Will impact Amtrak and VRE services
NEWS RELEASE – December 1, 2025
RICHMOND — The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) today announced plans for passenger rail service changes to accommodate the Long Bridge Project, the flagship project of the state’s Transforming Rail in Virginia (TRV) initiative to expand passenger rail service in the Commonwealth. The completion of the Long Bridge and other TRV projects will bring about generational changes in passenger rail for Virginians, benefiting both passenger rail and freight traffic nationally.
As the Long Bridge Project enters full construction, major construction activities require daytime “work windows” through the construction zone in Washington, D.C. VPRA has coordinated service planning efforts with Amtrak, NCDOT, CSX, NS, and Virginia Railway Express (VRE), who have jointly developed a plan to preserve service. The construction work must be carried out during the daytime, as noise and vibration ordinances in Washington, D.C., prohibit certain work at night.
Work windows will begin January 12, 2026, and will continue until the project’s completion in 2030. Schedule changes seek to preserve optimal times for Amtrak service while protecting the highest ridership “peak” for VRE’s morning and evening commuter trains. CSX has also rescheduled its freight traffic to accommodate the work window.
Stakeholders adopted a collaborative approach to develop a plan that facilitates construction while ensuring adherence to worksite safety and maintaining maximum service. Go to Amtrak.com or VRE.org for the latest schedule information and updates.
“While we are thrilled with the progress of the Long Bridge Project, we understand that these necessary service changes will be difficult for a number of our passengers,” said DJ Stadtler, Executive Director of VPRA. “We want those passengers to know that we did not take these decisions lightly, and we evaluated every possible scenario to limit the disruptions while providing our construction teams with the work window they need to safely complete the project on time and on budget. Our goal is to offer as much service as possible while working to upgrade our infrastructure, with the final result being more rail service throughout the Commonwealth.”
“Amtrak is proud to support VPRA with the Long Bridge Project, a transformative investment in rail infrastructure that will unlock new capacity, improve service reliability, and stimulate economic opportunity for generations to come,” said Amtrak EVP of Strategy and Planning Jennifer Mitchell. “While temporary schedule adjustments are necessary, we remain committed to delivering safe, reliable, and convenient travel options—including expanded bus-rail connections—to ensure our customers continue to reach their destinations with ease.”
“VRE is excited for the opportunities Transforming Rail in Virginia will unlock for the region’s passenger rail network. With the completion of the Long Bridge Project and other improvements along the corridor, we look forward to expanding VRE service to include our first-ever weekend and late-night service,” said VRE Acting CEO Dallas Richards. “Our priority remains unchanged—providing safe, reliable, and efficient rail service to our ridership. While we work to preserve as much of our current service as possible, we recognize that some riders will need to adjust their current commutes. VRE stands ready to assist riders through this process to make this transition as smooth as possible.”
The Long Bridge Project is one of the largest railroad construction projects undertaken in the Commonwealth in decades. It includes much more than a new two-track passenger rail bridge across the Potomac River. In its entirety, the project encompasses construction of a total of seven new bridges, five for rail and two for pedestrians and cyclists. In Washington, DC, these bridges stretch from just south of L’Enfant Plaza across Maine Avenue, the Washington Channel, and I-395 to the Potomac River.
VPRA worked closely with rail partners to develop a plan that maintained as much rail service as possible while ensuring the Long Bridge Project remained on time and budget. A number of critical factors were considered when developing the service plan. These include:
- Preserving as much of the current service – passenger and freight – as possible, with the least impactful changes in schedule.
- Creating the longest possible work window without interruptions for construction crews to make meaningful progress each day. Crews will be working not only on the Long Bridge Project, but also on the Alexandria Fourth Track project and VRE’s L’Enfant project, as both are critical connections to the Long Bridge Project.
- Scheduling the daily work window around Washington, DC’s noise and vibration restriction, which prohibits crews from working between 7 pm and 7 am.
- Looking beyond Virginia to determine the impact of other large infrastructure projects currently underway along the East Coast, most notably large-scale Amtrak Northeast Corridor projects outside Baltimore and New York. Schedule changes for these projects impact service to and from Virginia.
VPRA and its partners will continue to measure performance and update the schedules as operating conditions change along the rail network. These changes will be communicated with passengers using the local media as well as social media, email blasts, website updates, and station pop-ups, to name a few. In addition, the team will continually evaluate the needs of both passengers and construction crews throughout the duration of the project to ensure a balance for both. More information may be found online here.
About Virginia Passenger Rail Authority
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 in Virginia plus Washington, DC along four corridors. For more information, please visit vapassengerrailauthority.org.
About Amtrak
Amtrak is seizing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform rail and Retrain Travel. By modernizing, enhancing, and expanding trains, stations, and infrastructure, Amtrak is meeting the rising demand for train travel. Amtrak offers unforgettable experiences to more than 500 destinations across 46 states and parts of Canada. Learn more at Amtrak.com, download the Amtrak app, connect with us on X, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, and join Amtrak Guest Rewards for free to start earning points toward Amtrak reward travel, upgrades, lounge access and more.
About VRE
VRE, the nation’s 13th largest commuter rail service, connects Central and Northern Virginia with the District of Columbia. VRE is recognized for its provision of safe, reliable, convenient, and comfortable transportation. Its two lines, Manassas and Fredericksburg, serve 19 stations, including two – L’Enfant and Union Station – in D.C. Additional information is available at www.vre.org.
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