Amtrak will debut a second train service in Hampton Roads on March 4.
The second train service will give Hampton Roads’ residents more options to avoid traffic and congestion in tunnels and on interstates 64 and 95, said Virginia Secretary of Transportation Shannon Valentine.
“Rail plays a critical role in our multi-modal transportation system, with an economic impact of $73 billion of output across the commonwealth,” Valentine said. “The additional passenger rail service announced (last week) will expand access, improve mobility, and create greater economic opportunity.”
The second daily round-trip train to Norfolk is scheduled to begin March 4.
In addition to the current 6:10 a.m. daily departure, the second Norfolk train will depart weekdays around 9 a.m.
Passenger rail service to and from Norfolk is part of Amtrak’s Northeast Regional train service connecting the state to the northeast, offering customers a same-seat trip to and from 17 Virginia stations to Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, Boston and other destinations, according to the transportation department.
Additional details regarding schedules and ticket sales are forthcoming.
“The new service to Hampton Roads offers new travel options as well as schedule changes that will improve the performance for these trains, said Jennifer Mitchell, director of the state’s Department of Rail and Public Transportation.
The new Hampton Roads passenger rail service also includes optimized schedule changes to and from both Norfolk and Newport News stations.
In addition to the second mid-morning departure and early-evening arrival to Norfolk, Newport News customers will also have the benefit of an early-morning departure and early-evening arrival, providing all Hampton Roads customers additional daily options to get Washington, D.C. and back.
The optimized schedule also brings these new convenient options to Ettrick, Williamsburg and Richmond’s Main Street and Staples Mill Stations.
For more information on the new schedules, click here.
