Residents in the New River Valley got a clearer picture of what passenger rail service to the region may look like Monday evening at an open house put on by the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority at the Blacksburg Community Center.
The open house featured a presentation from the VPRA detailing the three proposed alternatives for a train platform and layover facilities in the Christiansburg area as well as the opportunity for attendees to answer a survey on the topic. If one of the plans goes ahead, Amtrak service could begin in the region as soon as 2028. The New River Valley has not had passenger rail service since 1979.
“They want train service to come here as soon and safely as possible, and there’s a lot of really educated thought on the various options,” VPRA chief operating officer Michael McLaughlin said he was hearing from members of the public Monday. “We’re trying to hopefully bring that transparency and helping to explain why the process might take some time. The sentiment has been really thoughtful, helpful, constructive thought.”