Passenger rail is coming into the region.
Gov. Ralph Northam on Wednesday announced that the state had struck a deal with Norfolk Southern Railway to extend passenger rail service to the New River Valley for the first time since 1979.
The agreement, known as the Western Rail Initiative, will increase passenger rail service from Roanoke to the Northeast Corridor.
The governor said rail service will fuel tourism and drive economic growth in the area.
The $257.2 million initiative includes $38.2 million to buy rights-of-way and track for around 28.5 miles of the Virginia Line from the Salem Crossovers west of Roanoke to Christiansburg. It also includes $219 million in infrastructure that would lead to improvements in the Roanoke Yard, a seven-mile siding in northern Virginia, signaling, track upgrades, a maintenance facility and a passenger platform in the area between Salem and Christiansburg and improvements along the Route 29 and Interstate 81 corridor.
Existing service will increase and services will be expanded, according to Northam’s office. A round trip train to Roanoke will leave Washington, D.C. every morning, stopping in Alexandria, Burke, Manassas, Culpeper, Charlottesville, Lynchburg and Roanoke. A round trip train already leaves Roanoke every morning, returning in the afternoon. In 2025, the round trip trains will extend to Christiansburg.
The state plans to partner with the New River Valley Passenger Rail Station Authority to fund the construction of a station building, parking and roadway access for the Christiansburg station.
“The people of the New River Valley have demanded passenger rail for years because they know what an economic boon it will be for their community,” said Sen/ John Edwards. “It will make it easier for students to attend Virginia Tech, for families to visit, and for Hokie alumni to return for game days and events throughout the year. This service also forms a vital connection to Virginia Tech’s Innovation Campus in Arlington, and will be a second train each day through Roanoke, which has been one of the most successful lines in the country since it launched in 2017. I’m thankful for the Governor’s leadership in pushing this across the finish line, and I congratulate everyone in the community who worked to make this a reality.”
“I am so proud that House Bill 1893 will help make the dream of bringing rail travel to the New River Valley a reality,” said Delegate Chris L. Hurst. “I’m dedicated to seeing this project through its completion and making sure that the New River Valley becomes a leader in innovating transportation infrastructure in the region today and into the future. Laying the tracks for new jobs and economic opportunities while also reducing congestion on one of the busiest stretches of I-81 is one of my biggest priorities. With the help of dedicated partners in both local governments and nonprofit organizations, we finally see our hard work paying off.”
Ridership forecasts for the region indicate a healthy demand for service. Today, the Roanoke train provides 220,000 passenger trips per year. The new service is expected to add approximately 80,000 new passengers in the first year. This service will provide multimodal alternatives to travelers along the Interstate 81 and Route 29 corridor, serving tens of thousands of residents and visitors to the region.
The 2021 state budget provided $83.5 million to support the extension of intercity passenger rail service from Roanoke to the Blacksburg-Christiansburg area and increase the frequency of intercity passenger rail service along the I-81/Route 29 corridor from Washington, D.C. To meet the requirements of the provided funding, Norfolk Southern will conduct an operational analysis of potential infrastructure improvements required for a future station at Bedford, which would be subject to future funding availability, and the Commonwealth will assess the cost of extending intercity passenger rail to Bristol.
