by Station Aficionado
Using 1970 census figures, there were only two stops for SOU 17 & 18 between Roanoke and Bristol with a population of at least 10,000--Radford and Pulaski. As of 2010, there were still only two of those places with 10,000 or more--Christiansburg and Radford. Considering the populations of just the towns where the trains stopped, the total corridor population (including Roanoke, both Bristols and the intermediate stops) was 182k in 1970 and 219k in 2010. Roanoke, Christiansburg and Radford account for over 60% of the total. Ridership pickings would be pretty slim south of Radford.
Also, it's a bit over 150 miles from Roanoke to Bristol. If a train were extended that far, the FRA would deem it a "long distance" train for inspection and servicing requirements. That would result in higher expenses, even beyond the added fuel, crew costs, and trackage fees. It's hard to see that the ridership would justify it. Try a bus, to see if there's any business, but a train would be hard to sustain unless you could reach a bigger anchor point, such as Knoxville. Although that would be a very long day to reach DC or NY.
EDIT: Wiki does give the TriCities CSA total population as of 2008 at 500k, although that is over a larger area, and includes a number of locales where a train would not stop. That number is higher than I would have thought, but still not sure it makes Bristol an appropriate terminus for a train.
Also, it's a bit over 150 miles from Roanoke to Bristol. If a train were extended that far, the FRA would deem it a "long distance" train for inspection and servicing requirements. That would result in higher expenses, even beyond the added fuel, crew costs, and trackage fees. It's hard to see that the ridership would justify it. Try a bus, to see if there's any business, but a train would be hard to sustain unless you could reach a bigger anchor point, such as Knoxville. Although that would be a very long day to reach DC or NY.
EDIT: Wiki does give the TriCities CSA total population as of 2008 at 500k, although that is over a larger area, and includes a number of locales where a train would not stop. That number is higher than I would have thought, but still not sure it makes Bristol an appropriate terminus for a train.