BRISTOL, Va. – It sounds like regional leaders are all aboard to bring passenger rail service to and through Bristol again.
A Friday meeting of the TransDominion Express committee, a group dedicated to returning passenger trips back to Virginia, drew lawmakers and leaders from the region and both states to the Bristol Train Station to garner enthusiasm for the project.
The initiative has been discussed for years, but got another burst of energy this year after Gov. Bob McDonnell announced the return of passenger rail service to Roanoke.
Passenger service in Lynchburg has already been more successful than originally planned, said Rex Hammond, president and CEO of the Lynchburg Regional Chamber and executive director of the TransDominion committee. He said the effort has been a boost for tourism in the city.