The Plan
Build a modern express commuter rail-with-trail line to Leesburg and beyond using the land of the abandoned W&OD railroad. Connect underserved communities while preserving and investing in the trail.
Instead of building expensive tunnels to connect the line directly to DC, riders will be able to transfer to Metro’s Orange and Silver Lines in Falls Church, saving cost and construction time.
By utilizing modern trains and grade separating rail and roads, W&OD rail can beat traffic, allowing for a travel time from Leesburg to Falls Church of 27 minutes, and from Leesburg to DC of 45 minutes.
Case Study
Rails-to-Trails to Rails-with-Trails are common.
Monon Rail-with-Trail - Munster, IN
The Monon corridor is an 8-mile, electric Rail-with-Trail project in Indiana that will connect towns in northern Indiana with Chicago. Like W&OD Rail-with-Trail, this line was once a railroad, abandoned in 1987, and converted to a trail in 1996.
Now, it’s becoming a modern, electric commuter Rail-with-Trail line that will connect communities later this year, while preserving and investing in the multi-use trail that runs alongside it. This project shows that W&OD Rail-with-Trail is feasible: Rails-with-Trails can work.
The Benefits
Connecting Communities
The W&OD connects walkable, densely populated, historic communities which were built around the railroad. Building it would spur sustainable, walkable development across Northern Virginia.
The future W&OD stations have an average of 14,000 people living within 1 mile, versus an average of 10,000 people living within 1 mile of the Silver Line’s stations.
Within 1/2 mile, the numbers are strongly in the W&OD’s favor. An average of 3,300 people live within 1/2 mile of the future W&OD stations, versus 1,700 living within 1/2 mile of the current Silver Line stations.
“Every $1 invested in public transportation generates $5 in economic returns” - American Public Transportation Association
If the plan to revive the W&OD commuter service came to fruition, it would mean new jobs, new opportunities, higher land values, walkable developments and more tourism in the region. According to APTA, “Every $1 billion invested in public transportation supports and creates approximately 50,000 jobs.”
Reduced Traffic
Building the W&OD line would greatly reduce traffic. According to a 2017 study, opening a rail transit line reduces traffic delays by 15%, playing a specifically “important role in reducing morning rush hour traffic.” Reduced traffic means easier commutes for drivers, reduced air and noise pollution and safer communities. Less traffic would mean fewer roadway accidents, and would allow families to pay less for cars, insurance and gas.
“Metro areas that invest in public transportation — such as heavy rail, light rail, frequent bus service and commuter rail — can cut their traffic fatality rate by half”
Is there enough space for the line?
Yes! The W&OD path is over twice as wide as other comparable rail systems, such as New York’s Long Island Rail Road, meaning that the trail and train can coexist without disrupting their neighbors.
Our plan makes the trail better.
Building rail alongside the W&OD trail will make the trail a stronger option for bikers and pedestrians on their commutes and daily travel, as they can use the trail to get to their local station. Bikes will be able to be left at stations or bought on board trains.
Proposed travel time
Avoiding traffic, W&OD commuter rail will be faster than driving, at a lower cost. It beats the non-toll route from Purcellville to DC by 45 minutes, and the toll route by 10 minutes.
The line will take travelers from Leesburg to East Falls Church in 27 minutes, and from Purcellville to Falls Church in 35 minutes. From there, the trip to DC is just 15 minutes.
Equity Benefits
The line would improve equity by serving the most diverse communities in Loudoun, creating opportunities for all.
Explore the route
FAQs
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No! The trail itself may only be a couple feet wide, but the park land is 100 feet wide. This means that the trail can most likely coexist with the new train tracks. California’s SMART commuter rail has done exactly this, building a trail alongside their tracks.
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According to our estimate, a trip from Leesburg to Foggy Bottom would take 45 minutes, a trip faster than driving and significantly cheaper
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The reason for this — instead of a line that goes directly into DC — is quite simple: Cost. The W&OD land was used to build I-66, so there isn't space left over for tracks. Digging a tunnel into DC would be expensive, and only save a few minutes.
By allowing riders to quickly transfer to Metro, billions could be saved and the ride is still much faster than taking the Silver Line or driving.
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The FTA’s cost model estimates $2.5 billion as the total project cost, a fraction of the cost of proposed Metrorail expansions (e.g., Silver Express, $35-40 billion).
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No, while they may look close from afar, W&OD rail serves different areas entirely, providing transportation for communities and town centers historically built around the W&OD. Even though some W&OD Rail stations share names with Metro stations, like Herndon and Ashburn, these stations are a 35 minute and 1.2 hour walk apart from their Metro counterparts, meaning they serve different communities.
Studies show that new transit lines increase total transit ridership, rather than just taking riders from other lines. In reality, W&OD Rail will bring new riders to the Silver Line from areas like Leesburg, Purcellville, and historic Ashburn and Herndon, where transit is currently limited and most people drive.
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Support our mission to revitalize public transportation in Northern Virginia.
We’re a small group of local volunteers, so for that reason we are not not a 501(c) organization; contributions are not tax-deductible.