Amtrak Begins Service to New Transportation Center in Newport News

The Newport News Transportation Center, VA, is now open. Amtrak, the city of Newport News, Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA), CSX, FRA, Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), and Virginia DOT partnered on the multimodal project.

“This opening is a significant milestone in our efforts to improve our service, trains, stations, and amenities to provide customers an exceptional experience,” said Amtrak President Roger Harris. “We are grateful for the support from CSX and our city, state, and federal partners for investing in this project and maximizing opportunities to help bring improvements to advance passenger rail growth in the Hampton Roads region.”

The center will provide two daily Amtrak Virginia roundtrips between Newport News and Richmond; Alexandria; Washington, DC, and cities in the Northeast. The center will also serve as a transfer point for Amtrak Thruway bus service, extending travel to Norfolk and Virginia Beach, and for Hampton Roads Transit, taxi service, and shuttles to and from the Newport News-Williamsburg Airport.

“The Federal Railroad Administration is excited about the new Newport News Transportation Center, and we are proud of our work with Amtrak and others to provide more Virginians access to the passenger rail service they need and deserve,” said FRA Administrator Amit Bose. “As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda and with funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are investing billions of dollars in intercity passenger rail projects and planning activities across the nation.”

Customers will use accessible paths to the level-boarding platform, which are equipped with guardrails and signs. Along the platform’s edge is an accessible yellow tactile surface strip, which serves as a hazard warning to alert customers who are blind or have low vision. In addition to a new station and platform, the project also includes the construction of a maintenance facility where crews will service and clean trains in preparation for the next day’s departures.

“When my colleagues and I got together to draft and negotiate the bipartisan infrastructure law, we imagined better-connected communities and projects like this one, that allow Virginians to get from point A to point B safely and efficiently,” said Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA). “I commend Amtrak, the city of Newport News, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and everyone involved in making this facility a reality.”

“I’ve long championed the expansion and improvement of passenger rail service because it helps Virginians get where they need to go, boosts our economy, and reduces traffic,” said Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA). “I’m proud to have secured $1.2 million in congressionally directed spending to push this project forward.”