Amtrak’s four state-supported routes in Virginia carried a record 110,256 passengers in July. It’s a 28.9% increase over June, and 19.8% higher than its pre-pandemic ridership numbers from July 2019.
The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority launched new round-trip routes to Roanoke and Norfolk in July, and resumed an additional round-trip to Newport News that was suspended during the pandemic. Its Newport News route, with seven stops between Alexandria and Newport News, had the largest gain.
The Roanoke-to-Alexandria route, which makes five stops, has returned to pre-pandemic ridership.
The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority launched state-supported rail service in 2009. There are 17 stops along all four corridors.
Last year, Virginia reached agreements with Amtrak, CSX and Virginia Railway Express to expand commuter and freight rail in the commonwealth, as part of a $3.7 billion Transforming Rail in Virginia program, a 10-year investment to better connect the Northeast and Southeast corridors.
