VIRGINIA Railway Express (VRE) has awarded Keolis a new contract to operate VRE commuter services on its two-line network serving Washington, DC. The value of the contract was not disclosed.
The new contract starts in July and has an initial five-year term. There are two five-year extension options, potentially extending the term of the contract to 2041.
Keolis will continue to operate 32 services each weekday on the 150km VRE network with 19 stations, running from Union Station in Washington, DC, and comprising the Manassas Line to Broad Run and the Fredericksburg Line to Spotsylvania. VRE services carry an average of 20,000 passengers a day.
The new contract consolidates operations and fleet maintenance into a single agreement, which according to Keolis provides a more integrated and efficient organisation. Over 100 Keolis employees will be deployed to operate and maintain the VRE fleet of 20 MP36PH-3C diesel locomotives and 100 double-deck commuter coaches, as well as specified facilities.
Keolis will also support VRE in implementing its System Plan 2050, a long-term fleet and infrastructure investment programme aimed at increasing service frequency to meet future demand. The population of Northern Virginia is forecast to grow by 35% by 2050, and that of Fredericksburg area by 65%.
VRE is a joint venture of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission and the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission. Keolis first began operating VRE services in 2010, succeeding Amtrak which had been operator since the launch of VRE in 1992.
“This new contract bears testament to Keolis’ rail expertise, built on high standards of safety, operational performance and service quality,” says Laurence Broseta, CEO International at Keolis.
