ALL ABOARD THE VIRGINIA SCENIC RAILWAY!

Step aboard Virginia’s only regularly scheduled tourist train excursion and ride the rails through the legendary Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.

Ride & Dine Excursions

If you love trains you’ll know it’s all about the journey. On the Virginia Scenic Railway, sit back and enjoy the modernized ambiance of beautifully renovated passenger cars and enjoy a delicious meal as you comfortably glide through some of Virginia’s scenery, including the legendary Shenandoah Valley and the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The Virginia Scenic Railway is currently offering two excursions, the Alleghany Special and the Blue Ridge Flyer; these round-trip trains depart from the historic Amtrak Staunton station in Staunton, Virginia. Each of these excursion tickets includes a meal and dessert selection, plus a beverage served in a complimentary souvenir glass. Schedule your trip today. Advance reservations are required.

Online Ticket Sales

Tickets are only available through this website. Due to high demand, our excursion tickets are released quarterly. Ticket sales for our 2025 winter excursions are expected to go on sale in mid December. Booking early offers the best selection of dates and times. Our regular excursions operate Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and run throughout the year. Last-minute reservations are unfortunately not possible as this is a “Ride & Dine” train; all catering orders must be received by 4:00 pm on Wednesday of the week of the excursion.

 

Virginia Scenic Railway Routes

Alleghany Special

This excursion ventures west from historic Staunton through beautiful rolling fields of the Shenandoah Valley, on a destination bound for the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. This excursion turns around in the hamlet of Goshen, in western Rockbridge County. Price: 120/per person. Duration: Three hours.

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Blue Ridge Flyer

Climb aboard the Blue Ridge Flyer, and head east for an opportunity to experience the thrill of roaring through the Blue Ridge Tunnel, carved out of rock hundreds of feet below the mountain summit above. The train will turn around in Ivy in Albemarle County. Price: 120/per person. Duration: Three hours.

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Santa's Scenic Railway

Currently Sold Out!

Our signature holiday train excursions runs between Thanksgiving and Christmas, starting on November 30th. Enjoy Virginia's best new holiday tradition amidst sparkly holiday decorations, with hot cocoa, a cookie, and best of all — a special appearance from Santa. Duration: 50 minutes.

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Ready for a relaxing train ride?

This one-minute video will give you a sense of what it’s like to ride the Virginia Scenic Railway. As the only regularly scheduled tourist trains in Virginia, the Alleghany Special and the Blue Ridge Flyer have quickly become the hottest tickets in town. Both routes offer a three-hour sightseeing excursion through the Shenandoah Valley, complete with dining service. Join us for a three-hour sightseeing trip by rail and unwind with every passing mile.

As Seen In

Testimonials

Have you traveled with us recently? Send us your feedback; we love to hear from our guests!

Donald M.

“"This was a birthday gift from my wife. We both truly enjoyed it. We went in August...The food was great. We really enjoyed it. After dinner, we had hot tea and coffee with our dessert. The inside of the train car was very nice..."”

Holly M.

“"It was a great, lengthy ride & the meal provided was delicious. Beer & wine selections were good, as was the wait staff. Would do it again, beautiful & relaxing."”

Sammy J.

“"What an enjoyable and relaxing afternoon as we traveled from Staunton to Ivy and back. The staff was great and provided friendly service. The car was comfortable and the food was excellent."”

Roxanne C.

“ I took the Blue Ridge Flyer trip and was blown away by the beauty of the Virginia countryside. The staff on our train were fantastic and did an exemplary job of taking care of us. I also enjoyed learning about the railway history as well.”

Lynne T.

“I wanted to express our deep appreciation for the wonderful time we had yesterday on the train ride. Your team could not have been nicer, and our granddaughter had the time of her life! ”

Don R.

“It’s all about the details, and you nailed them. The interior of the car was beautiful. The restoration again showed high attention to detail and passenger comfort. Then you topped it off with one of the best meals I’ve had on rails.”

Stan and Julie K.

“ My wife and I enjoyed today’s excursion to Goshen and back. The renovated car is beautiful, the lunch was very good and the staff did a superb job serving and meeting everyone's needs... our expectations were exceeded.”

Cindy S.

“I just wanted to say this was my third trip. I have brought different friends with me each time and have shared my experiences with others who are definitely interested. Keep up the good work as my trips never disappoint! Your crew is great!”

DeeDee B.

“I have enjoyed every trip that I've taken with VSR and plan to continue taking excursions in 2024. I also share my experiences with friends and family... your staff goes above and beyond to make sure everyone has a great, memorable trip.”

Sterlyn C.

“We had the best time! The staff and views were amazing. The food was delicious, and we were very impressed with the overall experience. We will definitely be coming back.”

Richard V.

“This was our second trip on the Virginia Scenic Railway. In the fall we went west and in the spring we went east. Each trip has its own unique character and flavor…worth every penny and then some!”

Courtney T.

“Highly recommend! Everything was wonderful, from the relaxing ride to the friendly and welcoming staff to the delicious food!”

Edna W.

“Wow. We took this 3 hour tour yesterday afternoon and what a treat! The views were beautiful. We got the real red carpet treatment! The food was really delicious and the entire staff was amazing!”

Shannon W.

“It was amazing! Food was great atmosphere was lovely. The train is beautifully done and there is not a bad seat in the house!”

Michael P.

“A wonderful trip through the Virginia countryside, excellent historical narrative, and the meal was tremendous.”

Tony M.

“It’s a perfect weekend adventure. The staff was incredible and the food is 5-star!”

Matthew N.

“A very enjoyable ride. We loved seeing the autumn foliage. My favorite part was the tunnels in the mountains, and we went at sunset so we got to see the sun setting over the span of the mountains, with the still-colorful trees below.”