[TDDance234]

Not everyone likes where the station is located. Some say it's hard to find. Others want it closer to a major highway.

Officials at Liberty University are offering a solution. They want to build a brand new train station, right next to their campus.

and:

"We believe many more students would use the train if it would be close by here," said LU Chancellor Jerry Falwell, Junior, who has submitted a proposal to Amtrak.

The school is offering to build a new train station, and pay for all construction costs. Amtrak would then lease the property from LU.

Students who already ride Amtrak are excited about the idea.

"I think it would be great, because it would actually be close by," said LU Student, Josh Brelsford.

But would it be convenient for everyone else?

Falwell believes it would. His proposed site is next to the junction of Routes 29 and 460. A train station in this location would be 15 minutes closer to Roanoke and points west than the current Kemper Street station.

By building a new train facility near the Lynchburg Regional Airport, Falwell thinks the area could become a regional transportation hub.

Pretty interesting. I'm not sure how feasible it would be but would be nice to have a station near campus.

Rest of the article is HERE.

[Purple Haize]

I became an Amtrak fan this summer! I take whenever I am traveling to DC and points up the NE (Baltimore, Philly, New York Boston). Currently parking is horrible at Kemper Street and I don't feel safe leaving my car there. I think this is an interesting idea and initially I'm for it.

[ALUmnus]

I'm not sure what all active businesses are being run next to the airport (back behind Sheetz), but I've always thought that was a great location for something like this. There's TONS of space down there, and the tracks go right through it. And you've got the airport and car rentals adjacent to the lot. Most of it seems abandoned, but I don't know that for sure.

[Hold My Own]

Well, theres no longer a need to make it the central transfer station for GLTC...might as well have it be a train station. I'd love to see it be the epicenter for something along those lines...anything we can do to help shift the center for everything being downtown I'm 100% for.

[ALUmnus]

Do I sense a new type of engineering program on the horizon?

I kid, I kid. Though my son would think I'm the coolest man on the planet if I was a train conductor. Well, he already does, but it would definitely take it up to another level.

[Cider Jim]

Best part of the whole article:

A final decision on the new station will be made by Amtrak. Falwell says approval from the city of Lynchburg will not be necessary to move forward.

[ALUmnus]

Best part of the whole article:

A final decision on the new station will be made by Amtrak. Falwell says approval from the city of Lynchburg will not be necessary to move forward.

The location is in Campbell County, isn't it? I would imagine only Amtrak would need to approve.

[UVALibertyFan]

The biggest problem with this is that it would make it much harder to continue train service to Roanoke and beyond with a station near the airport. A train would have to somehow turn around to get back to the track that goes to Roanoke.

[logic]

Don't confuse Freight and commercial lines. No commercial service in Roanoke. This line runs down to Danville and then on to Charlotte. Bus link from Roanoke - much easier to connect right off 460 than go downtown. Kemper = historical....fine....airport station = logical. Ever tried to park at Kemper? As Haize said parking is horrible.

[Purple Haize]

The biggest problem with this is that it would make it much harder to continue train service to Roanoke and beyond with a station near the airport. A train would have to somehow turn around to get back to the track that goes to Roanoke.

This is a legitimate concern. But I think the western running lines are being discussed as a FUTURE project. If they are running a line East to West, Bristol to Va Beach, I'm not sure why you'd have to turn the train around. But there are smarter people then I looking at it. Ha

[LUconn]

Kemper is a neat place but it really is a huge mess. I wouldn't ever leave my car there. And when you're picking someone up there's just cars everywhere because there's like 10 parking spots. It's gridlock until the last car in, leaves.

[rogers3]

Kemper is a neat place but it really is a huge mess. I wouldn't ever leave my car there. And when you're picking someone up there's just cars everywhere because there's like 10 parking spots. It's gridlock until the last car in, leaves.

Parking is an issue at Kemper, but how would a station near the airport serve proposed Bristol to Richmond service? It could be worked out for sure; Kemper isn't ideal for that either. At one point, we had an Amtrak station behind the Kirkley for a train called The Hilltopper. It is now a NS office, but it is in the best spot to meet the needs of a Northeast Regional and east/west traffic.

In regards to the city, I wonder how long Amtrak's lease is at the Kemper St. station. They added a good amount of infrastructure and I'd guess that is viewed as a long term capital improvement.


HMO- What is your beef with downtown. Kemper St. has parking issues, but it is pretty convenient- to us 03ers, LC students, most city residents, etc.

[rogers3]

The biggest problem with this is that it would make it much harder to continue train service to Roanoke and beyond with a station near the airport. A train would have to somehow turn around to get back to the track that goes to Roanoke.

This is a legitimate concern. But I think the western running lines are being discussed as a FUTURE project. If they are running a line East to West, Bristol to Va Beach, I'm not sure why you'd have to turn the train around. But there are smarter people then I looking at it. Ha

You either have to turn it or run it backwards to the "Y" just past Candlers. The line that goes east - west get as close as the Kirkley's back lot, but that is about it.

[rueful]

No one is saying it, maybe not everyone knew it.

Current train station was best place for alone time with a significant other if you lived on campus. If I was a current student, Id be crying at the thought of this.

[Hold My Own]

No one is saying it, maybe not everyone knew it.

Current train station was best place for alone time with a significant other if you lived on campus. If I was a current student, Id be crying at the thought of this.

I'm sure there is some freaky term for the definition of "enjoy's performing intimate actions in front of homeless people" but I'm not sure what it is

[rogers3]

No one is saying it, maybe not everyone knew it.

Current train station was best place for alone time with a significant other if you lived on campus. If I was a current student, Id be crying at the thought of this.

I'm sure there is some freaky term for the definition of "enjoy's performing intimate actions in front of homeless people" but I'm not sure what it is

Come on HMO- there are likely as many homeless people living in the wooded area around Ruby Tuesday and CVCC than there are around Kemper St. I can't figure out what the LU higher ups beef is with downtown. Yeah, people look different, no matter what the color... the housing isn't up to the standards of the gentry? Not enough panhandlers downtown to suit... you know, the ones who hold up their signs along Wards Rd.?

The architecture, the dining, the basic "interestingness" of downtown make the Liberty/Wards Rd. area pale in comparison. What next... some rules that disallow LU students from spending money downtown (both students and faculty seem to be pretty prevalent downtown, by the way)?

I'd venture to say that other than seeing their kids when they visit, many parents find staying or visiting downtown as one of the good memories of trips to Lynchburg. Maybe you should drop in and see how many there are meandering around on a Saturday morning.

[Purple Haize]

That's all well and good, but the Kemper Street station is in a very rough area of town. There is no getting around that.

[Cider Jim]

Rogers3, with all due respect, there is a huge difference between downtown Lynchburg and inner-city Lynchburg. I would have no problem walking anywhere on Main Street after dark, but I wouldn't want to be walking anywhere near Kemper Street after dark.

A few years ago, my old college roommate's son visited LU for its football summer camp, and he was taking the train home to Chattanooga. One of LU's assistant coaches dropped him off at the Kemper train station about 3 hours before his train was to pick him up, and he called me as it was getting close to dark. I quickly drove to pick him up before something bad could have potentially happened to him in that part of town.

I was scoutmaster of Troop 1 (1989-1995) near Kemper Street, and that's about as inner city as Lynchburg gets. Rogers3, would you honestly have no problem with walking--after dark--from the Kemper train station to a restaurant on Main Street? If you wouldn't, you're a braver man than I am.

[rogers3]

That's all well and good, but the Kemper Street station is in a very rough area of town. There is no getting around that.

In the eye of the beholder, of course. I'd venture to say that crime statistics won't support the suggestions that you are unsafe at the train station. My father-in-law, whom I'm sure you know, comes to my house (I live out Rivermont, close to Riverside Park) and sometimes, has to head back to his tidy Forest address after the sun sets. He consults with his wife- "Now, how do we get home?" I suggest going right back the way he came, through downtown to the expressway, and then on to 460. He makes a face and replies with "I cant drive down there at night!" He opts for an extra 10 minutes on his way home to avoid downtown. I lived downtown for 8 years (Washington, near Grace St.) and ran after dark, walked, biked, etc. without ever having a single problem. I had more issues with property damage when I lived in one of the nicer parts of Fort Hill back in the day, than when I lived downtown. True, there was the tragedy with the gentleman downtown a couple of years ago, but if that kind of crime was occurring regularly, why are there so many people downtown in the evenings?

[rogers3]

Rogers3, with all due respect, there is a huge difference between downtown Lynchburg and inner-city Lynchburg. I would have no problem walking anywhere on Main Street after dark, but I wouldn't want to be walking anywhere near Kemper Street after dark.

A few years ago, my old college roommate's son visited LU for its football summer camp, and he was taking the train home to Chattanooga. One of LU's assistant coaches dropped him off at the Kemper train station about 3 hours before his train was to pick him up, and he called me as it was getting close to dark. I quickly drove to pick him up before something bad could have potentially happened to him in that part of town.

I was scoutmaster of Troop 1 (1989-1995) near Kemper Street, and that's about as inner city as Lynchburg gets. Rogers3, would you honestly have no problem with walking--after dark--from the Kemper train station to a restaurant on Main Street? If you wouldn't, you're a braver man than I am.

If everyone had to make that "treacherous trip" from Kemper to the Main St. area, there might be a better argument. Some getting fearful after the sun sets is not the same as someone being in danger after the sun sets. I take my three kids down to Kemper quite a bit when it is warmer to watch trains. Open top Wrangler, a 9,6, and 1.5 year old, and I don't worry a bit. The vast majority of crime if downtown Lynchburg is criminal against criminal. Lastly, I've run that area plenty after dark, back before the renewal we've seen downtown- no nice restaurants- nothing down there, and was never accosted or bothered. Once a couple of guys said something that sounded snide while I ran by. I stopped turn and ran right back and said that I didn't hear what they said. The chuckled and said that they thought I was a cop they knew. Smile, waved, and went on my way.

[BJWilliams]

I have to agree with Purple and Cider. Ive taken the bus quite a few times over at Kemper Street and when I had a bus that left around 10 over this most recent fall break...I didnt leave for the bus station until as close to departure time as possible.

[rogers3]

I have to agree with Purple and Cider. Ive taken the bus quite a few times over at Kemper Street and when I had a bus that left around 10 over this most recent fall break...I didnt leave for the bus station until as close to departure time as possible.

Fear is your biggest enemy, BJ. Look at the city's crime stats... and beware of Dreaming Creek apartments off of Timberlake. Plenty of crime there. Wards Rd., Old Forest Rd., all the same.The biggest issue people have is the scenario they imagine, and it is rarely based on factual information.

[Humble_Opinion]

I don't really understand what the deal is here Rogers... It suits Liberty's population to have the train station moved near campus and an argument could be made that it serves the local economy by having it closer to the ailing Airport.

Ultimately the decision is Amtrak's to make. If they decide that their ridership would go up by being exposed to the more densely populated and visited Ward's Rd - thus decreasing the amount of money that the taxpayers have to pay to subsidize the operation - then great. If they decide against it then no harm is done.

[Cider Jim]

I take my three kids down to Kemper quite a bit when it is warmer to watch trains. Open top Wrangler, a 9,6, and 1.5 year old, and I don't worry a bit.

I knew there was a reason I liked you: I drive a '97 Wrangler myself.

[rogers3]

I don't really understand what the deal is here Rogers... It suits Liberty's population to have the train station moved near campus and an argument could be made that it serves the local economy by having it closer to the ailing Airport.

Ultimately the decision is Amtrak's to make. If they decide that their ridership would go up by being exposed to the more densely populated and visited Ward's Rd - thus decreasing the amount of money that the taxpayers have to pay to subsidize the operation - then great. If they decide against it then no harm is done.

Read from the beginning Humble! I am just challenging HMO et al on their negative views of downtown, in general. I don't really have a strong opinion on the station move, and being a big fan of the rail industry in general, I know that nothing will happen fast. I also know that the offer LU is making Amtrak is no different that that of any developer and plenty of government agencies get these offers everyday (the downtown courthouse, for example). How Amtrak works out the logistics of future corridors will present problems with the Kemper St. location in the long run, so eventually, if things pan out the way VDOT would like, I'd guess a change will be made. A really ideal location that would probably meet those needs really well would be a station down below TRBC, where there is plenty of space and where the railroad already has support infrastructure.