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1/24/2024
The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) announced that more than 1.32 million passengers traveled on its state-supported Amtrak Virginia rail service in 2023, up 29.8% year over year.
It's Amtrak Virginia's highest ridership since the state-supported service began in 2009, VPRA officials said in a press release. All four of its corridors registered year-over-year gains, with the largest — 38.8% — recorded by the Newport News Corridor.
In August 2023, Amtrak Virginia set a monthly ridership record at 130,998 passengers.
"Virginians continue to tell us that they want passenger rail to lighten the load on the state’s highways and to provide them with an alternative to sitting in traffic. And, we are listening," said VRPA Executive Director DJ Stadtler.
In fall 2023, the VPRA was awarded two grants to fully fund projects in northern Virginia. The Franconia-Springfield Bypass received a $100 million Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements grant from the Federal Railroad Administration.
In addition, the VPRA was awarded a $729 million grant through the FRA's Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program for the completion of the Transforming Rail in Virginia initiative's second phase, which will create additional passenger-rail service in the commonwealth.