Virginia Association of Railway Patrons
The Virginia Association of Railway Patrons (VARP) is a non-profit, all volunteer organization promoting high-performance rail services, both passenger and freight, in the states of Virginia and West Virginia.
There are tentatively seven rail corridors in Virginia and West Virginia that VARP is promoting as parts of the North American Steel Interstate System:
1. I-95 Corridor paralleled closely by CSX;
2. I-85 Corridor (abandoned by CSX) being developed for 110 MPH track speed as part of the Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor;
3. I-81 Corridor closely paralleled by Norfolk Southern;
4. US-29 corridor closely paralleled by Norfolk Southern;
5. I-64 Corridor, (Virginia and West Virginia) paralleled by CSX;
6. US-460 Corridor between Norfolk and Radford, paralleled by Norfolk Southern, and;
7. I-270/I-70 Corridor between Washington, D.C. and Pittsburg, PA, roughly paralleled by the former B&O RR (current CSX).
These rail corridors will be upgraded to Steel Interstate standards permitting 79 mph - 110 mph track speeds, accommodating:
- 20 passenger trains/day, minimum at regional stations
- 60% of non-local trucks diverted to rail
- 200 daily premium trains, all moving between 79 mph & 110 mph
- Slower trains at night/off peak or on auxiliary/local-access tracks