NEWS RELEASE – February 3, 2025

December also tops in monthly ridership 

RICHMOND — The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority’s (VPRA) state-supported Amtrak Virginia service set a record for ridership during calendar year 2024 with 1,389,840 passengers traveling.  That is the highest ridership mark since the Commonwealth launched state-supported service in 2009.  The 2024 figure beat the previous record set during calendar year 2023 by +4.8%.  It also topped the pre-pandemic record of 953,008 set in 2019 by 45%.  All four Amtrak Virginia corridors saw increases in 2024.  

Calendar Year 2024 vs Calendar Year 2023 Comparison 

Route CY2024 CY2023 % Increase
Route 46 Roanoke 343,585 331,836 +3.5%
Route 47 Newport News 381,675 363,835 +4.9%
Route 50 Norfolk 515,448 490,719 +5.0%
Route 51 Richmond 149,132 139,541 +6.9%
Total 1,389,840 1,325,931 +4.8%

 December also set a record for the highest monthly ridership with more than 136,000 passengers traveling.  The total, 136,433, was the highest monthly ridership recorded since the state launched its Amtrak Virginia service, beating the previous record of 130,998 set in August of 2023 by +4.1%.  The total is also a record for the month of December and an increase of nearly +24% compared to December of 2023. 

December 2024 vs December 2023 Comparison 

Route December 2024 December 2023 % Increase
Route 46 Roanoke 34,339 26,300 +30.6%
Route 47 Newport News 36,983 29,409 +25.8%
Route 50 Norfolk 50,825 42,202 +20.4%
Route 51 Richmond 14,286 12,441 +14.8%
Total 136,433 110,352 +23.6%

For the month of December, all four Amtrak Virginia corridors had double-digit increases year-over-year with Roanoke seeing the largest increase at 30.5%.  The Sunday after Thanksgiving, traditionally one of the busiest travel days of the year, fell on December 1 in 2024, contributing to the record month. 

“The holiday season was a busy time for us – our stations were crowded, and our trains were full,” said DJ Stadtler, Executive Director of VPRA.  “But our 2024 record ridership represents more than just holiday travel. It is indicative of Virginians using passenger rail as a convenient part of their travel plans.” 

VPRA continues to work diligently to expand passenger rail in the Commonwealth.  Last fall the authority broke ground on Long Bridge, the largest of its Transforming Rail in Virginia (TRV) projects.  The $2.3 billion infrastructure improvement will connect Arlington, Virginia with Washington, DC via a new two-track railroad bridge, dedicated solely to passenger rail.  The project is scheduled for completion in 2030 and will allow VPRA to increase the number of daily Amtrak Virginia roundtrips from the current eight to 13 with service connecting to Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor.     

Additionally, last fall also saw ribbon cuttings at two stations in the Commonwealth – Newport News and Quantico.  The Newport News Transportation Center is a brand-new facility built to replace an ageing station that the Amtrak Virginia service had outgrown.  The new station offers more parking, upgraded passenger amenities, and connections to Amtrak’s Thruway Bus Service, Hampton Roads Transit, taxi service, and shuttles to and from the Newport News-Williamsburg Airport. 

At Quantico, the station was upgraded to better meet the needs of passengers including adding an overhead pedestrian walkway with elevators for ADA accessibility.  VPRA also added a third track through the area which will allow for an increase in the number of trains operating and improving the on-time performance for all.   

Currently, Amtrak Virginia’s eight daily roundtrips include three between Norfolk and Washington, DC, two between both Roanoke and Washington, and Newport News and Washington, and one between Richmond and the nation’s capital.  The service offers a one-seat ride from Virginia to Philadelphia, New York, and Boston as well as intermediate stops on Amtrak’s 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, the Commonwealth’s service has grown to include eight roundtrips daily with stops at 17 stations along four corridors.  For more information, please visit vapassengerrailauthority.org. 

 ###