Federal agency drops Buckingham Branch rail line for high-speed service
The federal rail agency has dropped consideration of an eastern train route for proposed high-speed rail service that would have bypassed the Ashland and Staples Mill stations.
"The commonwealth can move forward with the I-95 corridor development plan to support enhanced passenger and freight rail service along the corridor," said Charles M. Badger, the director of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation.
The eastern route between Main Street Station in downtown Richmond and Doswell north of Ashland would have followed the Buckingham Branch rail line. The western route follows the CSX rail line.
Taking the eastern route would cost more, have more environmental and cultural impacts, and benefit the surrounding localities less, Badger said.
Last year 275,479 travelers used Amtrak's Staples Mill Station in Henrico County, and 16,497 passengers used the Ashland station. Staples Mill is Amtrak's busiest station in Virginia.
Reader Reactions
Someone should take another crack at writing this article. It is entirely unclear to me which route includes the Staples Mills Station. The impact of the decision is dependent on the inclusion or exclusion of Amtrak’s busiest station. I am a native Virginian, Buckingham has two connotations to me, Buckingham County and Buckingham Road in Chesterfield County. How does the Buckingham route come by its name?
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