The Virginia Railway Express (VRE) exercised its option to extend its contract with Keolis for an additional five years to operate the VRE commuter rail trains that serve Washington D.C.’s Northern Virginia suburbs.
The contract, which also includes providing maintenance for the trains, is valued up to $21 million for the first year. Keolis has operated VRE trains since 2010, during which time customer service scores have risen sharply and on-time performance has shown continuous improvement. Under the terms of the contract, Keolis will be eligible for an additional extension up to five-years in 2020.
“Keolis assumed operations of the VRE five years ago with a strong focus on safety, operational excellence and providing an outstanding passenger experience and they have more than delivered,” said VRE CEO Doug Allen. “Passengers often tell us how pleased they are with our service and that is due in large part to the work of the Keolis team.”
“Our commitment to the VRE was to provide passengers with an outstanding service and we are pleased that the board recognized our achievements by extending our contract,” said Gregg Baxter, president of Keolis Rail Services America. “Our strong relationship with the VRE was an important factor, and we look forward to being part of the ongoing success of the service as the VRE system continues to grow in the coming years.”
The railroad has issued a formal request for proposals to manufacturers for more than 800 new passenger railcars that will serve 14 long-distance routes nationwide.
The delivery marks the first car in a 374‑vehicle order and begins the arrival of a new generation of higher‑capacity, more reliable, and more comfortable trains for one of the country’s busiest commuter rail systems.
BART recorded 5,403,140 exits in March, making it the highest monthly ridership since the pandemic and surpassing the previous high set in October 2025 (5,346,890 exits).
The station was rebuilt as part of SEPTA’s Station Accessibility Program, making it fully ADA accessible with new elevators, ramps, and high-level platforms.
The announcement highlights the long-standing partnership between the Class I railroad and the commuter rail system, dating back to Metra's creation in 1983.
Crews completed a significant portion of the testing required before commissioning the new, digital signaling system, which will bring important upgrades that strengthen Red Line service reliability for riders and provide Red Line Operations the ability to route trains more quickly, turn trains around faster, and recover from unplanned disruptions more efficiently, said MBTA officials.
In addition to new projects, progress continues on a multiyear effort to upgrade track, electrical, and signal systems on the Metra Electric Line to accommodate the expansion of service on the South Shore Line.
