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Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) officials have begun discussions with Amtrak, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern Railway and city of Norfolk representatives to extend Richmond’s Amtrak Virginia regional service to Norfolk.

Using state rail enhancement funds, DRPT is working on expanding access to passenger rail in all the state’s major population centers. Project partners have established bi-weekly meetings to advance the project, DRPT officials said in a prepared statement.

DRPT, Amtrak, NS and city officials have begun discussing Amtrak facility improvements and design work. In addition, DRPT is working with CSXT to forge an agreement necessary for use of the Class I’s track for service between Staples Mill Station and the NS connection at Petersburg. Discussions between DRPT, CSXT and NS also are under way on the connection’s design.

When the expansion is completed, Norfolk-area residents will have access to passenger-rail service from Norfolk as far north as Boston, DRPT officials said. The new service is slated to begin in 2013.