High speed rail recommendations focus on Staples Mill, Main Street stations

The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation released their recommendations for high speed rail in Central Virginia on Tuesday. The high level recommendations outline the railroad routes and stations that would best serve a high speed rail line from Washington, D.C. to Richmond and points south.

Under the plan, the existing Staples Mill Road station would be improved and the newly-improved Main Street Station would serve passengers as well.

The plan, as it sits now, would total around $1.5 billion. The multi-station approach would allow for a distribution of passenger capacity in two different areas of the city.

New platforms would be required at the Staples Mill station and a new bridge would be built over the James River as well.

While much more work still needs to be done before the plan is finalized, it’s a major step towards bringing high speed service to the area.

Additional reading

• Full High Speed Rail recommendations
• Richmond corridor draft plan (PDF)

Corridor plan by section

High speed rail primer

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