Amtrak's Virginia passenger rail service sets a new record for ridership during the state's fiscal year
Virginia's Transforming Rail Initiative Takes Off
Virginia's Transforming Rail (TRV) initiative, a bold undertaking aimed at improving the state's passenger rail service, has made significant strides recently. Here's a roundup of the key projects underway:
Long Bridge Project
The Long Bridge Project, a crucial component of the TRV initiative, has commenced early-phase construction. This ambitious project will build a new two-track railroad bridge across the Potomac River, connecting Virginia with Washington, D.C. Current activities include in-river geotechnical borings, vibration monitoring, foundation testing with heavy drilling and crane equipment, and modifications to nearby tracks and a railroad crash wall near Maryland Avenue. Additionally, a $1 billion contract for the Long Bridge North segment—part of the $2.3 billion Long Bridge Program—was awarded to the Skanska-FlatironDragados joint venture. Construction is set to start in July 2025, with completion expected by late 2030.
Franconia-Springfield Bypass Project
The Franconia-Springfield Bypass Project, another significant milestone for the TRV initiative, received a $414 million construction contract. This project involves building a rail bridge that allows passenger trains to cross over freight trains without interruption, significantly improving rail service through the Franconia-Springfield area.
New River Valley Project
The New River Valley Project, which will extend Amtrak Virginia service from Roanoke to the New River Valley, has seen rapid progress. Groundbreaking has taken place, and construction in Christiansburg has advanced quickly with tree removal at the Cambria site, track removal for new configurations, rough grading of a proposed access road, and the use of jack and bore machines to install pipes and other underground utilities.
These efforts are part of Phase II of the TRV initiative, which, when completed by 2030, will increase Amtrak Virginia’s state-funded roundtrip services from 8 to 13, expanding connectivity across Virginia and to the Northeast Corridor.
The Amtrak Virginia passenger rail service set a ridership record for state fiscal year (SFY) 2025 with 1,451,276 passengers traveled, a 4.8 percent increase compared to SFY24. June 2025 also set a record with 126,284 passengers traveling, the highest ridership the state of Virginia has seen in June since the Amtrak Virginia service launched.
The Amtrak Virginia service currently offers a one-seat ride from Virginia to Philadelphia, New York, and Boston, as well as intermediate stops along Amtrak's Northeast Corridor. All four corridors recorded double-digit increases in June, with Roanoke leading the way with an increase of 6.9 percent. The Norfolk corridor carried the most passengers with 542,743 people.
These developments confirm the importance of the TRV initiative in enhancing Virginia's passenger rail and working towards a more sustainable, accessible, and congestion-free transportation system for its citizens. VPRA has made great strides in developing a state-supported passenger rail service that works for Virginians.
The rail infrastructure in Virginia is undergoing a significant transformation through the Virginia's Transforming Rail (TRV) initiative, as evidenced by projects like the Long Bridge Project, which received a $1 billion contract for its Long Bridge North segment, and is set to commence construction in 2025. The finance sector also plays a crucial role in this transformation, as the initiative aims to increase state-funded Amtrak Virginia roundtrip services from 8 to 13 by 2030, boosting the industry's contribution to transportation in Virginia and beyond.
