Rail Facts

Travel Cost:

* Taking Amtrak round trip between Richmond, VA and Washington, DC is 39.56% cheaper compared to paying an employee the federal recommended reimbursement for mileage.

* Taking Amtrak round trip between Williamsburg, VA and Washington, DC is 51.88% cheaper compared to paying an employee the federal recommended reimbursement for mileage.

* Taking Amtrak round trip between Newport News, VA and Washington, DC is 53.94% cheaper compared to paying an employee the federal recommended reimbursement for mileage.

* Taking Amtrak between Washington, DC and Richmond, VA is 91.13% cheaper than flying.

Environment:

* Intercity passenger trains average 51 mpg per passenger mile compared to 40 mpg per passenger mile for automobiles.

* Freight trains average 20.25 mpg compared to tractor-trailers that average 6.75 mpg.

*One railway track mile uses 0.42 football field(s) worth of land compared to one highway mile that equals 1.10.

*One Virginia Railway Express commuter train can equal as many as 800 cars taken off the highway.

* One intermodal freight train can equal up to 300 tractor-trailers.

Investment:

* For every $1 invested in public transportation such as intercity passenger rail, $4

is returned in economic development.