State anticipates 51,000 riders for Amtrak's Lynchburg expansion

By: Media General News Service | New Era Progress
Published: March 20, 2009

RICHMOND — If all goes as planned, two new Amtrak trains will start service in Lynchburg on Oct. 1, and in Richmond on Dec. 15.

The state rail agency anticipates that 51,000 travelers a year will use the Lynchburg service and 42,000 passengers a year will take advantage of the new Richmond train, which will originate at the Staples Mill Station.

While firm schedules and fares have yet to be worked out, the Lynchburg train will leave the Kemper Street Station about 7:45 a.m. and reach Union Station 11:20-11:30 a.m., the department said, and depart Washington about 5 p.m. and return to Lynchburg at about 8:30 p.m.

The Richmond train will tentatively pull out of Staples Mill about 7 a.m. daily and arrive at Washington’s Union Station about 9:30 a.m., then leave Union Station about 4 p.m. and arrive back at Staples Mill at 6-6:30 p.m., according to the Rail and Public Transportation Department. It would be the ninth daily round-trip between Richmond and Washington.

Each train will consist of up to eight passenger coaches, a business-class coach and a café car, said Kevin B. Page of the state Department of Rail and Public Transportation.

The Commonwealth Transportation Board in February approved a $25.2 million, three-year pilot project to run two new passenger trains daily to Washington.

With the agreement, “Virginia makes history,” Page said, because the state has not subsidized intercity passenger service before.

Amtrak’s board of directors is expected to act on the proposal at its April 22-23 meeting.