old_curmudgeon on 7/31/2008 9:46:55 AM wrote:
I have a few questions for all the passenger rail fans: Would you be willing to support passenger rail if you have to pay the whole cost (no subsidy)? How many trips would you make per year? To where? And how will you get around once you get there? Just curious.
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Kringles_Helper on 7/25/2008 9:29:15 PM wrote:
I believe Virginia Tech has done some studies about the towns along rail that still architecturally exist but have experienced economic fall-out...
Intelligently planned, you have express and scenic trains...perhaps "Themed" trains.
If they are safe, efficient, clean, promote additional freedom about the state and promote the revival of rural and agricultural economy...keeping honest the signs, "Keep Virginia Green"...yeah...who wouldn't ride?
Key is a good service car...delicious treats and comfortable atmospheres.
They can be multi-purpose, systematically carrying both freight and passengers,its all about the delivery systems.
The "Green" Virginia Lover's Train is a good idea!
Next Step is to determine the best designs!
Va. Wine...
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gregcapps on 7/25/2008 11:41:03 AM wrote:
I would certainly use train service for trips if service was available.It is the most pleasant form of transportation,if it was only available .
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Walker on 7/23/2008 9:36:12 AM wrote:
"work so hard at doing nothing"
Sounds like our Democrat Congress in Washington.
I'm all for the rail, by the way.
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Travelguy on 7/22/2008 10:48:27 PM wrote:
Gov. Tim Kaine said recently that he had never seen a group of people(republicans in Richmond lead by Morgan Griffith) who "work so hard at doing nothing".
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Saintbridge on 7/22/2008 10:37:33 PM wrote:
Rail service is over in Roanoke. Not gonna happen. How do I know? Because Majority Leader Morgan Griffith says so. He has single-handedly amassed all the necessary data to decide for all of us that rail service is not something we can use.
Oh, and we don't need a dime to fix our roads, either! Apparently Del. Griffith will offer to shuttle each of us on our daily rounds in his family minivan with funding provided by the Gas Fairy.
How else can anybody out there explain his unwillingness to even look at rail?
The man cannot be allowed to keep going back to Richmond, do nothing and come back and point his finger at everybody else as being the problem. Aren't you folks tired of this little game he plays yet?
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EudoraParker on 7/22/2008 4:15:42 PM wrote:
Passenger rail -- YES! To put the kabosh on the Salem wet-blanket, the service really should be extended to Radford, with a stop in Christiansburg. That would pick up a lot of business from VT and Radford U. The minor drawback is that the train would have to back into or out of Radford, but that isn't insurmountable. If the fares were structured right and the schedule decent, it could work both ways, bringing happy Hokies to town for football weekends in addition to delivering lots of NOVA kids home to visit.
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bturner99 on 7/22/2008 4:08:21 PM wrote:
Lynchburg may get a new train to DC, in part because nearly all of our local and state representatives, county and city leaders from the metro area, are WORKING TOGETHER. That is why Lynchburg's economy is rolling over Roanoke's right now. We are embracing rail, not as a cure-all to transportation woes, but as an alternative solution. This new train, if it comes online, will leave at a better hour (around 8:00 AM I think). Honestly, Roanoke could easily use a rail station, but thanks to Morgan Griffith and his "let's stay in the 1980's" mentality everyone in the 'noke will have to continue to drive to Charlottesville or Lynchburg. Please, someone tell me, how on God's Earth does this man stay in office.
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Travelguy on 7/22/2008 3:07:00 PM wrote:
Good point on the rail service to Dulles from Roanoke. If Roanoke could hook up a train to Dulles & DC can you imagine the economic jolt to our area? Chattanooga TN is planning a high speed rail to the Atlanta airport since Chattanoogas' flights to Atlanta are higher and longer than driving. Norfolk Southern is working with North Carolina(not VA!) in improving rail between Charlotte/Greensboro/Raleigh. Maybe if we ever get a train to DC then we won't need to waste money on all of these "economic development experts" who spend hundreds of thousands of our dollars" on slogans such as "New VA".
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Walker on 7/22/2008 2:50:30 PM wrote:
Rails good.
Roenoke idiot.
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roenoke on 7/22/2008 12:36:18 PM wrote:
Rail service to DC could be the shot in the arm Roanoke needs.
Commuters, tourism, access to Dulles(since the Roanoke airport is dying)...its a great idea...
I'm sure the republicans can find a way to scare the locals into opposing it...I can hear them now..."those people will take the train down from DC to steal our cars and our little white girls and take them back to the city...."
Have Hope.
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metalskull on 7/22/2008 12:16:13 PM wrote:
But Del. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, said he isn't convinced there's sufficient demand to support the service. Sounds like typical Republican crap as usual.
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Travelguy on 7/22/2008 10:13:13 AM wrote:
Morgan Griffith comes from Salem, need I say more? I recently drove to Charlottesville, parked at the downtown train station and took a bus(operated by Amtrak) to DC. It took around 3 hours. If you take the bus you must take the train(Amtrak)back to Charlottesville. It might help Roanoke travelers who can't take that 6am Amtrak out of Lynchburg to DC. I understand Amtrak is considering more service to Lynchburg.
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mclawsdrive on 7/22/2008 9:42:27 AM wrote:
Moron Griffith needs to move far away and quit screwing up this state and the Roanoke area in particular. His idea is that we don't need taxes, or roads or schools or anything. The low taxes will attract huge business investment to our isolated backwoods garbage pit.
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DiamondDave on 7/22/2008 8:55:49 AM wrote:
Yes. Do it now!
Is Morgan Griffith against EVERYTHING?
When will Salem vote this loser out?
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shockley on 7/22/2008 8:22:25 AM wrote:
Roanoke 100 percent needs a passenger rail. As it stands, I could take a train to from Baltimore 5pm get to Lynchburg at 10pm then drive to Roanoke and be there 1115. Then I could wake up at 330 am (or not sleep) and get to lynchburg by 445 to catch the 5 am return trip (why 5 am? bc thats the only one). Or I could take a train which stops in DC (so it takes a couple hours longer) to Clifton Forge and then drive 45 minutes to Roanoke (this trip is not daily). Other modes of transportation to Roanoke include a 10 hour greyhound trip (4 hour drive), or a United Flight out of Dulles ($500) which takes the same amount of time (if not longer bc of security lines) as driving. Come on Roanoke.
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Travelguy on 7/22/2008 7:43:45 AM wrote:
Since Va officials don't intend to build new roads or even improve the ones we have I find it odd transportation is even an issue.
If Morgan Griffith and his fellow republicans get involved in this issue I'm sure they will kill it. I see a rail connection to Washington DC as a major economic development tool for this region, not just a vital transportation route.
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1ais01 on 7/22/2008 7:26:12 AM wrote:
Yes, passenger rail should be offered to points mentioned, and to the DC area. Just think of the lessening of the VA Tech/I-81 woes, via rail. We're the only industrialized nation that does not to have good service. I still can't believe that in Lee County, VA (near Bristol), many rails were taken "up" to allow for a new highway. I hope we can get "real."
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MsElenaeous on 7/21/2008 5:46:52 PM wrote:
Absoultely!
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