It's a whistle stop tour
By Anita L. Sherman
Amtrak launched its new Lynchburg to Washington, D.C. service yesterday with an inaugural whistle stop event that included Culpeper. Starting at Union Station in Washington, D.C. the train had four several scheduled stops before arriving in Culpeper close to 1 p.m. to a band playing from Eastern View High School.
Mayor Mayor Pranas Rimeikis was on hand to celebrate the new service which will expand offerings at Culpeper's Amtrak station. While the ceremony was short, there was time for remarks from some of those on board including Pierce Homer, Virginia Secretary of Transportation, Wick Moorman, Norfolk Southern CEO and Joe Boardman, Amtrak president. Governor Tim Kaine was to board at the next stop in Charlottesville and continue to Lynchburg for the concluding celebration.
The new Amtrak Northeast Regional passenger rail service will run between Lynchburg and Boston. It marks the first time in history that Amtrak service originates in Lynchburg – offering a one-seat ride to Washington, DC and numerous destinations in the Northeast. The Whistle Stop Tour included stops at Alexandria, Burke Centre Station, Manassas Station, Culpeper. Charlottesville and Lynchburg.
Beginning October 1, Amtrak Virginia, a partnership between the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) and Amtrak, expands daily round-trip service between Lynchburg, Washington, D.C. and points north along the Northeast Corridor. The new service provides communities along the US 29 corridor with more travel options and direct links to Northeast destinations.
The new service is sponsored by the Commonwealth of Virginia as part of a three-year pilot program designed to provide more transportation options for Virginians. The pilot program also includes new service between Richmond and the Northeast Corridor, slated to begin Dec. 15, 2009.
For more information: Go to amtrakvirginia.com for additional information on the new rail service.