
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 17, 1993                   TAG: 9311170070
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LEXINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

DISNEY PARK RAIL ROUTE EXPLORED

When state officials from the Department of Rail and Public Transportation heard about Walt Disney Co.'s plan to build a park in Prince William County, they reached for their calculators.

Department Director Leo Bevon has asked his staff to estimate the cost of extending the Virginia Railway Express' line to serve the park site in Haymarket.

The Manassas line of northern Virginia's commuter railroad runs from Washington's Union Station to Broad Run Airport, about six miles from the proposed park.

"The expansion of this service into Disney would be relatively easy," said Bevon, who spoke Monday at the annual Virginia Transportation Conference.

Railroad right-of-way for the extension exists because Norfolk Southern Corp. runs freight trains on that route, Bevon said. Tracks for passenger service could be laid alongside the freight line.

Bevon said neither the state nor Disney officials have approached the department about extending the rail line.

Disney announced plans to build the park last week. "Disney's America," which could open by 1998, will focus on United States history.

by CNB