by Rod Hall

As you begin planning your summer getaways, if you live in Northern Virginia, one of your first considerations will definitely be transportation.  Because we live in one of the most congested areas in the nation, how to get where we want to go always tops the list when making travel plans. Most people debate flying versus driving.  In Virginia, we’re lucky because we have a third option: the train. 

Thanks to significant investments in improving passenger rail service across the state, Virginians have the opportunity to visit any number of locations within the Commonwealth. Amtrak Virginia travels along four corridors between Washington, D.C., and Norfolk, Newport News, Roanoke and Richmond. The service offers eight roundtrips daily with stops at 17 stations, including three right here in Prince William County. 

But Amtrak Virginia has even more to offer. With its connection to the Northeast Corridor, you can enjoy one-seat service from the commonwealth to popular East Coast destinations, including Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York City and Boston, all while avoiding traffic and enjoying free wifi.    

Many Virginians are already taking advantage of this service with record numbers riding the train. During 2023, more than 1.32 million passengers traveled on our Amtrak Virginia service, which was the highest annual ridership since state-supported service began in 2009.   

With the growth in ridership, it’s clear that Virginians want and need passenger rail. That’s why in 2020, the General Assembly created the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority. The authority’s mission is to promote, sustain and expand the availability of passenger and commuter rail service in the commonwealth. We are doing just that through our “Transforming Rail in Virginia” initiative, which is working to expand service on existing corridors and build new infrastructure that will increase the number of trains operating around the state and make those trains more reliable. These infrastructure projects will improve rail service in Virginia, as well as along the entire East Coast. 

A number of those projects will be completed in Prince William County. The Franconia-Springfield Bypass will alleviate train interference at one of the most congested points in Virginia. The flyover bridge will allow passenger trains to cross over the existing freight tracks to reach station stops on the opposite side, providing improved service for both passenger and freight trains through the area. Construction is expected to begin this year. 

In addition, the Franconia to Lorton third track project will increase rail capacity and alleviate congestion for passenger and freight services by adding a third mainline track along one of the most heavily traveled sections of rail between D.C. and Richmond. These projects will add capacity, not just for Amtrak Virginia, but for VRE as well as Amtrak’s long-distance trains that travel through Virginia. 

All of this investment in rail means a more viable transportation option for Virginians that will reduce our reliance on driving, reduce our carbon footprints and give us a little more legroom than air travel. So, as you begin those summer travel plans, give the train a try! 

Rod Hall is a resident of Prince William County and a member of the Virginia Rail Authority Board.