Commentary From TheRoanokeStar.com; August 2, 2018
Having passed the six-month milestone since Amtrak ridership to and from the Roanoke Station began, state transportation officials are describing it as “impressive.” Ridership on the Washington, D.C. to Roanoke line increased by more than 8 percent year-over-year, largely due to the addition of the Roanoke Station. This occurred at a time when passenger rail ridership numbers are down slightly both nationwide and in Virginia.
Virginia’s Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) is monitoring the Roanoke ridership figures for two years before considering whether to make any further changes to the route, such as the addition of a stop in the Town of Bedford. The first six months of Roanoke ridership numbers point toward a promising outcome for those advocating a Bedford stop.
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