For many years, Amtrak didn't want to squeeze in more riders in the local coaches since the capacity of the long distance trains had decreased. Over the last few years, Fredericksburg's population has been on the rise necessitating additional service. Over the years, CSX has balked at allowing trains to add a scheduled stop, usually waiting new operating agreements and assessing the impact on traffic.
That being said, after a few years of negotiating and waiting, 97/98 will begin stopping in FBG next month. QAN was also in the cross hairs, but apparently that will have to wait.
This is both good to hear and sad to hear. It's good to hear insofar as it should add another 10k riders IIRC (that's about what the PIP projected, at least). It is sad, however, because 97 could
fly from ALX to RVR (we once got into RVR 14 minutes early, though this was on the old 1:50 schedule...still, 101 miles in 96 minutes on track with a MAS of 70 MPH is truly impressive and was probably equivalent to the best times ever listed by the RF&P from ALX to Broad Street Station).
QAN was in the crosshairs as well, but I
believe the study was looking at adding FBG to the Meteor and QAN to the Star.
Edit: And that capacity decrease...well, that's just sad given the fare levels that Amtrak can drag out of NEC-to-Virginia service.