Washington's First Street Tunnel Upgrades Complete: Amtrak and Virginia Rail Service Restored Ahead of Holiday Travel

Amtrak has completed infrastructure upgrades in the First Street Tunnel south of Washington Union Station, restoring train operations following a nine-day construction period. The project, known as "Pause for Progress," required temporary service changes for trains traveling south of Washington, D.C., from October 16 to 26.

Aging track and switch systems replaced

The work focused on replacing aging infrastructure at A-Interlocking, a critical track and control point for Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express (VRE) trains operating between Washington and Virginia, and on modernizing switch systems. Amtrak coordinated with VRE, the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority, and the North Carolina Department of Transportation to accommodate service changes during construction; CSX, Norfolk Southern, and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) also supported operational adjustments.

Six daily Amtrak Virginia round trips restored

With construction complete, Amtrak Virginia service has resumed ahead of the holiday travel season. Amtrak Virginia operates six daily round trips connecting Washington, D.C., with Richmond, Roanoke, Norfolk, and Newport News, serving 17 stations across Virginia.