The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-29
A PROJECT TO UNITE
The Proposed. Joint Railway Line
South of Washington.
All Lines Having North and South
Traffic Through the City Inter
Eastern AIiiunec-The Union Sta
ton scheme Receiving Attention.

The latest development in the great
alliance of the Eastern railways, and one
which is of particular interest and I'M
portance to Washington, is project to
unite the line belonging to the Pennsyi-
vania Railway running from this city to
Quantico, Va, and the Richmond Freder-
icksburg and Potomac which extends
from Quantico to Richmond. The purpose
of the combination is to make an open
highway for railway service between the
North and the South over which the trains
OF all the railway systems Interested could
run.
The parties named as likely to be in
such an agreement, if it is contaminated,
are The Pennsylvania Railway, the Balti-
more and Ohio. the Southern Railway, and
the Atlantic Coast Line. The Atlantic
Coast Line has secured control of the
Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac,
the southern end of the proposed joint
trackage, as a preliminary step toward
the carrying out of the plan.
1t is one of the chief features of the
great Eastern trunk line alliance to put
an end TO the building Of parallel lines
when business can be cared for by ex-
listing routes. With the charter recently
given by the Legislature of Virginia to
the Seaboard Air Line interests authority
is available to parallel from Richmond TO
this city the line formed by the Richmond,
Fredericksburg and Potomac and the line
from Quantico. The proposition now I'M
der consideration is evidently aimed to do
away with the necessity for the construc-
tion of such a line. The Seaboard Air
Line is a joint user with the Atlantic
Coast Line of the existing route between
Richmond and Washington, and the pro-
posed combination would, ii is understood,
provide for continuance If this arrange
ment.
II is said 10 be the general purpose to
give all lines that may go into the plan
equal rights and make the combined lines
an open highway. There is a heavy bust
ness handled now between Washington and
Richmond via Quantico. and the facilities
are said TO be equal to an increased bust
ness. When the traffic warrants it the
whole line can be made a double track
road. II has been kept in a modern ply
steal condition, and the prospect of the
need for a second track has recently been
considered The Richmond, Fredericks-
burg and Potomac has resources available
to carry out this Improvement of its line
whenever it is deemed necessary, and such
a betterment is only a question of decision
with the Pennsylvania Railroad for Its
part of the route. Baltimore and Ohio Of
ficials have had IN view for some time the
establishment OF direct connection for
the South, and the Seaboard Air Line is
generally regarded as its probable ally Ia
this
The question OF station facilities in this
city and the tentative project to require
all the railways entering the city 10 use
union station is likely to be affected by
this mutually of interests between the
railways. Some overtures have been made
already between the Pennsylvania officials
and those of the lines entering the city
from the South. relative TO union station.
and it is said TO be not impossible that the
result of the present project may be
station for all lines, including the Balti-
more and Ohio.