CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. — Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam on Wednesday announced a deal with Norfolk Southern allowing the extension of Amtrak service to the New River Valley in the southwest portion of the state, as well as additional service to Roanoke.
The agreement, known as the Western Rail Initiative, includes $28.2 million to acquire 28.5 miles of right-of-way and track between the Salem Crossovers west of Roanoke and Christiansburg, as well as $219 million in infrastructure improvements including 7 miles of second main between Nokesville and Calverton, Va., creating 22 miles of continuous double track; and improvements at Roanoke Yard; between Salem and Christiansburg, and along the State Route 29/Interstate 81 corridor.
“This agreement is the result of collaboration among many partners,” Northam said in a press release, “and we look forward to continuing this important work to enhance mobility in an equitable and environmentally sustainable way.” NS CEO Jim Squires said, “Virginia and Norfolk Southern worked cooperatively to reach the Commonwealth’s goal of expanding passenger rail service in the New River Valley, while also preserving the vital role these lines play in delivering goods and materials that drive the regional economy.”
Amtrak service to the New River Valley, an area with 180,000 residents and 40,000 students at colleges including Virginia Tech and Radford University, will return for the first time since 1979. The Roanoke Times reports officials estimate 80,000 new riders will use the service in the first year of the extension to Christiansburg, which is not expected until after the completion of the infrastructure work in 2025.
The deal comes after the recent passage of legislation creating the New River Valley Passenger Rail Station Authority, which will see area colleges and governmental bodies share the cost of building a new station in Christiansburg [see “Digest: CSX train derails in Nashville,” March 27, 2021]. Chrstiansburg has already purchased land for a station, although the exact location has not been finalized.
Combine this with the purchase of the line used by Buckingham branch from Charlottesville to RIC also by the state and you now have a nearly full state E-W corridor. These moves are closing in on having a relatively parallel option for rail on every major interstate corridor in the state. Kudos to VA for taking balanced modes seriously. As a former resident I can attest many of these corridors are overflowing with traffic. Much of it out of state.
Why will it take 4 years to build a syation and 7 miles of second track?