Charlottesville newspaper comes out for another train. US-29 congestion is noted as one main reason.
http://www.dailyprogress.com/opinion/editorials/more-trains-problem-is-good-to-have/article_1b50f3dc-e1f7-11e3-b7de-0017a43b2370.html
Virginia Express could extend it district to include Manassas and Orange and Charlottesville. That would the most cosst-effecive solution and keep things under state control. Ellis could provide the coaches. Capacity at Union Station will have to be consideered, which would preclude arrival and departure during rush hours. Possibly depart Charlottesville 8AM Ar WDC 10:30. Lv WDC 7:30PM, Ar. Charlottesville 10PM.
Otherwise, they will be getting a second Amtrrak train when Roanoke service starts.
The US29 problem at Charlottesville is totally a Charlottesville problem. With approximately 5 lanes in either direction, traffic lights about 1/2 mile apart timed to stop most traffic one light to the next they have created their own day & nightmare.
VRE currently operates to Manassas and the VRE capacity in DC is currently maxed out. I have no idea of what kinds of improvements NS and CSX would have to implement to facilitate additional service to Charlottesville, the $5M mentioned in the article would only be a very small drop in a rather large bucket towards this service increase.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
I wrote VRE is maxed out, but that is a rush-hour problem. The schedule I suggested could be run by VRE since it is outside rush hours, and only requires the extra equipment. The Charlottesville - Alexandria line is not saturated with freight traffic, most NS traffic goes via Hagerstown and CSX via Richmond. I don't know whether the Cardinal (od C&O) or Crescent (old Southern) route between Orange and Charlottesville is better. But both handle passenger trains now, so no huge invfestment should be necessary.
VRE is maxed out - NON-Rush hour - The holding capacity at WUT for VRE equipment between morning and evening rush hours is the present problem. Fredericksburg equipment makes one round trip daily, overnighting at Fredericksburg. Manassas equipment overnights at Manassas, certain sets make more than a single round trip. All operational VRE equipment stays at Washington Union Terminal during the period between rush hours.
I noticed there are a lot more college travelers on that line now.
Well, OK, Virginia Express ought to solve its long-term problem and have an Ivy City coach yard.
The suggestion to extend VRE to Charlottesville is an obvious one that has been repeatedly voiced by locals over the years. Unfortunately, VRE is a creature of two distinct planning districts, neither of which includes Charlottesville, which is in PD #10. Thus VRE has no legal capacity to provide the extension that many might wish. And there would then be the issue of where to store the commuter coaches overnight, away from the frequent freights.
Many logical new passenger services are stymied by the potential host freight railroads. In many cases, their tracks are near capacity. This is why we will have a hard time developing new services with convenient schedules and sufficient speed to get folks off the highways.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
2 problems at seen at first blush
1. There are rail capacity issues on NS from Charlottesville - Manassas and if extended to Lynchburg &. Danville. Would need more double track.
2. Bigger problem is the capacity issues on CSX from Alexandra - Virginia avenue tunnel. More tracks can be added except the Long bridge double tracks. Long bridge is an ongoing problem that will take 10 - 15 years to resolve. Only short term solution possible might be installation of high capacity signaling over the bridge ? Amtrak did same thru North river tunnels.. Might take 1 - 2 years to install this signaling if possible ?.
daveklepper I wrote VRE is maxed out, but that is a rush-hour problem. The schedule I suggested could be run by VRE since it is outside rush hours, and only requires the extra equipment. The Charlottesville - Alexandria line is not saturated with freight traffic, most NS traffic goes via Hagerstown and CSX via Richmond. I don't know whether the Cardinal (od C&O) or Crescent (old Southern) route between Orange and Charlottesville is better. But both handle passenger trains now, so no huge invfestment should be necessary.
I'm pretty sure the Cardinal runs on NS route to Charlottesville these days...
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
No, it runs via Gordensville, ex-C&O, Buckingham Branch, because the interchange track at the Charlottesville Union Station is not located properly for the train to run on NS. Unless a new one has been installed, which would have required some earth to be moved, and I do not recall anything like this being reported.
daveklepper No, it runs via Gordensville, ex-C&O, Brabdywine Brabch, because the interchange track at the Charlottesville Union Station is not located properly for the train to run on NS. Unless a new one has been installed, which would have required some earth to be moved, and I do not recall anything like this being reported.
No, it runs via Gordensville, ex-C&O, Brabdywine Brabch, because the interchange track at the Charlottesville Union Station is not located properly for the train to run on NS. Unless a new one has been installed, which would have required some earth to be moved, and I do not recall anything like this being reported.
Buckingham Branch
Right-on, and herewith corrected.
daveklepper No, it runs via Gordensville, ex-C&O, Buckingham Brabch, because the interchange track at the Charlottesville Union Station is not located properly for the train to run on NS. Unless a new one has been installed, which would have required some earth to be moved, and I do not recall anything like this being reported.
No, it runs via Gordensville, ex-C&O, Buckingham Brabch, because the interchange track at the Charlottesville Union Station is not located properly for the train to run on NS. Unless a new one has been installed, which would have required some earth to be moved, and I do not recall anything like this being reported.
Thanks. Looks like it runs about 30 miles from Charlottesville up to Orange on the Buckingham Branch, then gets on NS for 80 miles or so up to Alexandria. I had wrongly remembered the C&O line going farther north....
oltmannd daveklepper No, it runs via Gordensville, ex-C&O, Buckingham Brabch, because the interchange track at the Charlottesville Union Station is not located properly for the train to run on NS. Unless a new one has been installed, which would have required some earth to be moved, and I do not recall anything like this being reported. Thanks. Looks like it runs about 30 miles from Charlottesville up to Orange on the Buckingham Branch, then gets on NS for 80 miles or so up to Alexandria. I had wrongly remembered the C&O line going farther north....
Incidentally, the Orange-Gordonsville branch was apparently built by the Orange and Alexandria when it was decided to extend the service to Charlottesville. After the track was built directly to Charlottesville, the branch was sold to the C&O. The mileposts on it are C&O style.
I'm sure you are aware that there is talk of extending Amtrak service to Roanoke--which will add a little to the traffic density between Washington and Lynchburg (the train may follow the route of the Southern-N&W-Southern trains through Lynchburg, which would be simpler than going through Lynchburg on the main and then connecting with the line to Roanoke south of the station in Lynchburg).
Johnny
There is more than "talk" about extending a VA Regional to Roanoke. It is fully funded and the agreement with NS and Amtrak was signed back in January. Service to Roanoke is expected to begin in 2017. VA has budgeted $95.7 million from FY2015 to FY2017 for the extension so it is not a small project.
The news this week was that the legislature and the Governor agreed to fund a second Regional service to Lynchburg, to start by the end of 2017. It was announced in a press release by Gov. McAuliffe on transportation projects and was covered in the Charlottesville press. VA DRPT already is paying for 70% of 2 track improvement projects on the NS route from Alexandria to Lynchburg, a $9.1 million "Lynchburg to Alexandria Speed Improvements" project and a $31.6 million "Nokesville to Calverton Double Tracks" project. The cost of adding a second Regional service to Lynchburg has not been clearly stated, probably because VA DRPT still has to hammer out the final agreements with Amtrak and NS.
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