Virginia

mahatmakanejeeves

(61,659 posts) Mon Sep 27, 2021, 08:04 AM Sep 2021

New Amtrak train from Richmond to D.C. marks first step in statewide rail expansion

Hat tip, WTOP

News

New Amtrak train from Richmond to D.C. marks first step in statewide rail expansion

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Gov. Ralph Northam announced the expansion of rail service from Richmond to the Northeast Corridor early Monday morning.

Alongside Virginia Transportation Secretary Shannon Valentine, Gov. Northam boarded an inaugural train to Washington D.C., which departed from Main Street Station located in Richmond’s Shockoe Bottom district at 5:35 a.m.

@GovernorVA
is at Main Street Station in Richmond this morning to announce the launch of expanded rail service to the Northeast Corridor. In about 30 min, an inaugural train will leave here for Washington DC and it will arrive before the workday begins.

Link to tweet

This marks the first milestone in a $3.7 billion expansion of service under Northam’s “Transforming Rail in Virginia Program.” The project will connect the Northeast and Southeast corridors in America’s national rail network.

{snip}

9 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

New Amtrak train from Richmond to D.C. marks first step in statewide rail expansion (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Sep 2021 OP

Cool! I Live In NOVA And This Will Be A Big Deal! COL Mustard Sep 2021 #1

I hope this is a start of a trend and not one exception in one state. I'd much rather take the train marble falls Sep 2021 #2

What we need is a train that goes west underpants Sep 2021 #4

Even in the old days passenger service on the James River line was sparse. mahatmakanejeeves Sep 2021 #6

Main Street station is looking good. underpants Sep 2021 #3

Me too. A nice guy. He died a few years back, still quite young. NT mahatmakanejeeves Sep 2021 #5

You STILL can't get anywhere Jilly_in_VA Sep 2021 #7

Megabus mahatmakanejeeves Sep 2021 #8

Big whoop Jilly_in_VA Sep 2021 #9

COL Mustard

(6,993 posts)

1. Cool! I Live In NOVA And This Will Be A Big Deal!

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Mon Sep 27, 2021, 08:12 AM

Sep 2021

We're planning to go to Richmond soon so I'll have to look at this vs. driving.

marble falls

(62,527 posts)

2. I hope this is a start of a trend and not one exception in one state. I'd much rather take the train

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Mon Sep 27, 2021, 08:25 AM

Sep 2021

underpants

(187,391 posts)

4. What we need is a train that goes west

Reply to marble falls (Reply #2)

Mon Sep 27, 2021, 08:44 AM

Sep 2021

Richmond trains only leave North South and even East to Williamsburg. To go west you have to drive to Charlottesville or take a train up to DC and then another back to C’ville.

mahatmakanejeeves

(61,659 posts)

6. Even in the old days passenger service on the James River line was sparse.

Reply to underpants (Reply #4)

Mon Sep 27, 2021, 08:55 AM

Sep 2021

It was handled with what was called a "doodlebug," a one-car self-powered passenger car/train.

underpants

(187,391 posts)

3. Main Street station is looking good.

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Mon Sep 27, 2021, 08:42 AM

Sep 2021

I knew someone who commuted from Richmond to downtown DC in a van. 10 people, each one took a turn driving every two weeks. This could be a great alternative- AMTRAK to the Metro to work.

mahatmakanejeeves

(61,659 posts)

5. Me too. A nice guy. He died a few years back, still quite young. NT

Reply to underpants (Reply #3)

Mon Sep 27, 2021, 08:52 AM

Sep 2021

Jilly_in_VA

(11,116 posts)

7. You STILL can't get anywhere

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Mon Sep 27, 2021, 10:24 AM

Sep 2021

from Harrisonburg, a town of 52,000+ with a university of 20,000 students. Not by rail, not by bus, not by air. You have to DRIVE. The airport is in Weyers Cave, about 15 miles down the road. There is no bus station. There is no train. For either of those you have to go somewhere else. WHY?

Oh, but I-81 runs right through town.......

mahatmakanejeeves

(61,659 posts)

8. Megabus

Reply to Jilly_in_VA (Reply #7)

Mon Sep 27, 2021, 10:58 AM

Sep 2021

https://us.megabus.com/route-guides/harrisonburg-to-washington-bus

Jilly_in_VA

(11,116 posts)

9. Big whoop

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Reply #8)

Mon Sep 27, 2021, 11:20 AM

Sep 2021

1 trip per day. Must also be comparatively recent as I looked for something last year and the year before. And there's still no way to get anywhere but DC. Talk about landlocked......

Reply to this discussion