Ridership increases on Virginia Amtrak routes

Ridership on most state-supported Amtrak routes in Virginia has increased during the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation's Fiscal Year, which ended Sept. 30, the agency announced this week.

DRPT supports the operation of six Amtrak trains in Virginia that connect the Roanoke Valley, Central Virginia and Hampton Roads to Washington, D.C. and to cities along Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor.

The Richmond route, which features two daily state-supported round trips to Washington, D.C. and travels through Henrico's Staples Mill station, remained relatively steady, serving nearly 175,000 riders.

DRPT’s Norfolk route, which includes one daily round trip to Washington, D.C., served just more than 155,000 riders, up six percent from the previous fiscal year.

The Lynchburg route (now the Roanoke route after its extension to that city Oct. 31) also runs a daily round trip to Washington, D.C. It served nearly 190,000 riders in FY 2017, an increase of 2.7 percent.

The Newport News Route, which has two daily round trips to Washington, D.C., served 331,308 riders, increasing by 0.5 percent.

“Rail ridership increases across Virginia demonstrate that DRPT is meeting a transportation need that benefits citizens of the Commonwealth,” said DRPT Director Jennifer Mitchell. "Taking the train gets cars off crowded interstates, connects Virginians to business and leisure activities, and provides a dependable transportation alternative that improves mobility."

DRPT-supported Amtrak trains provide single-seat rides from Virginia stations as far away as Boston. Riding the train also reduces about 271 million miles of personal driving in Virginia every year, which prevents about 3,000 accidents and saves lives, according to DRPT officials.

During the holidays and ongoing construction of an enhanced, higher capacity parking lot at the Staples Mill Station, DRPT officials urge all passengers using the station to be dropped off, use a taxi or ride-providing service or allow ample time to park. Alternate parking is available at the Henrico County Park and Ride, located just five blocks from the station at the intersection of Cloverdale Avenue and Crockett Street.