Amtrak Virginia expands daily round-trip service between Richmond, Washington D.C. and points north along the Northeast Corridor with tickets now available for purchase online at Amtrak.com or by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL.  

With this new train, hourly morning departures are available from Richmond’s Staples Mill Station to the Northeast Corridor and more convenient afternoon return trips are available from Washington, DC. The total number of morning departures from Richmond to Washington is now five, with six return departures available in the afternoon and evening.  The new frequency between Richmond and Washington is the second state-supported train in Virginia which became Amtrak’s 15th state partner with the launch of service between Lynchburg and the Northeast Corridor last October.  The new train has Virginia stops at the Staples Mill, Ashland, Fredericksburg, Quantico, Woodbridge and Alexandria stations. Passengers may travel directly to destinations along Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor as far north as Boston and never have to change trains.  

“Now it’s more convenient than ever to take the train in the I-95 corridor,” said Thelma Drake, director of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation. “With hourly trains in the morning and several afternoon trains to choose from, you can easily plan your business trip and get to work on the train instead of sitting in traffic.”

“We welcome the opportunity to add a new roundtrip on the busy corridor between Richmond and Washington and to further expand our partnership with the Commonwealth of Virginia,” said Jay McArthur, principal officer in Amtrak’s Policy & Development Department.  “This additional roundtrip makes travel by train from Richmond to Washington and points north even more convenient.”     

Passengers may book travel today on the new roundtrip which begins service on July 20, and can save with discounts available on fares for kids, seniors, AAA members and members of the military.  Sample one-way fares include US$23 between Richmond’s Staples Mill Station and Washington, DC and US$57 between Staples Mill and Philadelphia.

The new roundtrip serves Richmond and Washington on the following schedule:

 Be sure to book travel on the new train to support Amtrak Virginia service. All Amtrak Virginia service must meet annual ridership and revenue goals to continue through the pilot program and become permanent. If these goals are met and if additional revenue becomes available, the new Richmond train could be extended to Hampton Roads within three years.