ALDERSON, WV (SWVO) – Thurmond held the title of West Virginia’s least-used Amtrak station until Fiscal Year 2023, when it was surpassed by Montgomery. Now, a new station in southern West Virginia has taken over as the state’s least-used stop.
Alderson has officially taken over as West Virginia’s least-used Amtrak station, according to new ridership data from Fiscal Year 2024.
The small Greenbrier/Monroe County town saw just 415 passengers board or depart from its station last year.
That figure marks a continued shift in travel patterns through the Mountain State.
In FY 2023, Montgomery held the title for least-used station with only 266 passengers, while for years prior, it was the tiny “almost ghost town” of Thurmond, which saw 669 riders in FY 2024.
Montgomery and Thurmond may be experiencing a modest boost in traffic thanks to their proximity to a growing tourism draw: New River Gorge National Park & Preserve, designated America’s newest national park in 2020.
The Cardinal, Amtrak’s tri-weekly route between New York and Chicago, runs directly through the heart of the park, offering passengers dramatic views and easy access to outdoor recreation.
As more visitors explore the national park by rail, nearby stations like Thurmond—which is located within park boundaries—and Montgomery are positioned to benefit.
Statewide, Amtrak served 41,601 passengers at 10 West Virginia stations in FY 2024. The highest ridership was at Martinsburg (9,237 passengers), followed by Harpers Ferry and Charleston.
The company continues to invest heavily in station upgrades and accessibility improvements, with nearly $49 million committed to ADA compliance work across the state.
Although Alderson may rank last in usage for now, Amtrak has completed investments exceeding $2.1 million at the station—part of its national effort to improve service and station conditions, especially in rural communities.
Amtrak operates two long-distance routes in West Virginia: the daily Floridian which runs through the eastern panhandle and the Cardinal, which passes through scenic areas including White Sulphur Springs, Prince, and Hinton.
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