What You Need to Know About the Train from Washington DC to Richmond Virginia

With 10 departures a day, the train from Washington DC to Richmond Virginia is the best way to travel for comfort, convenience and cost. 

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Why take the train from Washington DC to Richmond Virginia

There’s something kind of romantic about taking the train.  You get to kick back and relax, enjoy the scenery, or maybe work, read, watch a movie.  The choice is yours.  You don’t have to worry about traffic.  Unlike a bus, you can get up, walk around.  You can even get food and drinks in the bar car.  They even have real(ish) bathrooms. 

When you take the train, it feels more like an experience, not just a journey from point A to B. 

Where is the Washington DC train station? 

The Washington D.C. train station is Union Station which is located just north of Capitol Hill and the United States Capitol building. 

In addition to the Amtrak station, Union Station is also a Metro Station supporting the R (red) Line. 

Washington DC to Richmond train schedule

The good news is if you want to take the train from Washington DC to Richmond, there are around 10 different departures each day to the two Richmond train stations. 

Beware, when you see Amtrak Thruway Connecting Service on the schedule, this is not a train.  This is the Amtrak DC to Richmond bus route.  These buses are direct from DC to Richmond, and provide additional service to connect the two cities. 

Search for Amtrak DC to Richmond daily schedules here.

Single stop train routes

While most of the Washington DC to Richmond VA trains will have multiple stops, there are a few routes that only stop once in Alexandria.  Then from Alexandria to Richmond the train is non-stop.  Obviously the fewer stops there are the faster the ride and less of a chance for slow downs and delays. 

The trains listed as “Northwest Regional” will have anywhere from 2-5 (or more) stops between DC and Richmond.  The trains with single names (like below) will usually only stop in Alexandria before heading directly to Richmond. 

One stop trains

• 89 Palmetto: 12:55pm departure
• 79 Carolinian: 1:05pm departure
• 41 Floridian: 1:48pm departure 

Richmond Staples Mill Road Station vs Richmond Main Street Station

Richmond has two train stations, the Staples Mill Road Station and the Main Street Station.   These stations are not equal.  The Main Street Station is located right in downtown Richmond, while the Staples Mill Road Station is a 15 minute drive outside of town. 

Unfortunately, the Staples Mill Road Station has significantly more daily service routes than  Main Street Station.  There are only 2 daily trains from Washington DC to Richmond via Main Street Station.   Staples Mill Road Station however has 8 trains per day.  

While it is great that there are 10 different options on Amtrak from Washington DC to Richmond you will need to account for getting into the city if you arrive at the Staples Mills Road Station.

During my recent trip to Virginia, I wasn’t aware there were multiple stations.  Thankfully I was paying attention and asked the conductor, otherwise I might have missed my stop assuming I could get off downtown.   

How to get from Richmond Staples Mill Road Station to downtown Richmond

Unfortunately this station is not all that close to downtown Richmond.  It is a 15 minute drive from the station to downtown Richmond.  

The bus is kind of confusing.  The number 18 stops at the station but does not go anywhere near downtown.  If you do take the bus you need to get off and transfer to the BRT line in order to get to downtown.  The buses in Richmond are free, but this trip will take close to an hour. 

I wasn’t particularly interested in waiting around for the bus and spending another hour to get to my hotel. Instead, I ordered a Lyft from the station to my hotel, the Richmond Marriott (read my hotel review), which cost $16 including tip.  Rideshares are a little slow in Richmond, so I would suggest ordering it right before the train gets to the station to minimize wait time.

Train from Washington DC to Richmond Virginia price

Ticket prices vary for trains from DC to Richmond depending on the route, and how close you are to the departure date.  Coach seats start as low as $13 and can go up to $56 within a few days of the departure. 

First class seats range from $49 – $79.  If you want to be super bougie on your 2 hour train ride, some routes do not have a business class, but do offer private rooms.  These are either a Roomette or a Bedroom.  The Roomettes start at $210, whereas the Bedroom price starts at $258.  Both options are for up to 2 people. 

Check Amtrak ticket pricing and availability here.

Coach vs business tickets

There is clearly a big discrepancy in train ticket prices from coach to business class, sometimes as high as $62.  Is business class really worth an extra $62?  Honestly, for me, it’s not.  And, especially not for a 2-3 hour train ride.  

Here’s what the key differences are between the two fare classes.  The biggest perk is seat selection.  With business you get to pick your seat ahead of time, whereas with coach you just have to hope you can find a seat quickly.  This could be reason enough alone.  I like to sit by the window, but I also prefer to be facing in the same direction as the train because I get motion sickness.  Having the correct seat ahead of time helps alleviate that issue. 

The other perks are priority boarding at “select” stations.  I don’t really think this is that much of a bonus since you already know your seat, there is less concern about where to sit and if you’ll be able to store your luggage.  These seats also come with footrests and extra legroom.  If you are tall this is beneficial, but for most people this seems like a nice to have, not a need to have. 

It’s really up to you to decide if these extra benefits are worth the upgrade cost for a short trip.  

FAQs about the Train from Washington DC to Richmond Virginia

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