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

DATE: THURSDAY, September 23, 1993                   TAG: 9309290332
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A14   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

RAIL SERVICE

IN HIS EFFORT to get Roanoke back on track (passenger rail track, that is) Mayor Bowers has a valuable ally in state Sen. William Wampler, R-Bristol.

Wampler has set wheels in motion for the state's Department of Rail and Public Transportation to evaluate the market viability, costs and benefits for non-Amtrak passenger-train service that might run between Bristol and Richmond, via Roanoke, or from Bristol to Newport News.

It's Wampler's view that such service, similar to high-speed train service now running between Fredericksburg and Washington, could be operated more economically than an Amtrak route by leasing rather than buying the equipment.

This would likely require a state investment for start-up costs, but the legislator says this would be nowhere near Amtrak's estimated $60 million capital investment.

Wampler's interest theoretically could have two positive results.

If it could bring new, in-state privately run passenger-train service, that would be great for some Virginia areas now sadly lacking in such - Roanoke and far-Southwest Virginia included.

And, if it could help Bowers & Co. convince Amtrak that the New York-to-Atlanta route is doable after all, that would be great, too.

With this sell-job, Roanoke's mayor will need all the help he can get.

by CNB