Amtrak

From the old red Amtrak station in Charlottesville you can leave on a bus or a train. The station is slung along main street, sunken next to a segment of road that spans the northbound tracks. A train is preferred but those running north to D.C. are always hours late. Why this can't be factored into the schedule is a mystery. What's left is taking a bus, operated by Greyhound, although the tickets can be purchased through Amtrak. Greyhound specializes in nausea and rudeness. Although I was humming "all gone to look for america", not all passengers find this mode of transportation as romantic.

Returning on the train is much more reliable. Manassas, Culpeper, C-ville the train approaches from the east. Once over the Rivanna, neighborhoods and downtown slide by, and if Foxfield races or graduation happens on that weekend, expect a crowd to be waiting.