None of these companies owned tracks into DC. Pre-Amtrak passsenger trains on these passenger tracks were operated by Southern Railway, Chesapeake and Ohio, and Richmond Frederickburg and Patomac. The freight line and passenger line come back together northeast of DC in about Landover MD. The wires were taken down after Conrail came into being and decided that electric freight operation made no sense economically. The freight tracks were electrified in the past all the way into Patomac Yard in Arlington County, VA. This line was originally Pennsylvania Railroad to the south end of the bridge over the Patomac River. The passenger tracks and freight tracks come together just off the left side of the picture at a point called Virginia Tower. Just at the bottom left hand corner of the picture you can see the freight tracks. I beleive these passenger tracks and tunnels to be owned by the Washington Terminal Company, now Amtrak. It is doubtful that the overhead could fit in the tunnels without major structural work to increase the above rail to crown distance. Remember, trains operated through these tunnels with coal burning steam engines for many years. There are ventilation fans that blow air south, that is out these portals so that the smoke does not come out of the Union Station end. It took some lowering of the track for that to happen. A superliner can fit into them - just barely. The track fan for the lower level tracks are under the Plaza. The curve continues underground to the alignment of First Street East and runs under First Street all the way to the Plaza in front of Union Station. Just southwest of the intersection of New Jersey Avenue and D Street is the south portal of the tunnels that lead to Union Station. So, wonderful people of the forum, where do trains to Virginia and beyond stop in Union Station, in by what route do they exit the station? My most recent long distance experience was on a train formed of, guess what? More amfleets! woot.) (yes, as far as interesting Amtrak workings go, I haven't lived. I also recall being told that the Silver Star uses the upper level same platforms as the Acelas and terminating Northeast Regionals, which would further confuse things, though this may be rubbish, as I've never seen it with my own eyes. I have heard vague words about lower level platforms, and signage alluding to this for VRE trains, but I don't know where the platforms used by trains traveling south are, and how they exit the station. Studies indicate that there is a lower exposure risk when outdoors, but the level of risk involved with patio dining is contingent on restaurants following strict social distancing and other safety guidelines.I have used Washington Union station quite a few times, but only ever to alight trains from the north or west or board trains to the north or west.Īnd so, although I know trains travel south from there, I have no idea how they do it, given the fact that the extent of what I've seen of Union station is terminating bays facing north. More information can be found at coronavirus.dc.gov. The Washington Post is tracking coronavirus cases and deaths in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. However, this should not be taken as endorsement for dining in, as there are still safety concerns. area restaurants have resumed dine-in service. This map primarily highlights options outside the building, from Lao appetizers to Irish pub fare, and even that landscape is looking a little different these days (with such institutions as Charlie Palmer and Art & Soul temporarily closed).Ī number of D.C. Temporary closures within the station itself means dining options there are more limited than usual. But there are still people who have to patronize Amtrak for work and family reasons, and the neighborhood that houses the iconic train station hums on, especially given its proximity to the Capitol. Union Station isn’t exactly the bustling center of activity that it typically is, now that the COVID-19 crisis has put such a damper on travel.
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