New train pulling into Culpeper?

The Piedmont Rail Coalition is urging local residents to get on board with a public-private plan that would bring a second daily Amtrak train to Culpeper en route to Washington, D.C., starting as early as 2010.

“I think we are closer than we have ever been to having at least one new route,” said Meredith Richards, chairwoman of the Piedmont Rail Coalition, a group of government, economic development, tourism and business leaders from around Virginia’s U.S. 29 corridor.

The PRC hosts its second meeting today in Culpeper starting at 10 a.m. in the Depot, appropriately, to discuss what is being described as “a golden opportunity” for new passenger train service in a desperately underserved area.

Culpeper Town Councilman Chris Snider serves on the coalition and said he hears all the time from his constituents about the lack of passenger rail.

“The growing frustration over record delays, soaring gas prices and dangerous road conditions when driving to Washington is steering more and more Culpeper residents to ride the train,” he said. “We believe that passenger rail can and must play a much larger role in our transportation network of the future, and the sooner, the better.”

Apparently, and with any luck, it could happen sooner than later.

Richards, a longtime rail advocate and former vice mayor of Charlottesville, said Amtrak and Norfolk Southern — the freightliner that owns the rails the new passenger train would use — are in negotiations with the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation to make it happen.

The plan would require the state to fund operations for the new “Piedmont Corridor” train to the tune of $1.9 million annually.

Amtrak already has similar partnerships in place in 14 other states, Richards said. She wants Virginia to be the 15th.

The proposed train would start in Lynchburg, departing at 5:05 a.m., stopping in Charlottesville, Culpeper, Manassas and Alexandria before arriving in D.C.’s Union Station at 8:40 a.m. and continuing on to New York City.

Southbound, the train would leave D.C. around 5 p.m. daily and make all the same stops before arriving in Lynchburg, where it would layover for servicing, according to Amtrak’s report for “Advancing Passenger Rail in the Commonwealth of Virginia.”

Currently, Culpeper and points south along U.S. 29 in the Virginia Piedmont are served with a single daily Amtrak train: the Crescent, which traverses a much longer route using the Norfolk Southern lines — from New York to New Orleans — and is therefore more likely to be behind schedule.

But because the proposed new passenger train would dock nightly in Lynchburg in the heart of the Piedmont, it would be “an on-time train,” said Richards, adding, “(Amtrak) is shooting for 95 percent performance.”

In order to get the train in service in the next two years it will require hefty investment, on the state’s part, in railway improvements.

Norfolk Southern has already applied to do the required track upgrades between Manassas and Lynchburg, Richards said, and would pay 30 percent of the estimated $14 million cost — a private investment mandated, by law, for use of the state’s rail enhancement funds.

The specified rail improvements would primarily allow for a higher speed passenger train, but not “high-speed,” said Richards. Also, the proposed rail upgrades, starting and finishing in 2010, have been included in the state’s latest rail plan to be released in June, she said.

“It is going to be an unusual move for the state to start funding passenger rail operations through Amtrak,” Richards admitted, “though there has been state funding for the (Virginia) Railway Express so it is not unheard of.”

As for what could be asked of localities along the new Piedmont Corridor, Richards said, local donations would likely come in the form of in-kind investments: use of local train stations as ticket outlets, for example, or expanded parking options for passengers.

Residents and commuters in support of the plan should contact their state legislators, said Richards, to voice their backing.

The state’s new rail plan, including the Amtrak train proposal, will be presented to the Virginia General Assembly in July, she expected.

By that time, “We need to have all our legislators representing districts served by this corridor ready to support the new service.”

Councilman Snider is on board with it.

“Travelers can enjoy the benefits of direct rail service to Washington, and the fact that people can travel seamlessly from Lynchburg to New York City is an added bonus,” he said.

Amtrak’s Director of Government Affairs Thomas Stennis III will attend today’s meeting in Culpeper to talk about other similar services being launched nationwide and how public advocacy has been key to getting these new trains running.

In the 1950s, there were 22 daily trains running between Charlottesville and D.C., Richards said.

Allison Brophy Champion can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 101 or .