DefaultSubsAreTerrib t1_iyd33vy wrote on November 30, 2022 at 2:41 PM

Reply to comment by Clean-Independent129 in Amtrak Ridership Up through Richmond by pizzatongs

> easy rail access to DC

I wish it were a bit easier. It should take 1 hour, not 3 hours.

jodyhighrola t1_iyd4wti wrote on November 30, 2022 at 2:55 PM

If they can manage to get dedicated rail lines, and get the higher speed engines south of DC, this place is going to be fully absorbed into the NE megalopolis. It's currently a dingleberry.

I don't mind the 3hr ride, but when the train is crawling through certain stretches of it, it feels like you're paying for a shit-tier service.

rvafun100 t1_iye2mnp wrote on November 30, 2022 at 6:36 PM

Will never happen

DefaultSubsAreTerrib t1_iyeap43 wrote on November 30, 2022 at 7:28 PM

> It's currently a dingleberry.

Some people hope Richmond will remain a dingleberry forever.

Diet_Coke t1_iyd4bxa wrote on November 30, 2022 at 2:50 PM

If we were a modern developed country with high speed rail, it could be a 20 minute ride

Capable-Site-301 t1_iye20wh wrote on November 30, 2022 at 6:32 PM

They apparently looked at the possibility of a maglev from Richmond to DC and decided it wasn't cost effective. So the 20 minute train idea won't happen in our lifetimes, if ever.

But a non-maglev, higher speed rail would still be amazing, even moreso if they could extend it all the way to the Hampton Roads area. But even that is probably at least a decade away from happening.