The Tidewater was a short-lived train that went from Newport News, Virginia to New York City only on Fridays and Sundays. Leaving Newport News at 4 pm, the train complemented the Colonial, which departed Newport News daily at 7 am. Left unexplained is how the cars that made up the Tidewater made it back to Newport News, but they probably were made a part of the southbound Colonial.
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I’m not certain, but I think the train was inaugurated in 1977 and only ran for a year or two. Someone who has collected all of Amtrak’s timetables could tell, but I only have a few.
Ironically, Amtrak # 90 now fulfills the same role, running two hours later. However, it is only listed as a “Northeast Regional”.
What is the world coming to?
Amtrak’s Virginia Service is booming more and more.
What I’ve always wondered, though, is why were there never trains from DC to Newport News/Norfolk before Amtrak? I understand that there were coastal shipping lines, but that didn’t stop the New Haven from competing with the Fall River Line, and once the boats stopped, you would think that there would be a market.