A critical choke point on Norfolk Southern's Crescent Corridor was eliminated with a reconfigured rail junction near Front Royal, Va. This was the final and most complex of six capacity improvement projects in Northern Virginia to handle more trains at higher speeds.

Funded by $43 million from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) and nearly $20 million from Norfolk Southern, the projects lengthened or built new passing tracks between Manassas, Va., and Front Royal; installed five miles of double track near the Virginia Inland Port; improved signal and traffic control systems; and increased train speeds through Riverton Junction near Front Royal.

"The completion of these I-81 corridor improvements will benefit both freight and passenger rail service in Virginia," said DRPT Director Thelma Drake. "This capacity will attract more trucks from the highways to trains, as well as facilitate future passenger expansion in Northern Virginia."

The Crescent Corridor initiative supports the Commonwealth's goals for improving freight transportation in Virginia while facilitating passenger improvements.