Rail service available in Roanoke after 38-year hiatus

After a 38-year hiatus, passenger rail service returned to Roanoke on Oct. 31, 2017. The return of the service connects the Radford University community to the Northeastern United States via Amtrak’s Northeast Regional Service, connecting the region to cities such as Charlottesville, Washington DC, Philadelphia, New York and Boston..                                       

The service offers an affordable method of transportation for Radford students, alumni, faculty, staff and community members. Riders can reach the Roanoke rail service via the Smart Way bus service with stops located in Christiansburg and Blacksburg.

Using the rail service allows for passengers to avoid Interstate 81 and any potential traffic or weather delays.

Each morning one Northeast Regional train leaves from Roanoke and returns around 10 p.m. The trains connect Southwest Virginia with the Northern part of the United States, including Washington D.C., Boston and New York.

Radford University faculty, staff and students can purchase tickets for the passenger rail service from the Amtrak website.

Aligning with the new rail service in the region, Radford University hosted more than 70 municipal leaders and community organizations representing the citizens of the New River Valley for the New River Rail 2020 Legislative Reception on Sept. 20 2017 in Kyle Hall.

The strategic efforts to bring passenger rail service to the New River Valley, home to more than 180,000 residents and 40,000 college students, were discussed and reviewed during the reception. Leaders said that the Roanoke rail line boosts the prospect of having a station in the New River Valley.