June 2024[update],however, the VRPA and Norfolk Southern were in negotiations to instead extend service on the N-Line (ex-Norfolk and Western) with a station atCambria,closer to Christiansburg. The VRPA indicated this could be done faster and cheaper than service on the Virginian line.[23]
Closed in 1979,Bedford stationinBedford, Virginia,was not reopened as part of the extension to Roanoke. In 2021, the DRPT estimated that aninfill stationin Bedford would draw 10,050 new riders per year, cost $10.9 million, and could be completed by 2025.[24]
In May 2022, Amtrak and the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority reached an agreement to build an Amtrak platform atCrystal City,currently served byVirginia Railway Express,as part of the station's reconstruction.[25]As of 2023[update],the work is expected to be complete by 2026.[26]
Commonwealth Corridor
[edit]Stakeholders have proposed a new cross-Virginia train along a route designated the Commonwealth Corridor: Newport News–Richmond–Charlottesville–Lynchburg–Roanoke. The service would enable faster east-west travel within the Amtrak Virginia network without the need to travel north, transfer at Alexandria, and return south. The route would use existing rail lines and would also follow the Northeast Regional extension to Christiansburg.
A 2021 feasibility study for the corridor conducted by DRPT estimated that the service would cost $416.5 million to get started, and would generate 177,200 annual riders by 2040.[27]In December 2023, theFederal Railroad Administrationaccepted an application by the DRPT to enter the Commonwealth Corridor route into itsCorridor Identification and Development Program.The program grants $500,000 toward service planning and prioritizes the route for future federal funding.[28]
Operations
[edit]Services
[edit]Amtrak Virginia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As of 2023[update],Amtrak Virginia consists of eightNortheast Regionalround trips on weekdays, and seven on Saturdays and Sundays. Due to branching, cities receive varying levels of service, with onlyAlexandria Union Stationseeing all trips. For example,Richmond Staples Mill Roadsees six weekday round trips while Richmond's more centrally-locatedMain Street Stationsees just three, while the remaining three continueNorfolk.
Washington Union Stationis the northern limit of state-supported service. From there, trains generally continue onto theNortheast Corridorand terminate atBoston South StationorSpringfield Union StationinMassachusetts.
| Southern terminus | Weekday round trips | Weekend round trips |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond–Main Street | 1 | 1 |
| Newport News | 2 | 2 |
| Norfolk | 3 | 2 |
| Roanoke | 2 | 2 |
| Total | 8 | 7 |
Amtrak Virginia service is supplemented by Amtrak's federally-funded long-distance routes through the state: theCardinaltoChicago,CrescenttoNew Orleans,PalmettotoSavannah,Silver ServicetoMiami,andAuto TraintoSanford.The state-supportedCarolinianalso runs through Virginia, but is primarily sponsored byNorth Carolinaand falls under theNC by Trainbrand, not Amtrak Virginia.[29]
Trackage
[edit]All Amtrak Virginia services use the northernmost portion of the ex-Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad(now owned byCSX Transportation) between Washington andAlexandria, Virginia.South of Alexandria, trains to Roanoke use theNorfolk Southern Railway(ex-Southern Railway,ex-Virginia Midland Railway). Trains to Richmond, Norfolk and Newport News use the CSXRF&P,Richmond Terminal,andBellwoodsubdivisions between Alexandria and Richmond.
South of Richmond, trains to Newport News use the CSXPeninsula Subdivision.Trains to Norfolk use the CSXNorth End Subdivisionand Norfolk Southern's Norfolk District (ex-Norfolk and Western Railway).
References
[edit]- ^Luczak, Marybeth (October 28, 2020)."Report: Virginia Passenger Rail Authority Launched".Railway Age.RetrievedMarch 26,2023.
- ^"About".VPRA.Virginia Passenger Rail Authority.RetrievedMarch 25,2023.
- ^"NEW WEBSITE FOR AMTRAK TRAVELERS IN VIRGINIA – AMTRAKVIRGINIA.COM"(PDF)(Press release). Amtrak. September 24, 2009. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on October 7, 2016.
- ^"Northeast Corridor Timetable 3"(PDF).Amtrak. October 1, 2009.Archived(PDF)from the original on August 6, 2021.RetrievedApril 8,2018.
- ^Reed, Ray (December 16, 2009)."Amtrak's Lynchburg-Washington line beats projections".The News & Advance.Archivedfrom the original on December 25, 2009.RetrievedDecember 17,2009– via The Committee to Advance The TransDominion Express.
- ^"Amtrak Virginia Introduces Additional Service Between Richmond, VA and Washington, DC".ETB Travel News.July 14, 2010. Archived fromthe originalon April 15, 2021.RetrievedApril 8,2018.
- ^"Governor McDonnell Announces Amtrak Virginia to Norfolk to Start December 12".Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce.August 30, 2012.Archivedfrom the original on January 20, 2019.RetrievedApril 8,2018.
- ^"Virginia Announces Additional Amtrak Service to Norfolk Beginning March 4th"(Press release). Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation. January 18, 2019.Archivedfrom the original on November 16, 2021.RetrievedJanuary 20,2019.
- ^"Newport News & Norfolk Schedule Optimization"(PDF).Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation. January 10, 2019. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on January 20, 2019.RetrievedJanuary 20,2019.
- ^Marrano, Gene (August 20, 2013)."Passenger Rail Is Coming To Roanoke Says Governor McDonnell".The Roanoke Star.Archivedfrom the original on August 6, 2021.RetrievedJune 20,2018.
- ^Sturgeon, Jeff (December 6, 2016)."State hunts for contractor to build Roanoke Amtrak platform".Roanoke Times.Archivedfrom the original on February 20, 2023.RetrievedApril 8,2018.
- ^Wickline, Alison (October 30, 2017)."Roanoke celebrates inaugural Amtrak ride".WSLS.Archivedfrom the original on November 7, 2017.RetrievedJanuary 13,2018.
- ^DeBruhl, Jennifer (April 23, 2023)."Community Viewpoint: Virginia Breeze fulfills mission".GoDanRiver.com.RetrievedMay 24,2023.
- ^"About Us".The Virginia Breeze.Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation.RetrievedMay 24,2023.
- ^MARTZ, MICHAEL (December 19, 2019)."Virginia has $3.7 billion deal to expand rail service between Richmond and Washington".Richmond Times-Dispatch.Archivedfrom the original on December 19, 2019.RetrievedDecember 19,2019.
- ^Lazo, Luz (December 19, 2019)."Virginia to build Long Bridge and acquire CSX right of way to expand passenger train service".Washington Post.Archivedfrom the original on December 20, 2019.RetrievedDecember 19,2019.
- ^Pascale, Jordan (March 31, 2021)."Virginia Finalizes $3.7 Billion Deal To Acquire Tracks From CSX".WAMU.Archivedfrom the original on April 6, 2021.RetrievedApril 9,2021– viaNational Public Radio.
- ^Lazo, Luz (September 27, 2021)."Virginia expands Amtrak service to downtown Richmond as part of $3.7 billion rail program".The Washington Post.Archivedfrom the original on August 19, 2022.RetrievedSeptember 27,2021.
- ^"Amtrak Increases Daily Service to Roanoke"(Press release). Amtrak. June 21, 2022.Archivedfrom the original on June 22, 2022.RetrievedJune 22,2022.
- ^"Amtrak Increases Daily Service to Norfolk"(Press release). Amtrak. June 21, 2022.Archivedfrom the original on June 22, 2022.RetrievedJune 22,2022.
- ^"Ridership on Amtrak's Virginia Routes Hits All-Time High"(Press release). Amtrak. August 30, 2022.Archivedfrom the original on August 31, 2022.RetrievedAugust 31,2022.
- ^"Governor Northam Announces Agreement with Norfolk Southern Railway to Expand Passenger Rail to Southwest Virginia"(Press release). Virginia Office of the Governor. May 5, 2021.
- ^"VPRA and Norfolk Southern in Discussions for New Rail Agreement"(Press release). Virginia Passenger Rail Authority. June 4, 2024.
- ^Smith, Rachael."Rail stop in Bedford becomes more realistic after study is completed".NewsAdvance.com.No. October 26, 2021.Archivedfrom the original on October 27, 2021.RetrievedOctober 27,2021.
- ^"Executive Director's Report"(PDF).Virginia Passenger Rail Authority. May 2022. p. 4.Archived(PDF)from the original on December 8, 2022.RetrievedMarch 19,2023.
- ^"Crystal City Station Improvements".projects.vre.org.Virginia Railway Express.RetrievedJune 5,2023.
- ^Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation,2021 Commonwealth Corridor Feasibility Study,January 2022.
- ^"FY22 Corridor Identification and Development Program Selections"(PDF).railroads.dot.gov.Federal Railroad Administration.December 2023. p. 6.RetrievedDecember 9,2023.
- ^"VIRGINIA SPONSORED AMTRAK SERVICE MONTHLY REPORT"(PDF).Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation. September 2021.RetrievedMarch 27,2023.