(David Schultz, WAMU) Late last year, Amtrak began running trains daily between Washington D.C. and Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley – the locale of cities and towns like Lynchburg, Culpeper and Charlottesville, home to the venerable University of Virginia.

This new train service was meant to be a pilot program, funded by Virginia’s Department of Transportation (VDOT). It estimated that – eventually, with a slow and steady growth – ridership might reach levels that could make this service viable.

They were right, except for that “slow and steady” part. Ridership on the Virginia-to-D.C. line has grown exponentially since it began.

VDOT estimated the new rail service would eventually carry 51,000 riders a month. In little more than half a year, monthly ridership has grown to 55,000 per month and it shows no signs of leveling off. This new service has been so successful, Amtrak may actually make a profit off it.

Now plans to expand passenger rail service elsewhere in Virginia are moving forward.

For more on those plans, and to hear from a rider who uses the new train service, check out this story from WAMU in Washington.

(Hat tip to The Hook in Charlottesville)