Things seem to be a little slow on the forum, so I thought there might be some interest in this article from the Richmond Times Dispatch a few days ago.
The significant items to me, in addition to the Acca yard bypass, are the state DOT's ability to begin work soon - next spring, additional (presumably restoration) of platforms in Main St. station, and track improvements from Main st. south to CSX mainline connection at Centralia, Va which would permit through trains to the south to use this route and stop at Main St. station downtown.
It doesn't hurt that Gov. Kaine is in full support of the proposal and the state has a proven record of working with CSX and NS on various improvement projects.
*********** Va. seeks stimulus funds to make rail improvements in Richmond area
August 15, 2009 3:16 a.m.
Aug 15, 2009 (Richmond Times-Dispatch - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
CSX Corp. and the state could finalize plans to improve passenger train flow through Richmond in the next few weeks.
Virginia is applying for about $590 million in federal stimulus money to make an interrelated series of rail improvements in the Richmond area -- steps needed for the development of a high-speed rail corridor.
"We're ready with a lot of work," said Charles M. Badger, director of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation.
Assuming the Federal Railroad Administration agrees to the state's grant request, work on the ground could get under way by spring, Badger said.
A key part of the state's package is an estimated $90 million to $100 million worth of rail improvements to hasten the passage of Amtrak trains through CSX's Acca Yard in Henrico County.
The Acca switching yard, where the freight railroad sorts trains, is located just west of the Bryan Park highway interchange for Interstates 95 and 64.
"If we can get the trains going 45 miles an hour instead of 10 miles an hour through Acca between Staples Mill Station and Main Street Station, that alone will be a very significant improvement in travel time," Badger said.
Traversing the bottleneck now can easily delay a train 20 to 30 minutes, or more, he said. "A lot of the time, passenger trains have to stop and wait for freight movements or passenger trains. That's the big thing."
The $590 million in proposed work, termed the Richmond Terminal Project, would make rail improvements "to get trains out of each other's way," Badger said, from Acca Yard to Centralia to the south, and reaching to Varina to the east.
Proposed elements of the terminal project include bypass, turning and passing tracks, rail switches and new platforms at the city's Main Street Station.
Everything done in the Richmond Terminal Project will contribute to making the U.S. Southeast High-Speed Rail Corridor, with its extension to Hampton Roads, a reality in Virginia, said Kevin B. Page, rail transportation chief with the Department of Rail and Public Transportation.
The segments of the corridor, one of five designated by the U.S. Department of Transportation, run from Washington through Richmond and Raleigh, N.C., to Charlotte, N.C., and Atlanta, as well as through Columbia, S.C., and Savannah, Ga., to Jacksonville, Fla.
Faster passenger rail service would help handle travelers now crowding clogged highways -- like Interstate 95 -- and busy airports along the East Coast.
Amtrak, the national rail passenger corporation, operates 16 trains -- eight round-trips -- through Richmond daily.
While Amtrak runs the passenger trains, CSX owns the north-south tracks through Richmond and on to Washington.
"We are at cross purposes here -- freight versus passenger," said Jay Westbrook, CSX's assistant vice president for passenger and commuter operations.
But, he said, "we're looking with the state at how . . . to have passenger trains on one side of the major facility and freight on the other."
Plans call for building a pair of tracks on the east side of the yard's existing property, Westbrook said, so through trains can bypass the freight part of the yard.
"This will allow both of us to fulfill our goals without interfering with the other," Westbrook said.
Depending to the day and time, passenger trains can take from a shade less than two hours to nearly three hours to make the trip between Richmond and Washington, according to Amtrak schedules, and lengthy delays are common.
By relieving delays in the Richmond-Washington corridor, the state hopes to cut the rail-travel time eventually to 90 minutes.
"Congestion projects like Acca Yard," Badger said, "are a very important part of decreasing that congestion."
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
I wouldn't mind seeing Amtrak trains bound for the Carolinas and Florida use Main Street Station in Richmond. The line from Main Street south to it's connection with CSX, presumably, would need a good bit of work.
Posted by amtrak92 (Member # 14343) on :
I would like the florida service to use Main St. too.
Posted by Jerome Nicholson (Member # 3116) on :
The original idea was for a new high -speed bypass to use the old C&O tracks at Doswell, just North of Ashland, which run straight to Main Street Station. That would have bypassed not only the Acca Yards, but also Ashland and the Staples Mill Station. That idea didn't sit well with a number of people, so this is the amended plan.
Posted by rresor (Member # 128) on :
The state seriously considered using the former C&O Hanover Sub because of the cost of a bypass around Acca Yard, which will need to either be elevated or depressed. The problem, in short, is that Staples Mill Road station is on the west side of the RF&P ROW, while the connection trains will use to Main Street Station is on the east side, further south. So some sort of jumpover/duckunder will be needed, and that will cost $. However, the RF&P alignment is likely to be a lot faster than the Hanover Sub, and Amtrak will be able to continue serving both Ashland and Staples Mill Road.
The former Seaboard main south of Main Street Station will need to have its operating speed increased, but that is not nearly as difficult as a grade separation at Acca.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
If the project set forth at this topic is to move ahead, it appears that a flyover/under as suggested by Mr. Resor need be provided within VA's "$8B for HSR" allocation under ARRA '09.
Seems as if Ashland is an important enough stop to preclude use of the C&O Hanover Sub from Doswell. Oh well, time to hum or whistle "When my P-42 comes down the street, all the birdies go tweet tweet tweet".
Posted by sojourner (Member # 3134) on :
I'd like the trains to stop at Main St too--much more interesting station, more convenient, with cheaper cab rides downtown, and any free hotel shuttles (like the one at the Omni) would come here (they won't to other station; it's too far).
Posted by palmland (Member # 4344) on :
rresor, the Acca bypass will certainly be costly but I guess the Hanover Sub route was even more so because of the cost and environmental issues in making that curvy and hilly route suitable for high speed.
While a flyover would be nice, is it really necessary? If you have new high speed crossovers just south of Staples Mill (and just north of Acca) I think the idea is to have the passenger line diverge east of the existing route through Acca. and tie back into the former SAL line between Acca and the former Broad St. station and then on existing alignment to Main St. There are several highway overpasses that will be costly to deal with.
Anyone know the 'decision day' when the government decides who gets what from the $8B.
Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :
rresor -- If I recall, some of the NEC Newport News trains already stop at both Staples Mill and Main Street Stations, with the existing tracks, so apparently at some point, there is already a switch or a way to get to the Main Street trackage from the Staples Mill trackage. Or am I missing something in this thread?
Posted by George Harris (Member # 2077) on :
The route between Staples Mill and Main Street is both slow, due to low speed limits and several crossover and turnout moves and erratic due to crossing freight trains.
Posted by Jerome Nicholson (Member # 3116) on :
I don't know if this has come up, but the CSX trackage South of Main St. Station has a downside:
The Florida trains would be running through an industrialized and ghetto-ized section of Richmond, enhanced by a sewage treatment plant that already gives everyone driving to/from Richmond on I-95 (which parallels the track) something to remember the city by! Of course, this is outweighed by the convenience of MSS, but some Amtrak veterans will wish for the old route through the park!