Virginia county slates meeting on D.C.-Richmond high-speed rail route

Hanover County, Va., officials next month will host a meeting on a proposed high-speed rail line running from Washington, D.C., to Richmond, Va.

A map of the proposed D.C. to Richmond high-speed rail route
(Click to view larger.)
Source: Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation

The county has invited Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) representatives to provide a status update and discuss future steps for the project.

DRPT is conducting a three-year study on the 123-mile corridor from the District of Columbia to Richmond, which is expected to follow CSX right of way. As part of its environmental impact statement, the department is evaluating which proposed route through Virginia's Ashland/Hanover area is most feasible, county officials said in a press release.

Options for the Ashland portion of the route include building a third track beside existing CSX tracks through the center of the town; building a double-track bypass to the west of the town; or not building any rail improvements.

The proposed D.C.-Richmond project is part of a larger effort to provide high-speed rail service between the nation's capital, several southeastern U.S. cities and Florida.