Kids Ride Free to Celebrate 40 Years of Amtrak

Amtrak is turning 40 this year and to help celebrate, they are letting their youngest fans onboard for free. If you book a trip now through May 6, and then travel before June 9, 2011, your family can join in the celebration, and the kids will ride free!

Learn more online at Amtrak (PDF).

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Amtrak Virginia Expands Service Starting Tomorrow

Beginning tomorrow, Monday, July 20, Amtrak Virginia expands daily round-trip service between Richmond, Washington D.C. and points north along the Northeast Corridor.

With this new train, hourly morning departures are available from Richmond’s Staples Mill Station to the Northeast Corridor and more convenient afternoon return trips are available from Washington, D.C. The total number of morning departures from Richmond to Washington is now five, with six return departures available in the afternoon and evening.

The new frequency between Richmond and Washington is the second state-supported train in Virginia which became Amtrak’s 15th state partner with the launch of service between Lynchburg and the Northeast Corridor last October. The new train has Virginia stops at the Staples Mill, Ashland, Fredericksburg, Quantico, Woodbridge and Alexandria stations.

Passengers may travel directly to destinations along Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor as far north as Boston and never have to change trains.

The complete train schedule is available at www.amtrakvirginia.com. Tickets are available for purchase online at Amtrak.com or by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL

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Fare Discount Extended for Virginia Train Service

For our Loudoun County travelers who like to go by rail, here's some good news.

Traveling by train between Virginia and points north is even more affordable this winter as Amtrak has extended its fare promotion on the Northeast Regional service – including the new Lynchburg route to and from the Northeast Corridor – through March 31, 2010.

Passengers who book now through March 17 for travel through March 31, 2010 may take advantage of a fare promotion which offers up to 25 percent off the lowest published coach fare on Northeast Regional service between Lynchburg, Washington, D.C., New York, and Boston.

This discount comes at a time when most people are seeking more cost effective, simpler travel options during the busy holiday travel season, and the new Lynchburg train offers a great opportunity to let someone else do the driving. The average trip from Lynchburg to Washington, DC is faster by train than by car.

Tickets are now available and may be booked at Amtrak.com. Upgrades to Business Class for Coach tickets purchased at this promotional price are not available. Seats are limited and fares are not available on all trains. The fares are not available for travel on November 24-25, November 28-30, December 17-23, December 26-30, January 3-4, February 12, and February 15. Other restrictions may apply.

Sample one-way fares include $66 between Lynchburg and New York and $71 between Lynchburg and Boston. See amtrakvirginia.com/hotdeals.aspx for details. Reservations are required for travel and must be made at least 14 days in advance of travel. Tickets can be purchased at Amtrak.com or by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL.

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The Train Beats Driving From Lynchburg to D.C.

Did you know that taking the train is faster than driving from Lynchburg to Washington, DC? That according to the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT).

DRPT says to "give yourself a break and try the new Amtrak Virginia service. Use your free time to work, catch up with friends and family, or just relax along the way."

DRPT notes that if you’re going further north, you can be in New York City before 3:30 p.m. without having to change trains on the direct Northeast Corridor service. See amtrakvirginia.com for more information on Amtrak service in Virginia.

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Amtrak Virginia Web Site

It's a stretch -- although rail travel could be used to avoid traffic -- so we thought we'd let you know about this new rail service in case you were interested.

There's a new Web site that is now available for Virginia’s rail travelers called AmtrakVirginia.com with information on all Amtrak service in Virginia including the new Northeast Regional service that provides expanded transportation choices for travelers.

Beginning this fall, new roundtrip Northeast Regional service will be offered from Lynchburg and Richmond to major destinations in the Northeast Corridor, including Philadelphia, New York, Boston and more. The Lynchburg service starts on October 1 and the Richmond service begins in December.

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New Northeast Regional Service from Amtrak

Beginning October 1, Amtrak Virginia expands daily round-trip Northeast Regional service between Lynchburg, Washington D.C. and points north along the Northeast Corridor with tickets now available for purchase at a reduced rate.The new passenger rail service – originating in Lynchburg for the first time – has Virginia stops in Charlottesville, Culpeper, Manassas and Alexandria, including Virginia Railway Express connections at Burke Center and L’Enfant Plaza.

A passenger can now travel directly from Lynchburg to destinations as far north as Boston and never have to change trains.

The new service is sponsored by the Commonwealth of Virginia as part of a three-year pilot program designed to provide more transportation options for Virginians. The pilot program also includes new service between Richmond and the Northeast Corridor, slated to begin in December 2009.

Passengers who book travel on Amtrak’s Northeast Regional service now through December 16 may take advantage of a fare promotion which offers up to 25 percent off the lowest published coach fare on Northeast Regional service between Lynchburg, Washington, D.C., New York and Boston. Sample one-way fares include $66 between Lynchburg and New York and $71 between Lynchburg and Boston. Reservations are required and must be made at least 14 days in advance of travel. Some restrictions apply. Tickets can be purchased at Amtrak.com or by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL.

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