Citizens, city, state, and federal officials turned out on April 26 for the grand re-opening of the Kemper Street Station in Lynchburg. Kemper Street Station will serve as a hub for the TransDominion Express.
Highlights of the ceremony included live entertainment, food, and exhibits. Rail enthusiasts exhibited alongside Amtrak officials, who offered information on current service options from Lynchburg and conducted a drawing for rail tickets. The Lynchburg Regional Chamber of Commerce, which provides staff support for the Committee to Advance the TransDominion Express, also manned a display of current information on that project.
Several dignitaries, including Delegate L. Preston Bryant (R)-Lynchburg and Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R) (pictured here), offered remarks at the ceremony. Both men spoke of the importance of the Kemper Street Station as it relates to transportation in Lynchburg. Bryant commented that this station will serve as the hub for the TransDominion Express, the proposed passenger rail service that will run from Bristol through Lynchburg, where it will fork to Washington DC to the north and Richmond to the east. He indicated that the station’s renovation is a vital step toward making the TDX a reality.
Rex Hammond, Executive Secretary of the Committee to Advance the TransDominion Express, spoke of the project’s passenger service. Proposed amenities will include a cafe and lounge car with family and business table seating, fresh local foods and beverages. Movies, music channels, bicycle racks, outlets for laptops, adjustable seats with foot rests, and wheelchair accessibility will also be among the amenities.
In addition to serving as an Amtrak station, the facility also serves as a Greyhound bus station, a GLTC bus stop, and a business location for Central Virginia Industries and Woods, Rogers & Hazelgrove Law Firm.