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Last week, the Northern Virginia, and Potomac and Rappahannock transportation commissions approved a five-year contract with Keolis Rail Services America to operate Virginia Railway Express’ (VRE) commuter trains. The VRE board recommended the contract in mid-October.

The five-year contract includes two five-year renewal options and covers train operations, locomotive and rail-car equipment maintenance and repair, yard operations and warehouse management. The first 18 months of the contract are valued at $18.5 million.

Keolis will take over operations on July 1, 2010, from Amtrak, which VRE contracted for train operations when the agency launched service in 1992. There will be a transition period from Dec. 1 to June 30. Keolis has committed to retaining all personnel currently operating VRE trains, the agency said.