RF&P Subdivision

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RF&P Subdivision
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Landover Subdivision
to Landover
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I-395.svg
I-395
Center Leg Freeway
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Washington Union Station BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg Virginia Railway Express.svg MARC train.svg WMATA Red.svg
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112.2 mi
180.6 km
First Street Tunnel (Virginia Tower)
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111.9 mi
180.1 km
L'Enfant
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111.3 mi
179.1 km
DC
VA
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110.1 mi
177.2 km
RO Tower
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Crystal City
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105.1 mi
169.1 km
Alexandria
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Alexandria Yard
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104.3 mi
167.9 km
AF Tower
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103.9 mi
167.2 km
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102.8 mi
165.4 km
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101.2 mi
162.9 km
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99.3 mi
159.8 km
Franconia–Springfield
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93.0 mi
149.7 km
Lorton
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92.3 mi
148.5 km
Lorton
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88.9 mi
143.1 km
Woodbridge
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85.3 mi
137.3 km
Rippon
Virginia Railway Express.svg
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Potomac Shores
(planned) Virginia Railway Express.svg
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79.1 mi
127.3 km
Quantico
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69.1 mi
111.2 km
Brooke
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63.5 mi
102.2 km
Leeland Road
Virginia Railway Express.svg
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61.1 mi
98.3 km
Dahlgren Junction
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59.3 mi
95.4 km
Fredericksburg
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Spotsylvania
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53.2 mi
85.6 km
XR Tower
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37.8 mi
60.8 km
Milford Tower
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21.8 mi
35.1 km
Doswell Diamond (Piedmont Subdivision)
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4.8 mi
7.7 km
Alexandria Union Station, served by Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express Alexandria Union Station.jpg
Alexandria Union Station, served by Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express

The RF&P Subdivision is a railroad line operated by CSX Transportation and jointly owned by CSX and Virginia. It runs from Washington, D.C., to Richmond, Virginia, over lines previously owned by the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad. The line's name pays homage to that railroad, which was a predecessor to the CSX.

Contents

Route description

At the northern (eastern) end of the line, the RF&P Sub connects to the Capital Subdivision, which runs to Baltimore, Maryland. Just before the Anacostia Railroad Bridge on the Capital Sub is the Virginia Avenue Tunnel. South (west) of the tunnel is a branch to the Amtrak First Street Tunnel, which leads to Washington Union Station and the Northeast Corridor. The Virginia Avenue Tunnel is used only for freight trains, while the First Street Tunnel is used only for passenger trains.

Continuing south, the RF&P Sub crosses the Potomac River over the Long Bridge into Northern Virginia, and passes through Alexandria and Fredericksburg stations, ending in Richmond at the Richmond Terminal Subdivision. [1] [2]

Operations

The RF&P Sub is part of CSX Transportation's eastern seaboard line, and carries freight trains, as well as passenger trains for Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express (VRE). Freight traffic capacity on the subdivision has been improved by the modernization of the Virginia Avenue Tunnel. The tunnel is now double-tracked and has a higher vertical clearance, which allows the use of double-stack freight cars. South of Long Bridge is triple tracked until Franconia Station where it reduces to double track.

Proposed modifications

In 2008 CSX proposed improvements to the RF&P Sub in what would be a public-private partnership, as part of its National Gateway initiative. [3] The improvements would enable use of double-stack cars, and include a modified or rebuilt tunnel, and lowering of track levels at several presently-restricted roadway overpasses. [4]

In 2019, the Commonwealth of Virginia announced that they would purchase track from CSX along the subdivision in order to expand passenger rail service. The acquisition included half of the existing right-of-way and 39 miles of existing 3rd and 4th tracks; this accompanied and cemented existing plans to build a new passenger-only span at Long Bridge, expanding stations along the line, and adding additional passenger-only sidings and tracks. [5] The partial sale was completed in 2021. [6]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad</span> Railroad company in Virginia, later part of CSX

The Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac Railroad was a railroad connecting Richmond, Virginia, to Washington, D.C. The track is now the RF&P Subdivision of the CSX Transportation system; the original corporation is no longer a railroad company.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quantico station</span> Train station in Quantico, Virginia, USA

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fredericksburg station</span> Railway station in Fredericksburg, Virginia, US

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">CSX A-Line Bridge</span> Bridge in Richmond, Virginia

The CSX A-Line Bridge is a double-track concrete bridge that carries the North End Subdivision of CSX Transportation over the James River in Richmond, Virginia. The bridge was built jointly by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad in 1919. Designed by John E. Greiner, this bridge was one of many he drew up for the RF&P, and brought early success to his recently established private consulting business. The purpose of this "million dollar bridge" was to create a quicker, more direct route around Richmond by passing over east–west tracks on both sides of the river.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virginia Avenue Tunnel</span>

The Virginia Avenue Tunnel is a railroad tunnel in Washington, D.C. owned by CSX Transportation. It is part of the CSX RF&P Subdivision and serves freight trains along the eastern seaboard routes, providing a bypass around Union Station.

National Gateway is a multi-stage railroad construction project in the United States promoted by CSX Transportation, a unit of CSX Corporation. It is designed to improve rail connections between ports in the U.S. mid-Atlantic seaboard and the Midwest by upgrading bridges and tunnels to allow taller freight trains. In 2008 the company announced its plans to invest $300 million, and is seeking investment from state governments and the U.S. federal government of an additional $400 million as a public-private partnership. Phase 1 of the $850 million project, between CSX's existing terminal in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and its hub facility in Northwest Ohio. was completed in September 2013.

The Landover Subdivision is a railroad line owned and operated by CSX Transportation. It runs from the Anacostia section of Washington, D.C., to Landover, Maryland, serving as a freight train bypass of Washington Union Station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long Bridge (Potomac River)</span> Bridge series between Washington, D.C. and Virginia

Long Bridge is the common name used for three successive bridges connecting Washington, D.C., to Arlington, Virginia, over the Potomac River. The first was built in 1808 for foot, horse and stagecoach traffic, and bridges in the vicinity were repaired and replaced several times in the 19th century. The current bridge was built in 1904 and substantially modified in 1942. It has only been used for railroad traffic and is owned by CSX Transportation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amtrak Virginia</span> Amtrak train routes in Virginia, US

Amtrak Virginia is the collective name for Virginia's state-supported Amtrak train service, all of which falls under the Northeast Regional brand. Amtrak Virginia trains run between Washington, D.C., and one of four southern termini: Richmond, Newport News, Norfolk, or Roanoke. Trains generally continue north from D.C. along the Northeast Corridor, providing one-seat rides from Virginia to Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston.

Potomac Shores station is a planned Virginia Railway Express Fredericksburg Line station that will be located in Dumfries, Virginia. Construction is expected to begin no sooner than late 2024.

The Richmond Terminal Subdivision is a railroad line owned by CSX Transportation in Virginia. The line is located within Richmond, Virginia, for a total of 4.3 miles. At its north end it continues south from the RF&P Subdivision and at its south end it continues south as the Bellwood Subdivision, which connects to CSX's S Line. It junctions with the North End Subdivision, which connects to CSX's A Line, at AY Interlocking.

References

  1. "RR-Richmond Fredericksburg and Potomac Sub - the RadioReference Wiki".
  2. http://www.multimodalways.org/docs/railroads/companies/CSX/CSX%20ETTs/CSX%20Baltimore%20Div%20ETT%20%234%201-1-2005.pdf CSX Baltimore Division Timetable
  3. CSX Corporation (2008). "CSX Announces National Gateway to Improve Flow of Freight." 2008-05-01.
  4. Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, Washington, DC (2009). "CSX National Gateway Projects in the Washington Region." Retrieved 5 December 2009.
  5. WTOP (2019). "Major Amtrak, VRE expansion set under $3.7 billion Virginia-CSX deal" Retrieved 7 February 2020
  6. CSX. ""CSX Closes Sale on First Phase of the $525-Million Rail Transaction with the Commonwealth of Virginia"" . Retrieved 25 April 2023.