The Bay Creek Railway will be the first passenger service car in 50 years on the Eastern Shore in Virginia. The Virginian-Pilot reports that the Bay Creek Railway will operate a restored 1913 “interurban parlor car” that will seat about 30 passengers on 2 hour Friday and Saturday night dinner trips and shorter trips without food. The railway is considering all-you-can-eat pizza trains for kids and wine tasting trips for adults.
Bay Creek Railway is the creation of Richard S. Foster, Virginia Bach developer, and developer of Bay Creek resort. He signed a 30-year lease with the Accomack-Northampton Transportation District Commission in 2006 for what is now called the Bay Coast Railroad. The Bay Coast is a 77 mile freight line that runs from Pocomoke City, Maryland (MD) down the Eastern Shore and into Norfolk, Virginia (VA) across the Chesapeake Bay.
The Eastern shore has high hopes for the railroad and hopes it will bring in tourists. According to Larry E. LeMond, Vice President of Operations for Bay Coast, rail traffic has increased 40% in 2008 from January to April compared to the same period in 2007. A document filed with the U.S. Surface Transportation Board in 2006 states that they expect to earn annual revenue of less than $5 million.
With gas prices rising, rail travel becomes even more efficient by comparison. The high cost of travel by plane or by car also encourages more local holiday options. Perhaps this rail service on the Eastern Shore will attract more folks to vacation in Virginia.
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