Report: Virginia Gov. Northam to announce passenger-rail deal with NS

Today, Gov. Ralph Northam is expected to announce a plan to expand passenger-rail into Virginia’s New River Valley.

Northam will be in Christianburg, Virginia, to announce a deal with Norfolk Southern Railway, which owns the track and right of way involved in the passenger-rail plan, reported Virginia radio station WVTF.org.

Expanding passenger rail into the New River Valley has been discussed for many years. Virginia Transportation Secretary Shannon Valentine said the pieces started falling into place after state officials and CSX reached a deal that called for a new bridge allowing trains to pass over the Potomac River.

“All things are beginning to converge,” Valentine said, according to the WVTF report. “We now have the commitment to build and construction this two-track bridge dedicated to passenger and commuter rail, and that has opened the door to move forward with Norfolk Southern.”