State-supported rail lines in Virginia set a new ridership record in July.
“Passenger counts on Virginia’s state-supported train services hit an all-time high in July, with more than 110,000 travelers,” according to an article published by the Sun Gazette. “That’s an increase of nearly 29 percent from June and a jump of nearly 20 percent from pre-pandemic levels, according to the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VRPA).”
The spike in ridership can be traced to an increased number of round trips between Washington, D.C., Roanoke, and Norfolk, as well as the resumption of a trip between D.C. and Newport News.
More details on the increased ridership on each of those routes is included in the source article.
The latest ridership figures provide more evidence to support the benefits of the state’s ongoing investments in intercity rail. Here is a timeline of Planetizen coverage of the state’s efforts to improve rail service around the state:
- Virginia Railway Express Wants to Upgrade its Transit Status (July 2016)
- Virginia to Pay $3.7 Billion for 225 Miles of Rail Track (December 2019)
- A Regional Vision for Virginia, Maryland, D.C. Rail (February 2021)
- How Virginia Became a Leader in Passenger Rail (June 2021)
Information on the Transforming Rail VA initiative is also available at the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority’s website.
FULL STORY: Data: Va.’s subsidized train routes finding success
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City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research