Would you take Amtrak more if there were additional trains leaving Hampton Roads? [Video]

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) — People are traveling by Amtrak in and out of Hampton Roads more than ever before.

In August alone, more than 87,000 passenger took trains trains originating or bound to either Newport News or Norfolk, a 10% increase over the previous year. Ridership hit an all-time high in 2022.

However a recent report by the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization found trips on Amtrak still make up less than 1% of travel in and out of the region.

They’ve wondered if adding more frequent service will be the ticket to more riders, proposing the RVA757 Connector.

Amtrak adds more service for holiday travel

Currently, a total of 10 trains service the three railroad stations serving Hampton Roads each day during the week — two northbound and southbound at Newport News and Williamsburg and three northbound and southbound out of Norfolk.

In total, the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority, which receives money from the Commonwealth of Virginia, budgeted $83.2 million this fiscal year …