Future Amtrak service to Roanoke (Lynchburg, Charlottesville: live in, bus, train station)

[RoanokeWahoo]

Originally Posted by roanoker 4

The Governor & state "leaders" were in Roanoke last year at the Roanoke train
station(all remodeled and ready for passenger rail)touting future rail service in Roanoke. There is an active group of people who are pushing for it. I think until gas climbs to $10/gallon people remain apathetic for change. Many younger people can't understand a world where gas may be in short supply and highways
deteriorating(I-81) and no money to fix them(especially in SW VA, that is).
I saw the potential for increased tourism for Roanoke last fall when Amtrak brought over a thousand NC tourists here on passenger cars on a rail excursion to the Blue Ridge. Roanoke and the surrounding region have a lot of untapped potential for tourism. Of course, the lack of passenger rail here is indicative to many cities larger than Roanoke which have no rail but I don't think they have the history of being a once thriving rail hub on the east coast. I think that fact makes it more bewildering to me.

Where is this 'remodeled' train station? I really don't know, that's why I am asking.

[j1n]

Originally Posted by Joke Insurance

So I guess the naysayers who posted on here never heard about with the immense success of the Lynchburg-DC Amtrak connection, they have plans to extend it to Roanoke?

I don't think there are any naysayers here. Everyone seems to think it's a good idea... I think it's that no one's holding their breath for a passenger stop in Roanoke.

[roanoker 4]

The O. Winston Link Museum downtown was once the Roanoke N&W train station, later the Amtrak station until the mid '70s. Downstairs there is a waiting area and a platform that was re:built for when future rail travel came back to Roanoke. When the excursion trains come through here in the Fall, the
passengers use that entrance today. If you visit the Museum upstairs you can see many of the original features of the original art deco station from the 1950's. It was neat they built the train station downtown unlike the Kemper Street station in Lynchburg. The Hotel Roanoke, parking garages & downtown will be available for future rail travelers.

[crazynip]

The old N&W train station is still there, but NS tore down the old passenger concourses back in the 1990's. There really is nothing left there except a platform with no cover, no parking for passengers, no facilities/ticket counter/baggage room, etc. Even the waiting room is no longer that.

[Joke Insurance]

So I guess nobody has heard about the extension proposal from Lynchburg to Roanoke then?

[roanoker 4]

There was a blip in the local media about the "Smart Way Connector" bus which will leave daily from the Roanoke Civic Center to Bedford and to the Amtrak Station in Lynchburg beginning July 19. It will cost $4 one way and parking is free at the civic center. On Fri/Sat/Sun the bus will pick up in Blacksburg for this trip. The bus will wait for the train if it is late. That is all I heard from WDBJ/7. The Smart Way Commuter Bus - Linking the Roanoke Valley and the New River ValleyStill no details about the Lynchburg service on their site.
Its not a train so I guess none cares about the bus!

[roanoker 4]

If you ever need detailed information about the train proposals or anything about local transportation plans contact Bev Fitzpatrick who is the executive
director of the Va Museum of Transportation in Roanoke. He was on Roanoke City Council and he knows about the political side of the train issue.

[scott1094]

This may be the article you are referring to about extending rail service to Roanoke:

Passenger train may extend to Roanoke - Roanoke.com

This was published over two years ago, so I'm not sure if this is still a possibility (the article mentions it could be extended as early as 2015 if there is enough funding), or if something has changed and it's just a dream now.

[roanoker 4]

I guess its a big secret!

[roanoker 4]

New regional Amtrak bus service to start July 19 - Roanoke.com

It had to happen sometime!