Roanoke is the Best Train Vacation in Virginia


On October 1, 2009, Amtrak extended its Northeast (NE) service from DC to Lynchburg.  Because of its success, on July 19, 2011, Roanoke initiated the Smart Way Connector Bus (www.smartwaybus.com), linking Amtrak's NE Lynchburg Train from Lynchburg to Roanoke (daily) and VA Tech/Blacksburg (Fri - Sun).

Because of these two new services, Roanoke is now the best train vacation in Virginia, one that is very accessible from Washington, D.C., the entire Northeast US, and world wide through easy connections from DC's three (3) airports:

National:  Take subway from airport for two stops to Alexandria Amtrak Station.

BWI: Take short shuttle bus from airport to Amtrak BWI Station.

Dulles:  Take Bus 5A ($6 cash or Smarttrip) from airport to Roslyn and take subway to Alexandria Amtrak Station.

Follow this link for all the details for a Roanoke Train Vacation.


Roanoke: Virginia's Best Train Vacation

College Students are Big Supporters of Amtrak's Lynchburg Train

Since Amtrak started Virginia's first state-supported train on October 1, 2009, by extending Northeast Regional Service to Lynchburg, students have been important supporters of the Lynchburg Train. At the Manassas Station, I regularly see UVA, Liberty, and Randolph students. A conductor once informed me that 350 UVA students had boarded a single Lynchburg Train one fall break morning!

I have also seen at least one student from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg.  VT students take the new Smart Way Connector Bus (just started July 19, 2011, and running at four times the projected rider numbers) on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday to link with the Amtrak NE Regional train in Lynchburg.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRGTFMSEYTc&list=UUp99-k4FwW382x10HvrCR0g&index=9&feature=plcp
Having strong student support will increase ridership in the short term and and long term.  These students will be become the "Leaders of Tomorrow" and, having actually ridden a train, will be in a much better position from their personal experience to encourage future passenger service when decision makers are considering additional service.

Today, May 15, 2012, I had a Letter to Editor published in the Roanoke Times entitled, "Bedford Needs a Taxi Service".  http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/letters/wb/308785.

The letter made the case that Bedford, Virginia, a small city between Lynchburg (east) and Roanoke (west), and largest city in Southwest, Virginia, needs a taxi service to increase vacationers coming to Bedford.

Currently persons arriving on the new (July 19, 2011) and wildly popular Smart Way Amtrak Connector Bus from Lynchburg have two unacceptable options:

1) pay $25 to $35 for a taxi from Roanoke or Lynchburg or

2) walk 1 to 3 miles to their accommodations.

After using a taxi from the Visitor center and their lodgings, a visitor could use a taxi to visit the D Day Memorial (a favorite with Veterans, many of whom cannot or will not drive on truck-clogged interstates), other historic sites, and many small shops. Later rides would take them back to their motels or bed and breakfast locations and, finally back to the Bedford Visitor Center for the return trip in the morning on the Smart Way Connector Bus.  Locals without cars can also use a taxi to doctor's and other appointments and to reach the Connector bus to take day trips to Roanoke, Blacksburg, Lynchburg, Charlottesville, and Manassas.

Certainly, when Amtrak replaces the bus, people stepping off the train will expect a taxi, or most will bypass Bedford for other places that have taxis.

I have several youtube videos about the Smart Way Connector Bus under the name "trainmandan100".  I would like to do a video on Bedford, but I dare not until they have a taxi service.