HINTON, W.Va. — An excursion train company officially announced Friday it would be running trains from Huntington to Hinton this fall replacing the longstanding New River Train.
Rail Excursion Management Co.(Railexco) announced the Autumn Colors Express would travel the same route as the New River Train did for decades before regulations and funding issues with Amtrak caused the Collis P. Huntington Railroad Historical Society to discontinue the runs.
Railexco plans three round trips from Oct. 25-27. The trips will coincide with Railroad Days in Hinton. Tickets go on sale Monday.
U.S. Senator Joe Manchin applauded Railexco for continuing a 50-year tradition.
“The trip from Huntington to Hinton in the fall truly showcases the beauty of West Virginia and brings joy and revenue to our state,” said Senator Manchin. “For over a year, I have been working hard to make sure this annual festival would continue, first advocating for Amtrak to end their crushing regulations and fees to try to save Collis P. Huntington and then working with Amtrak and Rail Excursion Management to keep this West Virginia tradition alive. I look forward to the new Autumn Colors Express and will always support the Railroad Days festival however I can,” Manchin said in a news release.
Railexco CEO Adam Auxier said his company was excited to showcase the beauty of the New River Gorge to its passengers.
.”I hope they enjoy their journey on these lovingly preserved rail cars on their trip to Hinton,” Auxier said.
Hinton City Manager Cris Meadows said the move saves Railroad Days.
“The return of the train this fall means so much to the city of Hinton and its residents. The annual Railroad Days festival has brought thousands of people to our town over the years; our local nonprofits operate food and vending tents that in turn provide scholarships to so many of our local students. We’re overjoyed that this tradition can keep going year after year,” Meadows said.
Railexco plans to run more than two dozen vintage passenger rail cars.
The Collis P. Huntington Society announced back in February it could no longer afford the runs. It ran for two weekends each October. Railexco announced one three-day weekend (Fri-Sun).
Tickets can be purchased at the Railexco website.