On March 30, 2021, the Commonwealth of Virginia announced the completion of a set of transactional agreements with CSX Transportation (CSXT), a funding agreement with Amtrak, and operating and funding agreements with Virginia Railway Express (VRE). These are important milestones in implementing the Transforming Rail in Virginia program. Together, the CSXT, Amtrak, and VRE agreements provide Virginia the ability to expand Amtrak state-supported and VRE services, advance the separation of freight and passenger rail in the I-95 Corridor in Virginia and Washington, DC, and preserve future rail corridors.

The CSXT transaction includes the terms for acquisition of $525 million worth of right-of-way and track. This represents half of the rail corridor from Washington, DC, to Petersburg, VA, and the full corridors from Petersburg, VA, to Ridgeway, NC, and from Doswell, VA, to Clifton Forge, VA. The CSXT agreement finalizes roles and responsibilities in the two-phase, 10-year buildout of $3.2 billion in infrastructure improvements to include a new passenger-dedicated Long Bridge, the Alexandria Fourth Track, the Franconia to Lorton Third Track, the Franconia-Springfield Bypass, and six sidings.

On May 5, 2021, the Commonwealth of Virginia announced an agreement with Norfolk Southern to improve rail reliability and expand passenger service to Southwest Virginia. The $257 million investment is part of the Transforming Rail in Virginia program. The agreement, focused on the rail corridor between the New River Valley and Alexandria, is memorialized in a binding term sheet that is subject to the future negotiation and execution of legal agreements required to implement the transaction. The Commonwealth of Virginia will purchase a portion of the Norfolk Southern Virginian Line (V-Line) from the Salem Crossovers west of Roanoke to Christiansburg.

Next, the two entities must negotiate definitive legal agreements that further define terms including operations, maintenance, construction, and engineering.

The Amtrak funding agreement is an agreement under which Amtrak is partnering with Virginia to contribute $944 million to the Transforming Rail in Virginia program and make a long-term service commitment to the state for six new state-supported trains for a minimum of 30 years following the completion of the planned improvements.

Complementary Virginia Railway Express (VRE) operating and funding agreements were finalized in March 2021. The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) and Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC) Boards met the first week in December and authorized the VRE chief executive officer (CEO) to execute the agreements. Under the operating agreement, additional train slots will be provided for VRE operations. Under the funding agreement, VRE is contributing more than $200 million.

The Amtrak funding agreement provides approximately 30 percent of the funding ($944 million) for improvements between Richmond and DC. As a result of the collective agreements, Virginia’s state-supported Amtrak service will double.

By the end of 2030, Amtrak state-supported service will nearly double and Virginia Railway Express (VRE) Fredericksburg and Manassas Line service will increase by 75 percent including new late-night and weekend service and assuming an agreement is reached with Norfolk Southern for the Manassas Line trains, with opportunities to expand even further beyond 2030.

Transforming Rail in Virginia will provide one new round trip between Washington, DC, and Norfolk, VA, and one new round trip on VRE’s Fredericksburg Line to commence next year based in part on the return to normal service levels due to COVID-19. Additional service will come online during the next decade incrementally as capacity improvements are completed in the right-of-way acquired by Virginia from CSXT.

Additionally, Transforming Rail in Virginia will double intercity passenger service from Washington, DC, to Roanoke and extend passenger rail service to the New River Valley:

  • One additional round trip Amtrak train between Washington, DC and Roanoke, serving stations at Alexandria, Burke, Manassas, Culpeper, Charlottesville, and Lynchburg
  • Extension of Amtrak service from Roanoke to Christiansburg (expected 2025)
  • Study of potential for a future station at Bedford, subject to future funding availability

Virginia will own more than 400 miles of railroad right-of-way and 223 miles of track.

  • 145 miles of right-of-way and 44 miles of track from Washington, DC, to Petersburg, VA, along the RF&P Railroad. CSXT will retain two mainline tracks currently on the ground, and any additional track will transfer to Virginia.
  • 164 miles of right-of-way and 179 miles of track on BBRR from Doswell, VA, to Clifton Forge, VA
  • 75 miles of out-of-service right-of-way from Petersburg, VA, to Ridgeway, NC
  • 28.5-miles of the V-Line railroad right-of-way from the Salem Crossovers to Christiansburg along with the existing track and other infrastructure within the right-of-way. Norfolk Southern will retain operating rights within the Virginia-owned right-of-way.

During the next 10 years, CSX Transportation (CSXT) will continue to dispatch and maintain the RF&P railroad, the terms of which will be detailed in an operating agreement. The agreement provides the terms and conditions for Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express’ (VRE) operation on Virginia-owned tracks. Amtrak will dispatch trains from Alexandria, VA, to Washington Union Station upon completion of the Phase 2 improvements on behalf of Virginia and points further south once future improvements are made allowing for further separation of passenger and freight services.

The Buckingham Branch Railroad Company (BBRC) will continue to dispatch and maintain the Buckingham Branch Railroad (BBRR) through an agreement with the Commonwealth.

CSX Transportation (CSXT), Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA), and Virginia Railway Express (VRE) are leading individual Phase 1 and 2 projects through project development, design, and construction with technical support from Amtrak. CSXT will continue to operate freight trains along the corridor and Amtrak and VRE will continue to operate passenger rail service while the program is delivered. All entities will meet regularly to coordinate and manage capital projects and service elements and to minimize disruption to existing passenger and freight rail services due to construction.