Governor McDonnell announced today that Virginia[quote] has reached a definitive agreement with Norfolk Southern to "improve rail related infrastructure" that will permit Amtrak service between Lynchburg and Roanoke within four years.
http://www.governor.virginia.gov/news/v ... fm?id=2158" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
What the release does not state - other than referring to "clearance adjustments - is that the improvements deal largely with the former Virginian line, not the former N&W line that the Amtrak service will use. The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation says much of the $93 million in state funds committed to this will be used to permit double stacks to run between Roanoke and Burkeville on the former VGN line that bypasses Lynchburg. The stated idea is to increase capacity on that line so that passenger service will not adversely impact NS east-west intermodal service to/from Norfolk. There are three tunnels on the VGN route that cannot permit double stacks to pass through. Not sure if they will be heightened or cut through or some combination, but by late 2017, that route will be double stack-compatible.
Source, you ask? Fair enough. I got this personally from DRPT senior officials.
http://www.governor.virginia.gov/news/v ... fm?id=2158" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
What the release does not state - other than referring to "clearance adjustments - is that the improvements deal largely with the former Virginian line, not the former N&W line that the Amtrak service will use. The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation says much of the $93 million in state funds committed to this will be used to permit double stacks to run between Roanoke and Burkeville on the former VGN line that bypasses Lynchburg. The stated idea is to increase capacity on that line so that passenger service will not adversely impact NS east-west intermodal service to/from Norfolk. There are three tunnels on the VGN route that cannot permit double stacks to pass through. Not sure if they will be heightened or cut through or some combination, but by late 2017, that route will be double stack-compatible.
Source, you ask? Fair enough. I got this personally from DRPT senior officials.
