Meredith Richards always thought Central Virginia harbored pent-up rail demand. But the former Charlottesville City Councilor admits to a pleasant surprise when Amtrak revealed figures showing that the new daily passenger train service she spearheaded has topped its annual ridership goal— with half a year left to go.

Amtrak had predicted annual ridership of 51,000 people on the Virginia extension of its “Northeast Regional” train. But by March— just six months after the October 1 launch— it had served 55,025 passengers. And by generating over $2.8 million in revenue, the service has also exceeded the annual goal of $2.6 million.

“It’s amazing,” says Richards, who heads an advocacy group called the Piedmont Rail Coalition. “People are ready to get out of their cars and onto trains.”

Ridership on the Lynchburg-to-Boston service appears so strong, says one state official, that this part of a three-year pilot program actually stands a chance of turning a profit. Not too shabby for a service launched with a gubernatorial promise of up to $2.9 million a year in state subsidy.

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