NRV – VPRA

Governor Glenn Youngkin Breaks Ground on New River Valley Rail Project

Karina Romero — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 00:18:12 +0000

NEWS RELEASE – April 24, 2025

$264.5 million passenger rail project will extend Amtrak Virginia service to Christiansburg for first time since 1979

RICHMOND, VA – Governor Glenn Youngkin today broke ground on the highly-anticipated New River Valley Rail Project in Christiansburg, Virginia. As part of the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority’s (VPRA) Transforming Rail in Virginia (TRV) initiative, the New River Valley Project encompasses railroad infrastructure upgrades that will allow VPRA to extend its Amtrak Virginia service from Roanoke to Christiansburg and return passenger rail service to the New River Valley for the first time since 1979.

“Today’s groundbreaking represents a lot of hard work, determination and collaboration,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “We are here today because people came to the table and worked together to execute a new and dramatically better deal—one that accelerates the return of passenger rail service to the New River Valley years earlier, on a better line, and at a much lower cost to Virginia’s taxpayers—than the one I inherited. I look forward to all that this station will do to support and grow such an important region of the Commonwealth.”

The New River Valley Project includes:

• A new station platform with canopy

• Parking lot and access roads

• Track improvements and updated signaling system

• An Amtrak layover facility in nearby Radford

“I want to thank VPRA and Norfolk Southern for coming together last year to reach an all-around better deal for Virginians,” said Virginia Secretary of Transportation W. Sheppard Miller III. “The new agreement between VPRA and Norfolk Southern is the reason we are here breaking ground on a project that will provide additional connectivity and promote economic growth in the New River Valley.”

The extension of service to Christiansburg will be via Norfolk Southern’s main line (N-Line), the result of an agreement between VPRA and Norfolk Southern completed last September through which VPRA purchased the Manassas Line and gained access to the N-Line. By expanding service from Roanoke to Christiansburg on the N-Line, VPRA will use existing infrastructure with a focus on developing a station stop at the Cambria site which previously served the community from 1904 to 1979. The project will also enhance Norfolk Southern’s freight service through the area.

The New River Valley Passenger Rail Station Authority—created by the Virginia General Assembly in 2021—has the lead in the renovation of the historic Christiansburg station building at Cambria. It will be called the New River Valley Station and renovations are expected to begin in 2027.

The estimated cost of VPRA’s New River Valley Project is $264.5 million. Preliminary construction began in late February 2025 with full construction commencing this spring. Amtrak Virginia service is expected to begin in 2027 with two daily roundtrips between Christiansburg and Washington, DC, with stops in Roanoke, Lynchburg, Charlottesville, Culpeper, Manassas, Burke Centre, and Alexandria. Trip times are estimated to be 50 minutes between Christiansburg and Roanoke and just under six hours between Christiansburg and Washington, DC. From Washington, the service will continue on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor to Philadelphia, New York, Boston and points in-between.

“The groundbreaking of the New River Valley Project represents what can be achieved through strong partnerships,” said DJ Stadtler, Executive Director of VPRA. “This project would not be possible without the shared vision of providing Virginians with a rail alternative. We thank Governor Youngkin, Secretary Miller, Norfolk Southern, and Amtrak for their foresight and support in bringing passenger rail back to the New River Valley.”

“We are witnessing a remarkable resurgence of passenger rail in the Commonwealth,” said Tiffany Robinson, Director of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation. “Virginia is already home to some of the busiest Amtrak stations in the Southeast, and we continue to see record ridership year after year. I’m proud of DRPT’s partnership with the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority on this transformative project, and I’m excited to see the New River Valley take its place in the growing future of passenger rail across the Commonwealth.”

“Expanding rail service and connecting people across the Commonwealth is great for local economies, cuts traffic and improves air quality. It is great to be in Christiansburg today for the groundbreaking ceremony of the New River Valley Station, which will provide service to Roanoke and beyond,” said Senator Tim Kaine. “I was proud to extend passenger rail service to Lynchburg as Governor, support the expansion of service to Roanoke early in my Senate tenure and secure federal funds for the platform study that landed on the location for this extension to Christiansburg to make travel more convenient and consistent across Virginia.”

“Passenger rail creates greater potential for sustained economic growth, facilitates job creation and provides an efficient, affordable travel alternative to riding on the crowded interstate highway system,” said Congressman Morgan Griffith. “Today’s groundbreaking announcement means that the New River Valley will reap tremendous benefits and more. Extension of passenger rail to the New River Valley is an encouraging sign of things to come.”

“Extending passenger rail from Roanoke to Christiansburg will provide a much-needed transportation alternative along the increasingly busy I-81 Corridor,” said Senator Travis Hackworth. “I’m excited to see this region of Virginia benefit from the Transforming Rail in Virginia initiative. I want to thank all those involved for making this project a reality.”

“I’m thrilled that for the first time in almost 50 years, Christiansburg and the New River Valley will be served by Amtrak once more,” said Delegate Chris Obenshain. “I’ve been a proud and vocal supporter of this effort to bring passenger rail back to the New River Valley. This project will open yet another door for tourists seeking a mountain getaway and will be a boon to economic growth and cooperation in this beautiful region of the Commonwealth. I’m so proud to be a part of this team that has worked tirelessly to make this day a reality.”

“We are proud to partner with VPRA to enable the return of passenger rail service to the New River Valley,” said Norfolk Southern Chief Strategy Officer Mike McClellan. “This project not only demonstrates our shared vision for smart, sustainable transportation solutions in the Commonwealth but also our deep commitment to strengthening the communities we serve.”

“This groundbreaking is a critical milestone in the Transforming Rail in Virginia project that will ultimately increase rail service in the Commonwealth,” said Jennifer Mitchell, Amtrak Executive Vice President of Strategy & Planning. “The record ridership we’re experiencing shows people in Virginia and throughout the U.S. want frequent, reliable, and convenient transportation. We are proud to partner with the Commonwealth of Virginia, VPRA, Norfolk Southern, and the Town of Christiansburg to transform travel to connect more people and communities like never before.”

One of VPRA’s four corridors of service, the Roanoke corridor began with one daily roundtrip between Lynchburg and Washington, DC, in 2009. Since that time, the service was extended from Lynchburg to Roanoke and increased from one daily roundtrip to two daily roundtrips. Ridership along the corridor has grown from just over 100,000 between Lynchburg and Washington that first year to just over 343,000 between Roanoke and Washington last year.

About Virginia Passenger Rail Authority

VPRA was established in 2020 to promote, sustain, and expand the availability of passenger and commuter rail service in the Commonwealth. VPRA is committed to delivering and expanding its state-supported Amtrak Virginia passenger rail service. The Commonwealth of Virginia first launched state-supported service in 2009 with one roundtrip between Lynchburg, Va., and Washington, DC. Since that time, the Commonwealth’s service has grown to include eight roundtrips daily along four corridors with stops at 17 stations in Virginia and one in Washington, DC. For more information about VPRA, please visit vapassengerrailauthority.org.

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VPRA Purchases Manassas Line from Norfolk Southern

Karina Romero — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 14:26:37 +0000

NEWS RELEASE – September 5, 2024

New agreement also provides access to Norfolk Southern’s Main Line for service expansion to the New River Valley

RICHMOND — The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) today announced it has purchased the Manassas Line from Norfolk Southern Corporation, furthering VPRA’s mission to promote, sustain, and expand the availability of passenger and commuter rail service in the Commonwealth. Through this new agreement, approved last week by VPRA’s Board of Directors, VPRA also gained access to the railroad’s main line (N-Line) in Christiansburg, a key component to planned service expansion to the New River Valley.

The purchase of the Manassas Line will aid VPRA in expanding Virginia Railway Express (VRE) service with evening and weekend frequencies. Combined with the 2021 agreement with CSX, which provides for greater options on VRE’s Fredericksburg Line, VPRA can now support VRE as it moves from a commuter rail service with limited morning and evening trains during the weekdays to a regional rail service with trains throughout the weekday and into the weekends.

With access to the N-Line, Virginians in the New River Valley will have state-supported Amtrak Virginia service much sooner that previously planned and at a lower cost. By expanding service from Roanoke to Christiansburg on the N-Line, VPRA will use existing infrastructure with a focus on developing a station stop at the Cambria site which previously served the community from 1904 to 1979.

“This new agreement with Norfolk Southern allows passenger rail to reach Christiansburg years earlier and at a better location,” said Secretary of Transportation Shep Miller. “It also includes the acquisition of the Manassas Line, which will provide tremendous value to the Commonwealth—particularly Northern Viriginia—by not only supporting intercity rail, but also enabling VRE to implement night and weekend service to better meet customer demand. The deal achieves all of this while saving nearly $100 million. I commend Norfolk Southern for working closely with the Commonwealth to arrive at this much improved result.”

“Together with Norfolk Southern, we have worked hard to put together an agreement that brings more service to Northern Virginia, new service to the New River Valley, and makes rail a strong part of Virginia’s future transportation mix,” said DJ Stadtler, Executive Director of VPRA. “We look forward to furthering our partnership with them to develop passenger rail service that travels where Virginians want to go when they want to go.”

“This agreement is proof of what’s possible when freight and passenger railroads work together,” said Norfolk Southern Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer Mike McClellan. “We appreciate the partnership from VPRA and look forward to continuing to work together to make this service to Christiansburg a reality as soon as possible.”

VPRA and Norfolk Southern first began detailed discussions on this agreement back in the winter. As VPRA developed plans to return passenger rail to the New River Valley, it became clear that service along the N-Line was the most cost effective and timely alternative. In addition, public input also suggested that the N-Line option with service to Cambria was strongly supported by the local community.

The inclusion of the Manassas Line in the agreement provided VPRA with an avenue to help VRE adapt to a change in commuting trends and offer evening and weekend service, which was also strongly supported by passengers. Through this agreement and the one finalized in 2021 with CSX and VPRA, VRE now has the ability to expand service on the Manassas and Fredericksburg Lines to meet the needs of more Virginians.

About Virginia Passenger Rail Authority
The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority was established in 2020 to promote, sustain, and expand the availability of passenger and commuter rail service in the Commonwealth. VPRA is committed to delivering and expanding its state-supported Amtrak Virginia passenger rail service. The Commonwealth of Virginia first launched state-supported service in 2009 with one roundtrip between Washington, DC and Lynchburg, VA. Since that time, the Commonwealth’s service has grown to include eight roundtrips daily with stops at 17 stations along four corridors. For more information, please visit vapassengerrailauthority.org.

About Norfolk Southern
Since 1827, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) and its predecessor companies have safely moved the goods and materials that drive the U.S. economy. Today, it operates a customer-centric and operations-driven freight transportation network. Committed to furthering sustainability, Norfolk Southern helps its customers avoid approximately 15 million tons of yearly carbon emissions by shipping via rail. Its dedicated team members deliver more than 7 million carloads annually, from agriculture to consumer goods, and Norfolk Southern originates more automotive traffic than any other Class I Railroad. Norfolk Southern also has the most extensive intermodal network in the eastern U.S. It serves a majority of the country’s population and manufacturing base, with connections to every major container port on the Atlantic coast as well as major ports in the Gulf of Mexico and Great Lakes. Learn more by visiting www.NorfolkSouthern.com.

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VPRA’s Board of Directors Votes to Advance New Agreement with Norfolk Southern

Courtney Baytop — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 17:02:27 +0000

NEWS RELEASE – August 27, 2024

Deal includes purchase of Manassas Line and access to Main Line

RICHMOND —

The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority’s (VPRA) Board of Directors today voted to advance a new agreement with Norfolk Southern Corporation to purchase the Manassas Line and gain access to Norfolk Southern’s main line (N-Line) which will increase passenger rail options for thousands of Virginians. Through this new agreement, VPRA will have the ability to extend its state-supported Amtrak Virginia service to the New River Valley (NRV) sooner and at a lower cost than originally planned. In addition, the purchase of the Manassas Line will enable VPRA to increase the Virginia Railway Express’ (VRE) Manassas Line service in the future with additional frequencies including evening and weekend options.

“We are so pleased that the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority’s Board of Directors today voted to advance a better, faster, and cheaper solution to bring passenger rail back to a historic location in the New River Valley while also providing opportunities to bolster service in Northern Virginia, said Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin. “We are excited to deliver these benefits as we continue to accelerate results not only in these two regions, but across the entire Commonwealth.”

“We look forward to finalizing this agreement, which will make passenger rail a viable option for even more Virginians,” said DJ Stadtler, Executive Director of VPRA. “We appreciate Norfolk Southern’s partnership and look forward to working with them to expand passenger rail in the Commonwealth.”

“At Norfolk Southern, we know the power rail has to connect communities and grow economies, and we’re proud to play a role in helping VPRA in its mission to support and expand the availability of passenger and commuter rail service in the Commonwealth,” said Norfolk Southern Chief Strategy Officer Mike McClellan. “We want to thank VPRA for its partnership and dedication in reaching an agreement that has the potential to benefit generations of Virginians with reliable, convenient rail travel, while also balancing the needs of the freight rail network the economy relies on.”

VPRA first announced it was in discussions with Norfolk Southern back in June. Responding to public input which supported service to Christiansburg along the N-Line and seeking a more cost-effective and timelier alternative for that service, VPRA reached out to Norfolk Southern who agreed to re-open negotiations. Over the past three months, the two have worked together to develop plans which will allow passenger rail service to return to Christiansburg via Norfolk Southern’s Cambria Yard, which previously served the community from 1904 to 1979.

The inclusion of the Manassas Line in the deal will give VPRA the flexibility to work with VRE to expand service along their Manassas Line. The ability to add evening and weekend service is something the commuter agency has recently sought as commuting trends have changed, and the need for service beyond traditional commuting times has increased. The combination of the 2024 VPRA-Norfolk Southern agreement with the 2021 VPRA-CSX agreement means that when the six Phase 1 Transforming Rail in Virginia Construction Projects are complete additional VRE roundtrips could start not only on the Fredericksburg Line but on the Manassas Line as well. Currently, VRE offers eight roundtrips on the Manassas Line with stops at Broad Run, Manassas, Manassas Park, Burke Centre, Rolling Road, Backlick Road, Alexandria, Crystal City, L’Enfant, and Washington Union Station.

Following the Board of Directors vote, VPRA leadership will move forward to finalize the agreement with Norfolk Southern and close the deal in early September.

About Virginia Passenger Rail Authority

The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority was established in 2020 to promote, sustain, and expand the availability of passenger and commuter rail service in the Commonwealth. VPRA is committed to delivering and expanding its state-supported Amtrak Virginia passenger rail service. The Commonwealth of Virginia first launched state-supported service in 2009 with one roundtrip between Washington, DC and Lynchburg, VA. Since that time, the Commonwealth’s service has grown to include eight roundtrips daily with stops at 17 stations along four corridors. For more information, please visit vapassengerrailauthority.org.

About Norfolk Southern

Since 1827, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) and its predecessor companies have safely moved the goods and materials that drive the U.S. economy. Today, it operates a customer-centric and operations-driven freight transportation network. Committed to furthering sustainability, Norfolk Southern helps its customers avoid approximately 15 million tons of yearly carbon emissions by shipping via rail. Its dedicated team members deliver more than 7 million carloads annually, from agriculture to consumer goods, and Norfolk Southern originates more automotive traffic than any other Class I Railroad. Norfolk Southern also has the most extensive intermodal network in the eastern U.S. It serves a majority of the country’s population and manufacturing base, with connections to every major container port on the Atlantic coast as well as major ports in the Gulf of Mexico and Great Lakes. Learn more by visiting www.NorfolkSouthern.com.

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VPRA and Norfolk Southern in Discussions for New Rail Agreement

Karina Romero — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 16:01:30 +0000

NEWS RELEASE – June 4, 2024

Would provide benefits for VRE and the New River Valley

RICHMOND — The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) announced today that it is in preliminary discussions with Norfolk Southern Corporation to purchase the Manassas Line and to pursue an option to extend passenger rail service to the New River Valley (NRV) on the Norfolk Southern main line (N-Line). While negotiations are in the early stages, VPRA and Norfolk Southern have established a mutually beneficial framework for both passenger and freight rail service.

The purchase of the Manassas Line would be beneficial to Virginians who use VRE’s Manassas Line service as it would allow for additional frequencies including evening and weekend service. Currently, VRE offers eight roundtrips on the Manassas Line with stops at Broad Run, Manassas, Manassas Park, Burke Centre, Rolling Road, Backlick Road, Alexandria, Crystal City, L’Enfant, and Washington Union Station. Purchasing the Manassas Line would give VPRA the flexibility to work with VRE to expand service beyond the current traditional commuting option with northbound trains operating in the morning hours and southbound trains in the afternoon.

After receiving more information regarding the cost and timeframe for delivering service along the Virginian Line — per a 2022 agreement with Norfolk Southern — VPRA revisited negotiations with Norfolk Southern to find a more cost-effective and timelier alternative on the N-Line. Extending service to the NRV via the N-Line would allow VPRA to offer passenger rail service to Norfolk Southern’s Cambria Yard in Christiansburg, which served rail passengers from 1904 to 1979. It could potentially reduce the cost and accelerate VPRA’s plans to expand passenger rail service to the area. Following recent public outreach in the NRV that included surveys and public meetings, it became clear that service on the N-Line was also the preferred option for constituents there.

Recognizing the importance of determining the feasibility of the N-Line option, VPRA is advancing discussions with Norfolk Southern. Those discussions are ongoing and together with Norfolk Southern, VPRA will work expeditiously over the summer to complete the necessary evaluation of the N-Line option and Cambria Yard site. The results of that evaluation and a recommended path forward will be presented to the VPRA Board at their August meeting.

“VPRA exists to promote, sustain, and expand the availability of passenger and commuter rail in the Commonwealth, and with these negotiations, we are working towards that mission,” said Jennifer DeBruhl, Director of the Virginia Department of Rail & Public Transportation (DRPT) and VPRA’s Board Chair.

“We saw the numbers, the timeline, and listened to our stakeholders, and it became clear that if using the N-Line was a possibility, we had to pursue that,” said DJ Stadtler, Executive Director of VPRA. “Norfolk Southern has been a great partner to VPRA as we’ve worked to reach more Virginians by rail, and we appreciate their efforts in aiding us in this endeavor.”

“We value our relationship with VPRA and appreciate the role the authority plays in advancing passenger rail in the Commonwealth of Virginia,” said Norfolk Southern Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer Mike McClellan. “We look forward to continuing to partner on projects like this that stand to serve the interests of our communities while also balancing the needs of our freight customers and the economy we support.”

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