
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, April 29, 1993                   TAG: 9304290152
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER SOUTHWEST BUREAU
DATELINE: WYTHEVILLE                                LENGTH: Medium

LEADERS EAGER FOR AMTRAK

Even if Amtrak train service for Southwest Virginia turns out to be a trip to nowhere, officials from cities and towns along its proposed route seemed ready Tuesday to buy tickets.

Fifteen municipal representatives from Radford, Christiansburg, Wytheville, Marion, Bristol and even Knoxville, Tenn., met informally with Roanoke Mayor David Bowers and Vice Mayor Beverly Fitzpatrick Jr. to discuss the possibility of landing an Amtrak line between Roanoke and Chattanooga.

Even if Bowers' efforts do not bring Amtrak to the region, they may have started interest among municipalities in working together on other projects.

"This is as positive an opportunity to sit in the same room with so many leaders that I have ever had," said Fitzpatrick. He said it reminded him of the Lacy Commission, a group appointed by the General Assembly that set an agenda for the economic development of Southwest Virginia a decade ago.

"We're focusing on Amtrak, but that gives us a chance to talk about a lot of other opportunities as well," Fitzpatrick said.

Radford City Councilman Gary Weddle said the Amtrak proposal had been of interest not only in the city, but to the New River Valley Economic Development Alliance as well.

The officials planned a follow-up session June 29 in Bristol for more specific planning and seeing what it would take to return passenger train service to the region. "Nothing will happen unless you make it happen," said Wytheville Vice Mayor Tom Bralley. "And I think this is what it's all about."

"I'm very pleased that this idea has caught fire with a lot of folks," Bowers said. "It's not going to happen tomorrow," he cautioned. "It's a long-term planning process."

Bristol, Tenn., Mayor John Gaines said a ticket agent had told him that many in the Virginia-Tennessee area buy Amtrak tickets even though they must drive hundreds of miles to the nearest depot to use them. "I had no idea that we were selling lots of tickets in Bristol and Sullivan County [Tenn.]," Gaines said. "I know Amtrak would like to come closer to breaking even, and more ridership is how you do that."

Bowers said he was amazed at the number of foreign visitors to Roanoke during his 10 months in office; he said people from industrialized Europe and Japan are not used to driving interstates. "They want to take the train. And they do," he said, but, unfortunately, not to Southwest Virginia since Amtrak does not run there yet.

by CNB