Draft Richmond to D.C. rail study out, but controversy remains on route near Ashland, Virginia

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Draft Richmond to D.C. rail study out, but controversy remains on whether to send route through or around Ashland

By ROBERT ZULLO and MICHAEL O’CONNOR Richmond Times-Dispatch 12 hrs ago

A long-awaited draft environmental statement for a plan to reduce congestion and speed up rail service between Richmond and Washington leaves unresolved the thorniest question along the 123-mile route: how to cross Ashland and Hanover County, where opposition has been fierce.

Despite being “born of the railroad” as a mineral springs resort — a fact the town proudly notes on its website — and hosting the yearly Ashland Train Day event in a downtown bisected by rail lines, many Ashland residents and leaders are dead-set against proposals to run an additional track through the town. And Hanover County leaders are equally obstinate about building a bypass around the town.

The draft environmental impact statement released last week by the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation and the Federal Railroad Administration contains recommendations for additional tracks and other upgrades in parts of Northern Virginia, Fredericksburg, Caroline County and Richmond.

The plan for the project, which could cost more than $5 billion, lacks any dedicated federal funding and remains at least a decade away from construction, also recommends keeping the Richmond area’s existing two-station configuration. It also suggests a new building at the Staples Mills Station and a new bridge across the James River to improve service from Main Street Station.
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The railroad goes right through the middle of Ashland.

The first couple dozen cars on the Q409 (the second southbound freight) are USWX (U.S. Waste) flatcars carrying containers of trash. When I got off my Metrorail Yellow Line train last night at the Braddock Road Metro stop, I saw that the northbound signal at Slaters Lane was clear for track 3. I decided to hang around to see what would show up. It was a CSX freight, and it had some USWX flatcars with trash containers in the mix.

This video shows why you always wait for the crossing arms to go up after the train passes: there could be another one right behind it.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. Read the draft EIS at the D.C. to Richmond Southeast High Speed Rail website

D.C. to Richmond Southeast High Speed Rail Draft EIS

Ashland: