Amtrak 15 year expansion project does not include current plans for extension of services to Bristol

Bristol appears to not be on Amtrak’s radar following the company’s announcement of a 15 year plan to vastly expand services across the country.

President Joe Biden announced a $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan on Wednesday, with Amtrak hoping to greatly benefit from that proposal that involves the U.S. spending over $600 billion for transportation related upgrades.

The long term plan calls for the passenger rail service to make stops to around 160 communities along some 30 new routes, and add stops to 20 existing routes by 2035. Proposals for new services include stops in Asheville, Chattanooga, Nashville, and Christiansburg.

A 2019 study forecasted approximately 23,600 annual travelers from Bristol and the creation of more than 350 jobs if Amtrak came to the Twin Cities.

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