On Oct. 1, 2009, Amtrak launched its first Northeast Regional Train to Lynchburg and first area intercity rail service in 30 years. In two months, the train (with direct service to DC, NYC, and Boston) was self-sufficient. Now the state is studying a bus link to Roanoke, with an option of continuing to Virginia Tech via the Smart Way bus. The link could potentially start as early as July 2011.
If Tech and Radford University supplied the state with projected ridership data, the bus might originate in Radford, Christiansburg or Blacksburg instead of Roanoke, thus making an even smoother northeast link for the area’s underserved 300,000 residents and 40,000 students. A train could replace the bus in a few years.
The bus and rail connections would provide students, faculty, staff and the greater community with a daily link to home and friends, and safer, less stressful and often cheaper (17 cents per mile) transportation in a faster trip. The rail would offer day trips to Lynchburg, Charlottesville and Manassas and easy weekend trips to Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York.
The greater connectivity will improve Tech’s ability to recruit and retain students and decrease its carbon footprint. In tough economic times, many students who currently have cars on campus would rely on them less.
On Wednesday, Oct. 27, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., a meeting titled “The Future of Rail in Western Virginia” will be held at the Link Museum in Roanoke. At this meeting, state rail officials will inform attendees of the latest developments in restoring rail to the Roanoke and New River Valleys and will also answer questions. Students can use the Smart Way Bus to attend the event (but leave early to catch the last return bus at 6:50 p.m.) or follow press accounts in the Roanoke or Collegiate Times.
Daniel Peacock, Member Virginia Association of Railway Patrons Manassas, Virginia
A version of this article appeared in the Oct 22 issue of the Collegiate Times.
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Blacksburg/Tech and Roanoke could also use a metro rail as well. That would be awesome.
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I would not be opposed to having a train come through the area, but I doubt that it will. Roanoke is close enough to not really warrant bringing a line 30-60 miles further south. Especially considering how ridership would plummet during the summer. I doubt the usage during the year would supply a large enough surplus to make it through the lean months.
I am curious how it is really cheaper. A round trip to Northern Virginia costs less than $50 ($3 a gallon 30 mpg). Or if you have worse gas mileage it is still less than $80 (20 mpg). You can even split this among multiple riders if you so choose, which you cant do with a train ticket.
Is it faster? Probably by a bit, but from experience trains don't travel that much faster than cars and also have stops and time checks.
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I recently rode the train from Lynchburg to DC (weekend of 10/9, return on 10/11). Cost per person tax and all was $58, so by your estimate it was slightly more expensive than driving there once you figure in the cost of gas between Blacksburg and Lynchburg. However, by using the rail I reduced the carbon footprint I would have otherwise created by driving to DC, not to mention the daily storage fee the hotel wanted ($25/day), and saved myself the peace of mind that would otherwise have suffered having to drive around Metro DC. I got to see the countryside and relax, as well.
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That $58 fare was round trip coach, by the way.
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I would take the train up to DC over driving almost any day because of the fast changing weather on 81 and the amount of accidents and traffic
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