Passenger Trains > New Amtrak train to Roanoke

Leaving, Roanoke, which lines will this train take to get to Washington D.C.?

Will this train run separate, or will it be combined with the Lynchburg train?

Thanks in advance

Its' an extension of the current Lynchburg train and runs on the former Norfolk and Western from LYH to ROA

What route will it take to Roanoke--Virginian or N&W?

Former N&W.

Paul Wilson
Arlington, VA

Will it be stopping at Bedford or other towns before Lynchburg?

No intermediate stops between Roanoke and Lynchburg. Bedford is lobbying hard for a stop, but VDRPT (Dept. of Rail and Public Transportation) is unreceptive, after it concluded a study of the idea.

Paul Wilson
Arlington, VA

Those riding the route (or interested in it) should read:

"Lost at Thaxton: The Dramatic True Story of Virginia's Forgotten Train Wreck"

https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Thaxton-Dramatic-Virginias-Forgotten-ebook/dp/B00FTSPLG6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1500503939&sr=8-1&keywords=bedford+train+wreck

[I have no financial stake in this book, but I so found the depth of the story to be so compelling in its re-telling that I hope others will also read it as a well written railroding tale involving a passemger traimn]

Is this the Amtrak Mounaineer and Hilltopper's old route ?

Wonder if they will give this train an individual name.

joemvcnj Wrote:
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> Is this the Amtrak Mounaineer and Hilltopper's old
> route ?
>
> Wonder if they will give this train an individual
> name.

Yes, between Roanoke and the former N&W Woodall Street station in Lynchburg. The NE regional extension train to Roanoke uses the connection between the former N&W and the former Southern in Lynchburg, which is the way the joint Southern - N&W trains went until Amtrak.

yooperfan Wrote:
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> The Mountaineer ran Roke to Lynch and then on to
> Petersburg and Norfolk. The Hilltopper ran to DC
> via a SCL connectiony at Petersburg. The new train
> runs on the old Southern from Lynch to DC, a more
> direct route but missing Richmond. Both the
> Mountaineer and Hilltopper also operated west of
> Roke and Bluefield to connect to the Cardinal.

Amtrak also ran the James Whitcomb Riley into WV.

Back when legislators had trains of their own. That they looked after...

Posted from Android

Is there any research being done that would propose a continuation of this new service from Roanoke southward through eastern Tennessee? It would appear that a natural expansion would include service to/from Atlanta with many potentially good intermediate stops. Anyone have intel on that possibility?

Looking  forward  to this  transportation improvement. Stop in Bedford planned??

NYC4096 Wrote:
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> Is there any research being done that would
> propose a continuation of this new service from
> Roanoke southward through eastern Tennessee? It
> would appear that a natural expansion would
> include service to/from Atlanta with many
> potentially good intermediate stops. Anyone have
> intel on that possibility?

The original planning documents from the 1990s included an extension to Bristol. (According to the rumor mill, they couldn't even get Tennessee officials to attend a meeting.) State Sen. Wampler, who represented Bristol, was a big backer of the project in its early years. It would require "adult" money to upgrade the NS line beyond Walton. The study also contemplated Lynchburg-Richmond service via the Norfolk Southern. That ended up in the "too hard' pile as well.

Paul Wilson
Arlington, VA



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/20/17 05:53 by Dcmcrider.

> The Hilltopper ran to DC via a SCL connection at Petersburg.

After the Hilltopper was discontinued, CSX removed the bridge over the Appomattox River and pulled up the old main line from the bridge northward to Dunlop. The new CSX-NS connection in south Petersburg for Amtrak service into Norfolk is pointed in the wrong direction for trains to western Virginia.

Dcmcrider Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> No intermediate stops between Roanoke and Lynchburg. Bedford is lobbying hard for a stop,
> but VDRPT (Dept. of Rail and Public Transportation) is unreceptive, after it concluded a study of the idea.

Once again, Virginia DRPT deals in analyzed facts rather than Chamber of Commerce hopes. The right decision, IMO, but tough for little Bedford.
Former DRPT head Thelma Drake ran a focused, results based state operation... and the results are gratifying.

hazegray Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Dcmcrider Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > No intermediate stops between Roanoke and
> Lynchburg. Bedford is lobbying hard for a stop,
> > but VDRPT (Dept. of Rail and Public
> Transportation) is unreceptive, after it concluded
> a study of the idea.
>
> Once again, Virginia DRPT deals in analyzed facts
> rather than Chamber of Commerce hopes. The right
> decision, IMO, but tough for little Bedford.
> Former DRPT head Thelma Drake ran a focused,
> results based state operation... and the results
> are gratifying.

A broader point, passenger rail service is not viewed as a political football or partisan issue, at least at the state level. VDRPT has shepherded these projects through multiple governorships and changes of majority control in the General Assembly. It doesn't hurt that the benefits are widely distributed around the state.

Paul Wilson
Arlington, VA



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/20/17 11:20 by Dcmcrider.