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Amtrak Virginia’s Northeast regional service extension to and from Norfolk, Va., will begin Dec. 12 — 10 months earlier than originally projected, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell announced yesterday.

The new service will provide a same-seat trip from Norfolk to Washington, D.C., New York City and as far north as Boston. The round-trip train will bring intercity passenger rail service to Norfolk for the first time since 1977.

“The partnership between the Commonwealth and Amtrak to bring an Amtrak Virginia station to the city of Norfolk reflects my administration’s commitment to continue to make progress in improving our transportation networks for the state,” McDonnell said in a prepared statement. “By providing the citizens of Virginia an alternative way to get to and from Southside Hampton Roads, it takes cars off the highways, helping ease congestion on already highly-traveled roads.”

The extension was made possible with assistance from CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern Railway and the city of Norfolk, which completed the necessary upgrades for the service, said Virginia Secretary of Transportation Sean Connaughton. Their work made it possible to launch the service 10 months ahead of schedule, he said.