NEWS RELEASE – May 31, 2024
Strong spring leads to summer with a record-setting April
RICHMOND — The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) announced today that its state-supported passenger rail service, Amtrak Virginia, saw another month of record ridership in April. With a total of 118,474 passengers traveling, April 2024 beat April 2023 by 9.8%. All four Amtrak Virginia corridors saw ridership increases resulting in the highest ridership for the month of April since the Commonwealth started state-supported service in 2009. The Norfolk corridor again carried the most passengers with 44,616 traveling.
April 2024 vs April 2023 Comparison
| Route | April 2024 | April 2023 | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Route 46 Roanoke | 28,623 | 27,429 | +4.4% |
| Route 47 Newport News | 32,322 | 29,945 | +7.9% |
| Route 50 Norfolk | 44,616 | 39,197 | +13.8% |
| Route 51 Richmond | 12,913 | 11,358 | +13.7% |
| Total | 118,474 | 107,929 | +9.8% |
“For 11 of the past 12 months, our Amtrak Virginia service has set a monthly record,” said DJ Stadtler, Executive Director of VPRA. “VPRA was created because the General Assembly saw a need to provide more passenger rail options for travelers, and with these numbers, it’s clear they were right. We look forward to seeing more Virginians on board this summer.”
Monthly Ridership Totals – Last 12 Months
| Month | Ridership | Month | Ridership |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 2024 | 118,474 | October 2023 | 125,689 |
| March 2024 | 123,658 | September 2023 | 122,814 |
| February 2024 | 92,110 | August 2023 | 130,998 |
| January 2024 | 87,918 | July 2023 | 125,488 |
| December 2023 | 110,352* | June 2023 | 111,212 |
| November 2023 | 118,235 | May 2023 | 102,434 |
*Not a monthly ridership record.
Only the month of December 2023 did not set a record for monthly ridership over the past twelve months. At 110,352, it fell just short of the record of 111,082 set in December 2022. The month of August 2023 holds the all-time record for monthly ridership at 130,998.
VPRA manages the state’s Amtrak Virginia service, which includes eight daily roundtrips along four corridors. Service travels through the Commonwealth from Roanoke, Norfolk, Newport News, and Richmond to Washington, DC and points north including Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston.
In addition to the Amtrak Virginia service, VPRA also has the lead on the state’s Transforming Rail in Virginia (TRV) initiative. This forward-looking plan is designed to give Virginians an alternative to driving along congested highways and interstates — to provide some relief from what has become Virginia’s “all day rush hour.” The initiative calls for moving Virginians by using an existing rail corridor and building new infrastructure, eventually separating freight and passenger rail services. When complete, Amtrak Virginia will offer a total of 13 daily roundtrips traveling throughout the state and connecting to the Northeast Corridor.
About Virginia Passenger Rail Authority
The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority was established in 2020 to promote, sustain, and expand the availability of passenger and commuter rail service in the Commonwealth. VPRA is committed to delivering and expanding its state-supported Amtrak Virginia passenger rail service. The Commonwealth of Virginia first launched state-supported service in 2009 with one roundtrip between Washington, DC and Lynchburg, VA. Since that time, Virginia’s state-supported passenger rail service has grown to include eight roundtrips daily with stops at 17 stations along four corridors. For more information, please visit vapassengerrailauthority.org.
Follow us on social media: Facebook @VAPassengerRail, X @vapassengerrail, LinkedIn virginia-passenger-rail-authority, and YouTube @virginiapassengerrailauthority.
###
