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Yesterday, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell announced the state and Norfolk Southern Railway signed an agreement that will return daily intercity passenger-rail service to Norfolk for the first time since 1977. The round-trip service will link Norfolk with Richmond, Va., Washington, D.C., and cities as far north as Boston.

The agreement calls for upgrading NS tracks between Norfolk and Petersburg for passenger-rail service. Funded by an $87 million state grant, work involves signal upgrades, track extensions and connections, and the construction of passenger train turning and servicing facilities, and a track and platform near Norfolk's Harbor Park. The parties also plan to build a new connection between NS and CSX Transportation tracks near Petersburg.

The track improvements will enable passenger trains to operate on NS’ Heartland Corridor route between Norfolk and Petersburg, according to Virginia officials.

“The Virginia-Norfolk Southern partnership is designed to restart rail passenger service in the corridor between Norfolk, Richmond and the Northeast,” state officials said in a prepared statement, adding that the new trains will be part of Amtrak Virginia regional service and operate at speeds up to 79 mph between Norfolk and Petersburg.

NS plans to work with the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DPRT) to complete the project, which is scheduled to start next year. Design work already is under way.

“Connecting Norfolk to the Amtrak network and the Northeast is a major step forward for the mobility of the region,” said DPRT Director Thelma Drake.

Virginia is making progress on negotiating agreements with Amtrak and CSXT, which must be in place before new intercity passenger-rail service can begin, state officials said.