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

[mahatmakanejeeves]

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.

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[COL Mustard]

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

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

[marble falls]

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

[underpants]

4. What we need is a train that goes west

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]

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

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

[underpants]

3. Main Street station is looking good.

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]

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

[Jilly_in_VA]

7. You STILL can't get anywhere

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]

8. Megabus

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

[Jilly_in_VA]

9. Big whoop

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......