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8/28/2024
The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority's (VPRA) board yesterday voted to advance an agreement with Norfolk Southern Railway for the purchase of the Manassas Line and access to NS' mainline (the N-Line) as part of a state plan to expand passenger-rail service.
The agreement will enable the VPRA to extend its state-supported Amtrak Virginia service to the New River Valley (NRV) earlier (by 2028) and at a lower cost than originally planned, VRPA officials said in a press release. The cost was not revealed in the announcement.
In addition, the purchase of the Manassas Line will enable VPRA to increase the Virginia Railway Express’ (VRE) Manassas Line service, including evening and weekend options, VPRA officials said.
“We look forward to finalizing this agreement, which will make passenger rail a viable option for even more Virginians,” said VPRA Executive Director DJ Stadtler. “We appreciate Norfolk Southern’s partnership and look forward to working with them to expand passenger rail in the commonwealth.”
In June, VPRA announced it was in discussions with NS. Responding to public input that supported service to Christiansburg, Virginia, along the N-Line and seeking a more cost-effective and timelier alternative for that service, VPRA reached out to NS, which agreed to reopen negotiations.
The new agreement is expected to close in early September.
The combination of the 2024 VPRA-NS agreement with the 2021 VPRA-CSX agreement means that when the six Phase 1 Transforming Rail in Virginia construction projects are completed, additional VRE roundtrips could start not only on the Fredericksburg Line but on the Manassas Line as well, VPRA officials said.