Keolis North America (Keolis) received a new contract to continue operating and maintaining the commuter rail service for Virginia Railway Express (VRE). 

Following a competitive procurement process, this new contract affirms the agency’s confidence in Keolis’ long-standing record of safety, performance, and operational excellence, delivering safe and reliable transportation services across Central and Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C. region, Keolis officials said.

The New Contract

The new contract for Keolis and VRE will commence in July 2026, with the potential to expand to 15 years. 

The contractor will maintain operations for 32 weekday trains over two lines that span 90 route miles, with a rolling stock of 20 diesel locomotives and 100 passenger cars. 

The VRE fleet will be operated by over 100 Keolis employees, who will perform equipment, facilities, and lifecycle maintenance. Keolis will provide train operations and equipment maintenance, select facilities maintenance, and lifecycle maintenance services.

“We are honored that VRE has once again placed its trust in Keolis,” said Brad Thomas, president and CEO of Keolis North America. “This renewal underscores the operational excellence our teams deliver each day, and we remain committed to the highest standards of safety, reliability, and customer service as we support the DMV region’s mobility needs.” 

The Keolis, VRE Partnership

Keolis’ tenure with VRE began in 2010 and has been marked by positive results, including adjusted on-time performance exceeding 99%. 

The company has an exemplary safety record during its tenure at VRE with no train accidents and multiple work units achieving a decade or more of injury-free service, said Keolis officials. 

Additionally, since 2015, Keolis has maintained ISO 9001 certification at VRE, which underscores its commitment to continuous improvement toward the highest quality and safety standards.