Amtrak Virginia saw more than 1 million travelers in 2024, sets ridership record
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Amtrak Virginia officially set a ridership record last year with more than 1 million passengers traveling.
Virginia Passenger Rail Authority's (VPRA) state-supported Amtrak service saw 1,389,840 passengers traveling, which is the highest ridership mark since the Commonwealth launched the service in 2009.
All four Amtrak Virginia corridors saw increases in 2024. This marked a 4.8% increase from 2023, with the Richmond route alone seeing a 6.9% increase, according to VPRA.
December also set a record for the highest monthly ridership, with more than 136,000 passengers traveling, with 136,433 passengers. Roanoke led with a 30.6 %increase, with NewportNews increasing by 25.8%,20.4% and 13.8%.
“The holiday season was a busy time for us – our stations were crowded, and our trains were full,” said DJ Stadtler, Executive Director of VPRA. “But our 2024 record ridership represents more than just holiday travel. It is indicative of Virginians using passenger rail as a convenient part of their travel plans.”
VPRA is expanding rail service with a $2.3 billion infrastructure improvement connecting Arlington with Washington, DC, through a new two-trackrailroad bridge. The Long Bridge project will connect Arlington to DC by 2030. According to VPRA, this will reportedly increase the number of daily Amtrak Virginia roundtrips from the current eight to 13, with service connecting to Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor.
Amtrak Virginia’s eight daily roundtrips include three between Norfolk and Washington, DC, two between Roanoke and Washington and Newport News and Washington, and one between Richmond and the nation’s capital.
This allows for a one-seat ride from Virginia to Philadelphia, New York and Boston, as well as intermediate stops on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor.
In the fall of 2024, Amtrak also saw ribbon cuttings at two stations in the Commonwealth: Newport News and Quantico.
