Collegiate Times

On Jan. 18, Roanoke City made the electrifying announcement that it would seek a state grant in February for a bus from the high-performing Amtrak Lynchburg — DC — Boston Train to Roanoke (daily) and Blacksburg (weekends), a grant Virginia Tech also endorses.

If approved, the core benefit will be access to the wider world, and the chief beneficiaries locally — Tech students — essentially being able to say, “Adios, Interstate 81.”

Starting in July, tired students could be streaming out of Blacksburg for a less expensive, more relaxed and safer ride home on morning buses, and nostalgic alumni could be streaming into the area on evening buses. Students could now take day trips to Charlottesville to visit friends, historic sites and libraries or take in sporting events.

They could visit Manassas battlefields, a top tourist destination because of the 150th anniversary of the first battle of Manassas. 

Friends, family and prospective students could have less hectic and more enjoyable weekend visits on campus. Students could take return buses to Lynchburg and hop the Amtrak Crescent to Charlotte, Atlanta and New Orleans.

Students could take trips to New York and Boston, or over the long winter break, conveniently transfer to three Washington, D.C., airports for cheaper fares. A student could have breakfast in Blacksburg one day and breakfast in Brussels the next. Conversely, a friend could wake up in London and go to sleep in Blacksburg.

The Lynchburg Train Bus would benefit students today and build support for a train tomorrow.

Daniel Peacock

Virginia Association of Railway Patrons, Manassas, Va.

A version of this article appeared in the Jan 25 issue of the Collegiate Times.