Passenger Trains > Virginia Gov candidates and passenger rail ?

Virginia has done a lot in the past 15 years under both political parties to expand its passenger rail network. Expansion of VRE farther south into Spotsylvania and west to Broad Run. Expanded Amtrak service to Lynchburg, and soon to Roanoke. So, what's next?

Both major candidates for Governor are vague or quiet on rail. One said that VA should cut back on heavy rail, and widen US-1 / I-95 / US-29. That was in the primaries, and he's been quiet about rail since then.

The other has nothing at all on his website, but has noted that the general decline in fuel prices means tax revenue has gone down. Less money to spend on rail, highways, etc and NOBODY is mentioning a gasoline tax increase.

CSX and Virginia continue to improve the RF&P line, the third track is in or underway in much of the suburban district. Planning for the high speed line continues, the Silver Line to Dulles chugs along along. All worthy, but will they continue?

The positions gubernatorial candidates often take on a variety of issues in many instances end up in the same place that party platforms end up in national elections: They sound good to voters, but once in office, the elected officials often can't recall a single detail about a position taken during an election.

The Commonwealth of Virginia has broad, bi-partisan support for passenger rail. At the end of Republican Bob McDonnell's term as governor about five years ago, the Republican controlled House of Delegates and Republican controlled Senate all agreed on a PERMANENT transportation funding formula and package to move the overall transportation issue away from the vagaries of year-to-year funding. It has worked well since then, through the sometimes-controversial term of current Democratic Governor Terry McAuliffe, and will continue to work well whether there is a new governor named Gillespie or Northam. Gillespie is the Republican, Northam the Democrat. Will there be budget fights? When are there not budget fights?

Look at where the commonwealth is now:

- Six daily trains subsidized by Virginia.
- Route endpoints in Newport News/Hampton Roads, downtown Norfolk, Richmond, and Lynchburg - with the Lynchburg route being extended to Roanoke in October.
- As noted, a lot of triple-tracking is being done on the former RF&P between Richmond and Washington, with much of it taking place on the north end.
- Virginia Railway Express is alive and healthy, always with some sort of expansion plan on the drawing board.
- The Carolinian serves Virginia, courtesy of expense being paid for by North Carolina.
- The Silver Meteor, Silver Star, Palmetto, Cardinal, and Crescent all serve Virginia. Auto Train's northern terminal is in Virginia.
- Together, Virginia and North Carolina have powerhouse state rail programs with a combined effect that brings mobility choices to millions of people.
- Virginia has become the southern terminus of the Northeast Corridor, but with Virginia paying for all of its train services versus the traditional NEC spine states which have a free ride from Amtrak along the traditional NEC spine. Any NEC train which ventures south of Washington Union Station automatically starts the meter ticking for costs.

While each new administration in Virginia may make some budget changes to the overall program, they are locked into formulas and law which have certain mandates.

It is refreshingly interesting to note the Commonwealth of Virginia has a term limit for denizens of the Governor's Mansion in Richmond (next to the exquisite capital building designed by Thomas Jefferson who also oversaw its construction). Governors are limited to a single, four year term. They may run for governor again, but must sit out at least one full term before running again. The major downside of this is all of the important bureaucratic management posts in Virginia government turn over at least every four years. The major upside of this is all of the important bureaucratic management posts in Virginia government turn over at least every four years, which makes it difficult for the highest level bureaucrats to create impenetrable empires which take on lives of their own.

As long as traffic jams keep extending south of Fredricksburg towards Richmond both morning and
evening, demand for rail will increase. I 95 clots easily and frequently. I have used Amtrak from
Norfolk and Newport News, via Amtrak bus connection, and driven to Richmond to get to DC earlier.

DC is a Major League sports center and entertainment hub, late night service to at least Richmond should
be a plus. The last train south to Richmond and Norfolk leaves before 4pm

The last train south to Richmond is the Silver Meteor, leaving Washington Union Station around 7:30 p.m., still a bit early for evening events. Virginia will eventually overcome some of these problems and have a broader range of frequencies.