Forward Virginia

From Richmond by rail

For all that people may complain of traffic, there's at least one way of getting around that means bypassing it altogether: rail. While most people negotiated traffic this Thanksgiving weekend, I took a train from Richmond's Main Street Station to visit the folks up in Northern Virginia. The ride was pretty smooth, and I arrived at my destination in about the same time it would have taken to drive the same distance – assuming perfect traffic conditions, that is.

From Richmond's Main Street Station to its suburban station at Staples Mill Road, it takes about 15 minutes to negotiate the stretch of railyard track that hasn't yet been completely upgraded for passenger service. After that, it's a smooth 2-hour journey the rest of the way to Alexandria's Union Station, where a quick transfer to the King Street Metro rail station next door puts me on my way home.

The rail service along Amtrak's Northeast corridor from Washington to Newport News is possibly one of Virginia's best kept secrets. While several trains make the trip each day, only two or three make the stop in Richmond's downtown station – both of which were sold out on the day before Thanksgiving, I might add. Richmond is fortunate to be on the same Northeast corridor that connects Washington with New York and Boston, but unfortunately the service in its downtown core hasn't yet reached parallel with its Northern counterparts.

With enough political will, public funding could upgrade the rail corridor between Richmond, D.C., or even Newport News to provide Acela Express-type high-speed electric service to all points in Virginia. Electric service would also eliminate the current 30-minute delay that exists for travelers going north of Washington who have to wait for the train to switch engines from diesel to electric, as well as insulate travelers from price increases in the volatile – and shrinking – worldwide oil market. More daily trips, meanwhile, would allow commuters to use the train as an alternative to commuting along clogged Interstates, and specially timed weekend service could allow for day trips between the three cities.

For all the talk of relieving traffic by widening roads, maybe it's time we support a viable alternative to the driving that is causing the traffic in the first place.

posted by Omar @ 9:15 PM