The News & Advance
Gov. Bob McDonnell announced today a signed agreement between the state and Norfolk Southern Corporation to make infrastructure improvements necessary to extend Amtrak passenger rail service from Lynchburg to Roanoke.
Rail service into Roanoke is fully funded in Virginia’s six-year transportation plan, but officials were studying what work, such as adding track and upgrading signal, would be necessary to safely handle passenger traffic. The infrastructure improvements covered by the new agreement mean rail service will return to Roanoke for the first time in 34 years.