RF&P_Subdivision

RF&P Subdivision

RF&P Subdivision

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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.

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

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 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 Virginia, and passes through Alexandria and Fredericksburg, ending in Richmond at the Richmond Terminal Subdivision.[1] [2]

Alexandria Union Station, served by Amtrak and VRE

Current operation

The RF&P Sub is part of CSX'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 (Potomac River), expanding stations along the line, and adding additional passenger-only sidings and tracks. [5] The partial sale was completed in 2021.[6]

See also


References

  1. "RR-Richmond Fredericksburg and Potomac Sub - the RadioReference Wiki".
  2. Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, Washington, DC (2009). "CSX National Gateway Projects in the Washington Region." Retrieved 5 December 2009.

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