(The following story by Kelly Hannon appeared at Fredericksburg.com on October 12.)
WOODBRIDGE, Va. — The pool of money for purchasing Virginia Railway Express locomotives is growing.
Sen. Jim Webb helped secure $5 million in federal money for the new locomotives, which can cost $3 million to $4 million apiece.
The Virginia Democrat announced the money at the Woodbridge VRE station yesterday. Afterward, he rode the midday southbound train to Rippon. Webb said the nation needs to invest less in “issues of the moment” and more in bridges, highways, rail and public transit.
“We’re not investing in the long-term infrastructure projects,” Webb said.
VRE has a fleet of 20 locomotives, which power VRE trains on the Fredericksburg and Manassas lines. Some of the locomotives are probably 40 to 50 years old, said Jennifer Straub, VRE’s deputy CEO.
The commuter railway needs to replace all 20 locomotives. It estimates it will need $80 million to do it.
So far, it has $5 million in federal money, $15 million from Virginia, and $3 million in local funds. That leaves $57 million to go.
Locomotive bids should come back in late November, Straub said. VRE will have a better price range per locomotive at that time.
Webb was supposed to meet with CSX Corp. officials to discuss rail capacity issues before the ride. CSX owns the tracks VRE uses.
But CSX representatives were called away to a derailment in Ohio, said Webb spokeswoman Jessica Smith. Webb met with VRE officials.
The senator was briefed on ridership, which is up 6 percent from September 2006. The average daily ridership was 14,432 passengers last month, compared with 13,517 a year ago.
In October, the railway has carried close to 16,000 passengers a day.
On-time performance has improved, too, a possible explanation for increased ridership.
Close to 90 percent of Fredericksburg Line trains have been on time in recent months.
VRE is also negotiating to add trains. In the Fredericksburg area, Straub said there appears to be strong interest for a morning train that leaves before 5:15 a.m., the first train out.
The train schedule will be discussed with localities this year during budget talks, Straub said.
After the locomotive announcement, Webb jumped on one of VRE’s new two-level gallery cars. Riders peered over their seats as the senator walked down the train aisle, trailed by reporters and photographers.
The trip from Woodbridge to Rippon took five minutes, so Webb didn’t have much time to chat.
Two rows away, rider Giovanna Wright was headed to Fredericksburg from her job as a patent examiner. She rides VRE once a week, and encounters few problems, she said.
Then again, VRE does have occasional mechanical trouble, often connected to its aging locomotives.
“When it’s bad, it’s very bad,” Wright said.
Webb wrapped his day at the National Museum of the Marine Corps and Heritage Center. The senator, a Vietnam War veteran who served in the Marine Corps, spent more than an hour on a guided tour.
Anyone interested in American or military history would enjoy a tour there, he said. “One of the most impressive qualities of this museum is it’s accessible to everyone,” Webb said.
“This is well worth coming to see.”