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We got cards this morning from a group Virginians for High Speed rail It seems "Amtrak released a study recommending additional state sponsored passenger trains on the Newport News-Richmond-Washington and Lynchburg-Charlottesville-Washington rail corridors." Governor Kaine proposed $14-$15annually for passenger rail. the purpose for the cards is for everyone to contact their state delegate and tell them to vote for this.On the bottom is your delegate's name and phone # It will be interesting to see what happens next.
Posts: 1098 | From: virginia | Registered: Jun 2005
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I have read that that there is some discussion about starting a new service from Lynchburg to Washington through Charlottesville. Apparently Amtrak can use existing equipment that is idle at that time of day. It sounds like it is designed for the long distance commuter as it would be early AM into DC and late afternoon return.
Maybe this could eventually link up with some of the North Carolina new train initiatives.
Posts: 394 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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The illogic of this proposed Lynchburg - DC service is that it is very close to the time of the Crescent. I would think tacking a couple of coaches onto the Crescent at Lynchburg would be much cheaper. If they really want to run another train on this route, then make it a morning train out of DC, afternoon departure from Lynchburg.
Posts: 1474 | From: now in San Francisco | Registered: Nov 2002
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On the card we got it didn't mention any times at all and I have not seen anythng about this group or the proposed budget item in our local paper. It is usually up to date on state and local news. Many people do commute from Fredericksburg by VRE but I don't know how many would come up from Lynchburg or Charlottesville
Posts: 1098 | From: virginia | Registered: Jun 2005
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Here is where I saw it: Table 3, top of page 14 in a report by Amtrak titled "Advancing Passenger Rail in the Commonwealth of Virginia, Short Term Action plan, Part 1"
Can probably be found on Amtrak's web site but this is the one I just relocated it on.
Shows a New York to Lynchburg train leaving New York at noon, arriving Lynchburg at 8:25pm and leaving Lynchburg at 5:05am, arriving New York at 12:40 noon. Run time on the Washington DC to Lynchburg part, 3h35 min both ways.
Posts: 1474 | From: now in San Francisco | Registered: Nov 2002
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I agree, George, that the schedule seems too close to the Crescent. I believe the justification was that the Crescent was not reliable enough northbound to be used for local traffic into DC.
Maybe a change to the Crescent schedule would be in order. The old SRR Peach Queen had a more civilized schedule for the Carolinas into DC/NYC and one I would selfishly like to see: Lv. Greenville, SC at 5:45pm and then decent times through Spartanburg, Charlotte, and Greensboro with DC arrival at 6:40am and NYC at 10:55am. Of course that would mess up the schedule south of Birmingham and probably require a separate train from Birmingham to NOL.
Posts: 394 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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