RICHMOND, Va. — CORRECTION: The original headline of this story incorrectly stated that Richmond and Raleigh will be connected by Amtrak train rail in 2026. A spokesperson for the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority said the project is still in the planning stages and doesn't have a date for completion.
A project to expand Amtrak routes to connect Raleigh and Richmond was discussed during a meeting of the rail agency's board of directors Friday.
The board met in Richmond to review the past year and talk about future plans, specifically "strategic priorities and annual operating plan for fiscal year 2024." During the meeting, the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority and the North Carolina Department of Transportation discussed their plans to expand service.
According to the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA), the project aims to develop the S-Line corridor, a currently out-of-service line between Petersburg, Virginia, and Raleigh, into a functioning passenger rail corridor.
"The S-Line corridor is currently out-of-service but once hosted dozens of daily freight and passenger trains and was a lifeline for its surrounding communities," VPRA's website reads.
A spokesperson for the VPRA said the project is still in the planning stages and won't begin service for several years. There is no set completion date.
Last year, Amtrak added a third daily train leaving Norfolk heading to Petersburg, Richmond, Washington D.C., and further north. Amtrak also plans to add a third train to Newport News in 2026.
The rail agency says its total ridership was up 24% this year with more than 28 million customer trips.