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Roanoke eyes Amtrak service for 2018
The item gives no clue why it will take 6 years to run a train on presumably rail that is in place. Is it lack of equipment? A station and all that goes with that may have to be built but is it that Amtrak will be acquiring more rolling stock in 2018? If Virginians are fired up about this as they seem to be, what’s holding everybody back? Bad track maybe? Story needs more detail.
I’m going to guess, (no, not you Jeffrey) has to why they have to take so long. There has to be an DEIS report, an EIS report, hearings, etc. Those things take time. By the way, there is a slight difference between the Chinese and us. The Chinese don’t worry about the enviroment, while we care alot more. We also do a better job of taking care of people who do the work. So, these things maybe part of the reasons as to why we may take longer to do this project. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
I was in Roanokke a few weeks ago, visited the VA Museum of Transportation and talked with the Director about this situation. He says that the hold-up is Norfolk Southern, which claims that it’s track between Lynchburg and Roanoke can’t handle passenger trains now without very expensive upgrades which VA can’t afford now. I think NS is blowing smoke here. I drove back and forth between Lynchburg and Roanoke on two separate week days, paralleling that NS line most of the way. It looks to be in very good condition, and has very little traffic. I did not see one train on it either day. NS is jerking VA’s chain here for some unknown reason.
The Hotel Roanoke webcam shows construction activity between the tracks by the foot of N Jefferson St. I was hoping that was a passenger platform but if not, what’s going on there?
6 years away? In 6 years China will build 1000s of miles of new high speed track, while it will take 6 years to get a conventional passenger service on existing track here for a service that is expected to be very popular? Something is wrong.