Photo courtesy of VPRA
A ceremonial groundbreaking marks the beginning of some exciting projects coming to Alexandria's railway system.
The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) together with the City of Alexandria, Amtrak, the Virginia Railway Express (VRE), and CSX have broken ground on a portfolio of projects in Alexandria which will improve and expand passenger rail service in Alexandria and Northern Virginia. The projects, all designed to increase rail capacity for passenger and freight service, will also improve safety for the neighboring community.
The projects support VPRA’s Transforming Rail in Virginia (TRV) initiative which will aid the Commonwealth in expanding and improving rail service by separating passenger and freight trains, improving the service of both. The rail expansion will use the existing rail corridor, with VPRA and its partners building new infrastructure to accommodate additional trains. When complete, TRV will enable the Commonwealth to increase the number of state-supported Amtrak Virginia daily roundtrips to 13, up from the current eight. It will also expand VRE service on both the Fredericksburg and Manassas lines, including the addition of new weekend service.
Alexandria-area projects include:
- Alexandria Fourth Track – This project encompasses the design and construction of six miles of railroad and related infrastructure between Arlington and Alexandria. One track will be added to the right-of-way from the Long Bridge Aquatic Center in Arlington to just west of the Alexandria Station, which serves both Amtrak and VRE trains. The total budget for this project is $238.4 million.
- King Street & Commonwealth Avenue Railroad Bridges – Working with our partners CSX and VRE, the aging railroad bridges that cross over King Street and Commonwealth Avenue just adjacent to the Alexandria Station will be replaced. VPRA and CSX worked on the design of the bridges while VRE will construct them as a part of their Alexandria Station Improvements Project. These new bridges will improve rail service by minimizing delays caused by service interruptions and will improve rail safety by bringing the bridges up to current codes. Safety will also be enhanced for those pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists who travel beneath the bridges. The budget for this project is $97.7 million.
- VRE Alexandria Station Improvements – Safety is key for the improvements planned at the Alexandria Station, led by the team at VRE. The current at-grade track crossing will be replaced by a tunnel connecting the two platforms with elevators and stairs for passenger use. Station platforms will also be improved to allow for safer boarding and alighting and to eliminate the current need for step boxes due to unusually low platform heights. Improvements to the center platform will be made to accommodate trains on both tracks increasing capacity at the station. The estimated cost of this project is $133.7million.
- King & Commonwealth Streetscape Improvements – The City of Alexandria is the lead on this project which will improve the gateway to the city through a new streetscape under the King Street and Commonwealth Avenue bridges. With new overhead bridges that include closed decks and wider spans, the space beneath offers a new opportunity to welcome pedestrians and bicyclists to Old Town. The cost of these improvements will be covered by Alexandria, who is currently developing cost estimates.
The timeline for all of the Alexandria-area projects coincides with TRV’s Long Bridge Project, targeted for completion in 2030. Funding for the rail projects is being provided by the Commonwealth of Virginia, Amtrak, VRE, and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).
“Today’s groundbreaking signifies the beginning of what will be a complete transformation of the rail corridor through Old Town Alexandria,” said DJ Stadtler, Executive Director of VPRA. “By working with our partners, Amtrak, VRE, CSX, and the City of Alexandria, we have been able to develop a plan that combines a number of projects to benefit not just rail passengers but the local community as well. The upcoming construction footprint will be significant, but the outcome will be evolutionary and will benefit the community for decades to come.”
“This project is a testament to our commitment to building a thriving Alexandria now and for generations to come.” said City of Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins. “These upgrades will benefit everyone in our community — people walking, biking, driving, and commuting — and will make it easier for visitors to experience the charm that makes Alexandria so special. Our partnerships with the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority, Amtrak, the Virginia Railway Express, and CSX are helping us grow a stronger, more connected Alexandria.”
“This groundbreaking marks a pivotal moment in our shared commitment to expanding passenger rail in Virginia,” said Amtrak Executive Vice President of Strategy & Planning Jennifer Mitchell. “By investing in infrastructure that separates passenger and freight operations, we’re improving safety, reliability, and capacity—laying the foundation for more Amtrak Virginia service and a better experience for our customers across the Commonwealth.”
“This is an exciting moment for VRE, VPRA, and the several hundred thousand rail passengers who use Alexandria Union Station each year. VRE’s $133.7 million investment into Alexandria Station will significantly improve the passenger experience through upgrades that modernize and rehabilitate the platforms for utmost safety and efficiency,” said VRE Acting CEO Dallas Richards, adding, “This is a once in a generation opportunity. The return on investment in what this offers both our riders, and the future of commuter rail is maximized through VPRA’s fourth track investments and the entire suite of Transforming Rail in Virginia projects.”
“The Alexandria Fourth Track removes a longstanding chokepoint, separating passenger and freight flows and unlocking capacity across Northern Virginia that will deliver more reliable trips for riders and more predictable freight service for customers,” said Tammy Butler, Vice President, General Counsel at CSX. “This is what effective rail partnerships deliver: shared investment, faster delivery, and infrastructure that works for commuters, the supply chain, and the communities that live alongside the corridor.”
“It’s great to break ground on the Alexandria Fourth Track and Alexandria Station projects,” said Senator Tim Kaine. “Strong rail infrastructure in Virginia is critical to our economy and people’s ability to get where they need to go. These projects, combined with the Long Bridge project, which I was proud to help advance forward and secure federal funding for, will ease congestion, expand capacity and reliability, and boost economic growth through the corridor. I look forward to continuing to work together to ensure these projects are completed.”
Transforming Rail is a national model for state-supported passenger rail service that will give Virginians an alternative to driving along congested highways and interstates. TRV is changing the future of rail transportation in Virginia by acquiring railroad right-of-way, increasing rail capacity, and reworking passenger and freight operations to improve reliability and increase rail service in the Commonwealth.
About Virginia Passenger Rail Authority
Passenger Rail Authority was established in 2020 to promote, sustain, and expand the availability of passenger and commuter rail service in the Commonwealth. VPRA is committed to delivering and expanding its state-supported Amtrak Virginia passenger rail service. The Commonwealth of Virginia first launched state-supported service in 2009 with one roundtrip between Washington, DC and Lynchburg, VA. Since that time, the Commonwealth’s service has grown to include eight roundtrips daily with stops at 17 stations in Virginia plus Washington, DC along four corridors. For more information, please visit vapassengerrailauthority.org.
