Governor Bob McDonnell announced Monday that an agreement has been reached with Norfolk Southern that could bring passenger rail back to Norfolk in three years.
The agreement provides for the speedy upgrading of Norfolk Southern tracks between Norfolk and Petersburg so that they are suitable for use by passenger trains. Funded by an $87 million Rail Enhancement Fund grant, the projects include upgraded signaling, track extensions and connections, passenger train turning and servicing facilities, and a track and platform near Norfolk’s Harbor Park for the passenger train. Also included is construction of a new connection between Norfolk Southern and CSXT tracks near Petersburg. These improvements will enable passenger trains to run on Norfolk Southern’s busy Heartland Corridor route.
The goal, of course, is higher speed rail and this is an important first step, according to Ray Taylor, president of the Future of Hampton Roads. But funds for operating the trains will need to be found, so simply getting the tracks upgraded will not be enough.
It will be interesting to see whether this comes to fruition. I hope it does – I’d love to be able to hop on a train to head to Richmond instead of driving there.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
This is one of the most positive developments. Private industry working with public entities using existing right of ways. Passenger rail makes sense when is it large scale. Hopefully generations of citizen leadership offer support for decades of tax breaks, not subsidies, and promote the expansion of passenger rail across the continent.