Here is the official announcement:
RICHMOND - Beginning July 20, Amtrak Virginia expands daily round-trip service
between Richmond, Washington D.C. and points north along the Northeast Corridor with tickets
now available for purchase online at Amtrak.com or by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL.
With this new train, hourly morning departures are available from Richmond’s Staples
Mill Station to the Northeast Corridor and more convenient afternoon return trips are available
from Washington, DC. The total number of morning departures from Richmond to Washington
is now five, with six return departures available in the afternoon and evening. The new
frequency between Richmond and Washington is the second state-supported train in Virginia
which became Amtrak’s 15th state partner with the launch of service between Lynchburg and the
Northeast Corridor last October. The new train has Virginia stops at the Staples Mill, Ashland,
Fredericksburg, Quantico, Woodbridge and Alexandria stations. Passengers may travel directly
to destinations along Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor as far north as Boston and never have to
change trains.
“Now it’s more convenient than ever to take the train in the I-95 corridor,” said Thelma
Drake, director of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation. “With hourly
trains in the morning and several afternoon trains to choose from, you can easily plan your
business trip and get to work on the train instead of sitting in traffic.”
“We welcome the opportunity to add a new roundtrip on the busy corridor between
Richmond and Washington and to further expand our partnership with the Commonwealth of
Virginia,” said Jay McArthur, principal officer in Amtrak’s Policy & Development Department.
“This additional roundtrip makes travel by train from Richmond to Washington and points north
even more convenient.”
Passengers may book travel today on the new roundtrip which begins service on July 20,
and can save with discounts available on fares for kids, seniors, AAA members and members of
the military. Visit www.amtrak.com/deals for more information. Sample one-way fares include
$23 between Richmond’s Staples Mill Station and Washington, DC and $57 between Staples
Mill and Philadelphia.
The new roundtrip serves Richmond and Washington on the following schedule:
Code:
Northbound Train 174 Train 164 Southbound Train 125 Train 87 Train 157
Mon - Fri Sat - Sun Mon - Fri Sat Sun
Dep Richmond 7:00 a.m. 6:35 a.m. Dep Washington 3:55 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m.
Arr Washington 9:30 a.m. 9:00 a.m. Arr Richmond 6:25 p.m. 9:25 p.m. 6:25 p.m.
The complete train schedule is available at www.amtrakvirginia.com.
Be sure to book travel on the new train to support Amtrak Virginia service. All Amtrak
Virginia service must meet annual ridership and revenue goals to continue through the pilot
program and become permanent. If these goals are met and if additional revenue becomes
available, the new Richmond train could be extended to Hampton Roads within three years.
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 Lynchburg and the Northeast corridor that began in October
2009.
