VRE and Amtrak Expansion set under $3.7 billion deal

[DMClark]

https://wtop.com/dc-transit/2019/12/maj ... -csx-deal/

Some excerpts from the article:

• $3.7 billion agreement Thursday for the state to buy 225 miles of track and build new passenger rail improvements

• Fredericksburg Line is projected to go from eight round trips today to 13 round trips each weekday in 2030

• Commuter trains would also run on weekends for the first time

• Amtrak regional trains each day between D.C. and Richmond as part of six additional round trips by 2030

• take ownership of a 75-mile abandoned CSX rail line between Petersburg and Ridgeway, North Carolina

• Virginia will also purchase the 173-mile Buckingham Branch Line

Source: https://wtop.com/dc-transit/2019/12/major-amtrak-vre-expansion-set-under-3-7-billion-virginia-csx-deal/
train3.jpg (272.5 KiB) Viewed 2840 times

[DMClark]

Also according to this tweet: https://twitter.com/amaxsmith/status/12 ... 3637425152

Amtrak EVP Stephen Gardner: "Amtrak planning for better equipment to eliminate DC engine changes."

[davinp]

Currently, CSX limits train freuqentcy so that they can operate their freight trains.
Also, track congestion frequently causes delays.
VRE could run round trip trains on both Fredericksburg & Manassas lines by late 2020

This is allow Virginia to seperate freight and passenger tracks.

I would like to see all day service like the TRE Commuter Rail in Dallas, Texas

[TheOneKEA]

The article states that Virginia will purchase half of the RF&P ROW between the Long Bridge and Richmond, but it doesn't state which half. The infographic only indicates that Virginia will buy 112 miles of ROW and 39 miles of track and the map in the infographic is ambiguous about where the purchases will be located. Is there any additional information available that explains where Virginia's ownership begins and ends on the RF&P Sub?

[Arlington]

The package includes half of the 112 miles of right of way and 39 miles of track that CSX owns between Richmond and Washington.

https://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/ ... 7aa7b.html

I get the impression that they are splitting it 'down the centerline" starting at the Long Bridge, with VA buying two tracks x 112 miles worth of underlying land, that will only have tracks on those 39 miles where today there's a 3rd track.

(Assuming that CSX has kept for itself 112 miles of two track railroad)

So my questions end up being more specific: who gets any fourth track in the small sections were it exists? Is it really down the center line and therefore allowing maybe a total of six or even 8-tracks at certain points where the RFP might have had sidings or just a standard 6 track width?

[ExCon90]

There seems to be no reason why there couldn't be joint use of the additional trackage according to changing conditions throughout the day. Is there any mention of who will dispatch the completed trackage?

[ExCon90]

There seems to be no reason why there couldn't be joint use of the additional trackage according to changing conditions throughout the day. Is there any mention of who will dispatch the completed trackage? (There's been so much bad news lately it's refreshing to see something like this.)

[mtuandrew]

Moderator Note: great news! There’s a parallel discussion in the Amtrak forum so let’s keep this one related to VRE and commuter rail for the most part.

[KTHW]

Found this document today on the DRPT website that gives more information about what the Lorton to Franconia extension will look like, including an image of the bypass.
http://www.drpt.virginia.gov/media/3044 ... _final.pdf

[Sand Box John]

KTHW
Found this document today on the DRPT website that gives more information about what the Lorton to Franconia extension will look like, including an image of the bypass.
http://www.drpt.virginia.gov/media/3044 ... _final.pdf

Seems to me that it would make more sense to realign the track so the tracks for freight trains are on east/south of the right of way from CP Virginia to Woodbridge and beyond eliminating the need for the flyovers.

[KTHW]

Yeah I agree. Only reason I can see for this is that Virginia believes that the crossover and track work north of FS will be complete before everything south where the stations are currently on track 1

[mtuandrew]

They must have done the math and decided it would be more expensive to move the stations and other infrastructure to the north side of the tracks. Wouldn’t make sense otherwise.

[KTHW]

All VRE Stations in the Fred Line are supposed to eventually have 2 platforms. 1 island serviced by the tracks and one side platform. Maybe it has something to do with the way VA split the ROW with CSX

[davinp]

All VRE Stations in the Fred Line are supposed to eventually have 2 platforms. 1 island serviced by the tracks and one side platform. Maybe it has something to do with the way VA split the ROW with CSX

VRE does plan to widen all platforms to fit 8 cars. Currently, most stations can only fit 5 cars on the platform.

[njtmnrrbuff]

Alexandria can fit every car at the platform closest to the station building. Not sure about the platform closest to the Metro King Street Station.