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1/17/2022
The commonwealth of Virginia has finalized a definitive agreement with Norfolk Southern Corp. to expand passenger-rail service to the New River Valley for the first time since 1979, Virginia officials announced last week.
The so-called Western Rail Initiative would expand passenger-rail service to the New River Valley in southwestern Virginia. The expansion would complement former Gov. Ralph Northam’s $3.7 billion Transforming Rail in Virginia program. The agreement with NS, which was announced in May 2021, was achieved after authorization from the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority’s board.
"Together with our partners at Norfolk Southern, we are making essential improvements that modernize our transportation infrastructure and connect communities across the commonwealth," Northam said in a press release.
On Jan. 15, Northam concluded his term as Virginia’s governor and Glenn Youngkin was sworn in as Virginia's new governor.