VPRA secures FRA NRPP grants for station upgrades, equipment acquisition

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is providing grant funding thought the National Railroad Partnership Program (NRPP) for station upgrades and equipment acquisition that will support Virginia passenger rail service.

The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) reported that the NRPP grants will benefit the Staunton Station, as well as enable Amtrak to purchase more Airo trainsets from Siemens.

The historic Staunton station, built in the 19th century, will receive up to $15,566,400 for repairs and upgrades to its platform and canopy. The goal of the project, VPRA said, is to return the platform area to a state of good repair, as well as make improvements to meet ADA design standards. Planned repairs include rehabilitation of the platform and a new canopy to replace the existing structure. The investment will benefit riders who use the station to travel on Amtrak’s Cardinal service between New York City and Chicago.

Additionally, VPRA will benefit from NRPP’s support of Amtrak’s Airo program through which “America’s Railroad” will receive up to $2.05 billion for the acquisition of 43 additional Airo trainsets for use on state-supported services, such as VPRA’s Amtrak Virginia network. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funded Amtrak’s initial order for 83 Airo trainsets, and these 43 additional sets will allow for future Amtrak state-supported service expansion.

The Airo trainsets will replace the aging Amfleet equipment currently in use in the commonwealth of Virginia. These new trainsets “offer dual-powered service, which is key for Amtrak Virginia, as they will eliminate the need for engine changes at Washington,” VPRA said. The sets will also offer riders ergonomic seating, large windows, improved lighting, and digital information systems, it noted. They are scheduled to deploy in Virginia next year on the four corridors from Washington, D.C., to Norfolk, Newport News, Richmond, and Roanoke, and will make the further expansion of passenger rail service in the commonwealth possible, according to VPRA.

In 2027, VPRA will extend Roanoke service to Christiansburg, bringing passenger rail service back to the New River Valley for the first time since 1979. 

“We are grateful to the FRA for their support as we work to offer Virginians a travel alternative to sitting in traffic on our congested roads and highways,” said DJ Stadtler, Executive Director of VPRA, which was established in 2020 to promote, sustain, and expand the availability of passenger and commuter rail service in the commonwealth, which launched its supported Amtrak Virginia service in 2009. “While our Transforming Rail in Virginia initiative works to improve the infrastructure our trains use, these NRPP grants will improve the passenger experience on board trains and at the Staunton station.”

Source: VPRA