Virginia, CSX strike $3.7B deal to massively expand commuter rail. It starts with a new Long Bridge.

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam on Thursday announced a deal with CSX to build a new Long Bridge over the Potomac River, among other major track improvements, a $3.7 billion project that could double the number of people able to cross into and out of D.C. by rail while facilitating much longer-distance rail commuting. The 115-year-old, two-track Long Bridge, owned by freight rail giant CSX, carries all passenger, commuter and freight train traffic over the Potomac. Its limitations — it runs at 98% capacity during peak hours — have long acted as a barrier to broader commuter service, such as the Virginia Railway Express running more frequently throughout the day, or even train service from Maryland crossing into the commonwealth. Read More...