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Norfolk Southern Corp.'s latest estimate for bringing passenger rail service to South Hampton Roads offers a welcome bit of cheer for regional leaders who have struggled to keep federal and state officials focused on the project.
Earlier this month, the railroad company said its freight line could be upgraded to handle passenger trains for just $75 million, well below earlier estimates from the state.
Numbers used by the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation include passenger stations and other supplementary expenditures not in the railroad's figures. But Norfolk Southern's analysis proves that service to the Southside is both attainable and relatively cheap.
That doesn't mean it's a done deal. There are $102 billion in projects across the country competing for $8 billion in federal stimulus funds. If South Hampton Roads is going to get its share, leaders will have to make the case and be ready to listen to any reasonable suggestions on how to accomplish their goal.
Norfolk Southern's $75 million estimate is for conventional rail, or trains that reach a top speed of 79 miles per hour. Boosting speeds to 90 mph or 110 mph would push those costs higher - state officials say to $262 million - while shortening the trip between Norfolk and Richmond by less than a dozen minutes.
Speed should be a secondary consideration for the region.
It's more important to ensure meaningful and reliable service for those traveling on business or pleasure. South Hampton Roads is home to more than 1 million people and major tourist attractions. A minimum of three arrivals and three departures daily would be a good start for any rail service to the region.
Federal stimulus dollars could cover at least part of the capital costs, but some supplementary funds may be necessary from state and local governments. Even more significant is the question of long-term operating revenues. The Obama administration is not going to hand over millions of dollars for rail upgrades if Virginia isn't willing to dedicate a funding source to run the passenger service.
South Hampton Roads probably won't get everything it wants right away. Regional leaders must remain flexible, but they shouldn't compromise on their central goal of finally establishing dependable, modern passenger rail service for their constituents.
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I give up
"South Hampton Roads is home to major tourist attractions"
And just where are these "major tourist attractions"?
AMTRAK TIDEWATER, RICHMOND SERVICE
Currently AMTRAK provides daily service between Newport News-Richmond-Washington, DC and points north. Additional trains also ply between Richmond and Northeast Corridor cities, as well as between Richmond and selected southern cities including Raleigh, Charlotte, and various Florida points.
Strangely, until the birth of AMTRAK, there appears to have been no through passenger train service [there were thru cars, but not entire trains]operated either via Petersburg/Richmond to/from cities in what is now termed the "Northeast Corridor". AMTRAK did operate concurrent service, either direct or via connections, between Newport News/Norfolk-Charleston(WV)and Chicago. Obviously, there is precedent for passenger trains to service simultaneously each bank of the James River east of the current CSX Richmond-Rocky Mount main line.
Welcome News
Of course this article is timely and helps inform the public of what needs to happen so we can get vital resources for our transportation. I only wish the politians get an earful from their voters supporting this.
Isnt' there already connections between Richmond and DC? I would much rather take the train than sit in interstate lanes that look like parking lots.
Free loading.
Are you willing to pay what the service you's "rather" have actually costs? Each ticket on government run passenger rail is massively subsidized by a wealth redistrubution scheme.
"Estimates".....Ha !
This would be Newsworthy if this was a signed contract. You know, set in stone. Unfortunately we've all seen and heard this before and it is practically guaranteed that this is NOT what the final cost will be.
Con job - highER speed rail is slower than high speed rail
Folks, there is a con job in progress. True high speed rail offers riders a faster way to get from one city to another, so long as there are limited stops in between. Speeds around 200 MPH might been reached. Instead we have special interests pushing a much S-L-O-W-E-R rail, something that doesn't really offer riders any meaningful improvement over driving times. But, wealthy rail companies can use tax funds to maintain their freight rails with the slower rail because highER speed rail shares frieght rail lines with frieght trains. True high speed rail requires different rail tracks. If we are wise we would support true high speed rail and reject this much slower substitute. To gain real benefits our region needs much slower commute times between Tidewater and Washington D.C. The plan on the table now is a mistake.
I agree with you Reid
If the US wants good passenger rail service like that of Europe, it must be high speed rail with it's own dedicated tracks.
Do we really need rail to
Do we really need rail to Richmond? How often is the desired destination Richmond? We need high speed rail to a major city.
mike
Richmond will part of the high speed rail network that will ultimately link Boston with Atlanta. Once a HR resident arrives in Richmond, it will be a simple matter of changing trains to continue on to points north or south.
ONCE AGAIN
private entities can provide improvements at a fraction of the costs predicted by government. Is there a single project of that magnitude of service and low cost on the area's project list? If the Southside leaders can't come together and make this happen they should re-examine their commitment to our residents.