STV joined the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) in celebrating the completion of the upgraded Quantico Station with a community ribbon cutting ceremony on November 1, 2024. 

The revitalized passenger rail station in the Town of Quantico will accommodate longer trains, feature grade-separated pedestrian access to the platforms and enhance accessibility at the adjacent Marine Corps Base Quantico (MCBQ), one of the largest U.S. Marine Corps bases in the world.

Expanding the Station

STV developed plans for the station and track improvements and designed a 714-foot retaining wall needed for a new third track construction to minimize impacts to MCBQ. 

The new retaining wall features two types, a soldier pile retaining wall with precast concrete panels and a soil nail wall with a permanent cast-in-place concrete facing. Both allow for top-down construction to minimize disruption to eh base and ensure continued rail operations.

“STV has partnered with VRE since its inception in 1992, and we’re proud to mark another milestone in our long-standing relationship with this client,” said Derek Overstreet, PE, DBIA, engineering director at STV. “This project reflects the strong collaboration of many community stakeholders and will create a safer station experience for VRE and Amtrak passengers.”

Getting a Third Track

The station previously featured two mainline track serving both VRE and Amtrak passenger trains, as well as CSX Transportation (CSXT) freight trains.

The recent enhancements improve access to the existing tracks and accommodate a new third mainline track, which is being constructed by CSXT as part of the Arkendale to Powell’s Creek Third Track Project.

The upgrades at Quantico Station extend the existing east platform by 550 feet to accommodate longer trains and replace a temporary west platform with a new 840 foot island platform between the existing west track and CSXT’s new third track. In addition a grade separated access through three elevator towers connected by two pedestrian bridges have been added along with other safety improvements to each platform.

Other projects

The project involved coordination with numerous stakeholders, including the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA), CSXT, Amtrack, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), MCBQ, the Town of Quantico and Prince William County.

STV’s partnership with VRE spans several notable projects, including the design for the VRE Lifecycle Overhaul and Upgrade Facility in Spotsylvania County, Virginia and preliminary engineering and environmental services for platform extensions and upgrades at Franconia-Springfield, Lorton, Rippon, Brooke, and Leeland Road stations.

Earlier this year, STV celebrated the completion of the award-winning Fredericksburg Station Rehabilitation, where the firm provided design and construction management services.