VPRA New River Valley Passenger Rail Project on track for 2027 launch

Construction advances on Christiansburg’s new train station, marking a significant step toward restoring passenger rail service to the New River Valley after a nearly 50-year absence.

The New River Valley Project will return passenger rail service to the historic Cambria Yard, which served rail passengers from 1904 to 1979. The Project will construct a high-level platform, canopy, parking lot, siding track, and layover facility. The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) expects service to begin in 2027.

“There’s always been excitement about getting the train down to the Blacksburg, Cambria, Christiansburg area because there’s such a great market there with the college students, with the beautiful scenery that you see along the 81 corridor,” said DJ Stadtler, executive director of Virginia Passenger Rail Authority. “There was a huge demand for that.”

The project comes as Virginia experiences record-breaking rail ridership. According to Stadler, 2025 saw unprecedented passenger numbers, with most months setting new ridership records.

The new station will offer an alternative to driving on Interstate 81, a route notorious for heavy truck traffic and challenging mountain terrain.

“I-81, it’s just a tough road to drive,” Stadtler said. “You’ve got a lot of trucks on that road, and when it goes uphill, everything slows down. This just gives folks another way to get to Southwest Virginia and from Southwest Virginia up to where they want to go.”

Initial plans include daily morning and evening train service, allowing for day trips between Christiansburg and Roanoke.

The Christiansburg station represents more than just a local transit hub. According to Stadtler, it’s a crucial step in Virginia’s broader rail expansion plans.

Source: VPRA