Norfolk Southern and the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority are in preliminary talks on a deal that would expand passenger rail service while also preserving critical freight connections.
While negotiations are in early stages, the framework of an agreement would allow VPRA to purchase the Manassas Line and pursue an option to extend passenger rail service to the New River Valley on the Norfolk Southern N-Line.
In Northern Virginia, VPRA’s purchase of the Manassas Line would give the authority the flexibility to work with Virginia Railway Express on expanding service to allow for additional frequencies on the line, including evening and weekend service to and from Washington, D.C.
Utilizing the N-Line – which would replace current VPRA plans to deliver service on the former Virginian Line – could provide a more cost-effective and timelier option for extending passenger service from Roanoke to the New River Valley, as well as allow service to Norfolk Southern’s Cambria Yard in Christiansburg, which served passengers until 1979.
Options that had been under consideration to serve the New River Valley involve various track, tunnel, and signal improvements that would range in cost between $366 million and $951 million depending on the option selected.
“We saw the numbers, the timeline, and listened to our stakeholders, and it became clear that if using the N-Line was a possibility, we had to pursue that,” said DJ Stadtler, executive director of VPRA. “Norfolk Southern has been a great partner to VPRA as we’ve worked to reach more Virginians by rail, and we appreciate their efforts in aiding us in this endeavor.”
VPRA was established in 2020 to advance passenger and commuter rail in the commonwealth. In May 2021 it reached an agreement with NS to extend passenger service from Roanoke into the New River Valley. In 2022, the authority and NS finalized a deal that included a second Amtrak train on the Roanoke route, extension of service to the New River Valley, and the purchase of 28 miles of the former Virginian main line from Salem to Christiansburg. This year the authority has held public outreach on the proposed projects.
“We value our relationship with VPRA and appreciate the role the authority plays in advancing passenger rail in the Commonwealth of Virginia,” NS Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer Mike McClellan said in a statement. “We look forward to continuing to partner on projects like this that stand to serve the interests of our communities while also balancing the needs of our freight customers and the economy we support.”
So, when’s the Culpeper connection getting built?
“IF” VPRA can acquire the :N” line it could then apply for FRA funds to build a passenger only siding for 110 MPH operation over a very slow freight section! Maybe even 125 MPH operations of ALC locos? The 110+ siding would eliminate freight grades to allow for straighter track with passenger train grades that would preclude freight trains unless power to weight ratio was sufficient to operate freight probably 60 – 70 MPH.
With several of these sidings this would eventually help lower future passenger schedule times Bristol Roanoke. Also allow for passenger trains to pass slower freights on the slow section
One of those pieces of “unfinished business” from back in the day when NS was a railroad was expediting service between the Northeast and Memphis. The N-line via Bristol is relatively low density yet ceding this to the Commonwealth for public investment may yield a benefit toward accomplishing an un fulfilled goal.
The conveyance of the NEC to Amtrak and its rebuilding to high speed rail led to NS rerouting through freight to the N&W Shenandoah line between Roanoke and Hagerstown, then ex-PRR and ex-RDG via Harrisburg and Reading, continuing to NY (North Jersey) via ex-LV.
This reduced freight traffic via Lynchburg and Manassas which is the subject of the article.