Dive Brief
Virginia starts construction in Alexandria to improve passenger rail

A series of projects will increase capacity for Amtrak and commuter rail service in Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C., area.

Published Nov. 24, 2025
Dan Zukowski
Senior Reporter

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Representatives of the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority, Amtrak, Virginia Railway Express, CSX and the city of Alexandria, Va., broke ground Nov. 12, 2025, on a series of projects to improve train service in Northern Virginia. Courtesy of Virginia Passenger Rail Authority

First published on Smart Cities Dive

Dive Brief:
• Construction began last week on a series of passenger rail-related projects to improve and expand train service in Northern Virginia.

• Plans call for a new fourth track extending for six miles between Alexandria and Arlington, Virginia, to increase capacity for Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express commuter trains; improvements at the Alexandria VRE station; and the replacement of two older railroad bridges adjacent to that station.

• “Strong rail infrastructure in Virginia is critical to our economy and people’s ability to get where they need to go,” Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said in a statement.

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