Amtrak recently signed an agreement with the commonwealth of Virginia to provide new passenger-rail service between Richmond and Washington, D.C.

Virginia will pay Amtrak $17.2 million during a three-year demonstration period to provide daily rush-hour service from Washington, D.C. to Lynchburg, beginning in October, and from D.C. to Richmond starting in December.

The first state-supported intercity passenger-rail corridors in Virginia, the routes are the first phase of planned passenger-rail improvements in Virginia's I-81/Route 29 and I-95/I-64 corridors. The service will operate over freight-rail tracks owned by CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railway.

Amtrak and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation will finalize schedules and fares in the coming months.