Virginia Passenger Rail Authority

10/16/2026

Short-term pause, long-term progress.

From October 16–26, 2026, Amtrak will complete important track upgrades at ‘A Interlocking’ in the First Street Tunnel, just south of Washington, DC. This work will require a temporary full-service outage to safely replace aging rail infrastructure and improve reliability.

VPRA is also making the most of this planned outage by advancing construction activities on our projects across Virginia. Coordinating work during this period helps keep projects moving forward and supports our goal of building a stronger passenger rail system for the Commonwealth.

While some train service will be impacted during this period, the work completed during Pause for Progress will help provide a safer, more reliable rail experience for years to come.

For more information, visit https://www.amtrak.com/washington-dc-train-status-pause-for-progress. Thank you for your patience as we continue investing in the future of rail travel.

10/15/2026

Construction Spotlight: See the Long Bridge Project in Action! https://youtu.be/8_FzFWxXMDA

Big things are happening along the Long Bridge Project corridor!

From Maine Avenue SW to the Potomac River, construction is underway as permanent foundations are taking shape.

Take a behind-the-scenes look at our latest construction progress and see how we're building for the future!

Stay connected and follow our progress at www.LongBridgeProject.com.

10/13/2026

Come behind the scenes of the Long Bridge Project!

Join Fabien Navidi-Kasmai, Long Bridge Project Construction Manager, as he takes viewers inside the work happening across Washington, DC and shares a closer look at how construction is progressing.

From the Maine Avenue SW work zone and Washington Trestle to East Potomac Park and I-395, see the work taking place behind the barriers and learn how each construction activity moves the project forward. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s26n9Ih7CZY

Go behind the scenes to see how construction is coming along on the...

10/12/2026

Last week, the Long Bridge Project received a major shipment of pipe piles, delivered by barge to the storage site downriver of the project. This barge carried roughly half of the pipe piles that will eventually support the future rail bridge.

Transporting these massive structures by water means avoiding more than 100 delivery trucks on the George Washington Memorial Parkway and local Arlington roads, helping reduce roadway congestion and construction-related traffic.

This delivery marks a big step forward for the project with a smaller impact on the roadways.

10/07/2026

On September 27, the Long Bridge Project team joined the 9/11 Memorial Trail Walk & Bike Ride, connecting with members of the community and sharing information about the project and its ongoing work in the area.

We’re grateful for the opportunity to meet with residents and visitors, answer questions about the project, and help keep the community informed while coming together to honor the lives and legacies of those impacted by September 11.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to learn about the project and to the September 11th National Memorial Trail Alliance for hosting us.

10/06/2026

Better connections start with collaboration. Meet Kevin O’Brien of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) and learn how he’s helping bring the voices of people who bike, walk, and roll into the conversation, as the Long Bridge Project creates a new connection across the Potomac River between Arlington, VA, and Washington, DC.

Learn more about VPRA partners and Long Bridge Project progress by checking out our latest newsletter! Newsletter - Fall 2026: https://simplebooklet.com/newsletterfall2026

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10/05/2026

From Oct. 16 – 26, Amtrak’s Pause for Progress work is temporarily impacting rail service south of Washington, DC’s Union Station. While crews are making important upgrades, several alternative transportation options are available to keep you moving:

• Amtrak Bus bridges connecting key stations
• DC Metro for local travel across the region
• Virginia Breeze routes for longer-distance trips

Visit Amtrak’s Pause for Progress site for more information to plan and explore the best option for your trip. https://www.amtrak.com/washington-dc-train-status-pause-for-progress

10/01/2026

During the October 16-26, 2026 Pause for Progress outage, Amtrak will complete critical track upgrades at ‘A Interlocking’ in the First Street Tunnel, just south of Washington, D.C. VPRA is using this planned disruption to advance construction activities on projects throughout Virginia. Coordinating this work helps move projects forward while minimizing future impacts on passengers and communities.

Temporary service reductions are necessary to complete this important work. Travelers should expect significant service reductions or cancellations for trains operating into and out of Washington, DC from the south.

For more information, visit https://www.amtrak.com/washington-dc-train-status-pause-for-progress. These investments will help create a safer, more dependable rail experience for passengers across the region. Thank you for your patience as we continue investing in the future of passenger rail!

09/30/2026

As Rail Safety Month ends, VPRA thanks our partners and communities across Virginia for making safety a shared priority.

Together, we’re building a safer rail future for the Commonwealth.

09/28/2026

From the path behind the Long Bridge Aquatics & Fitness Center, the Long Bridge Project site is in clear view.

It’s hard to imagine that by 2030, two new bridges will span the space between these two existing structures across the Potomac River; one dedicated to passenger rail and another for pedestrians and cyclists.

Together, these new connections will help to expand rail capacity, while creating new opportunities for people to walk and bike across the Potomac River.

We’re excited to watch this vision take shape!