Amtrak plans to continue operating Virginia Railway Express trains come June 28, instead of a rival French company, even though Amtrak’s contract will have expired.
The train service, which lost out on a contract renewal last fall to Keolis, has agreed to continue running the commuter trains that run from Northern Virginia into downtown Washington for two more weeks, according to both sides. The price tag for the extra service: about $335,000.
The two have not signed an agreement, according to Amtrak, but VRE Chief Executive Officer Dale Zehner alerted his riders on Thursday. Amtrak said it was notifying its workers of the plan, too.
Amtrak will run the trains because Keolis has had problems getting its conductor and engineering crews approved to operate them, despite winning the contract in the fall. Keolis will begin maintaining the trains as planned as those crews move into place.
VRE has blamed Amtrak for thwarting Keolis as the international company tried to make its first foray into the U.S. commuter train market. Keolis had hoped to hire away the existing Amtrak crews but was able to lure only one, delaying the hiring process. VRE has said that Amtrak created hurdles with its qualification process for any crews who pass through its Union Station terminal.
Amtrak has disputed those claims, saying it has been cooperative. “This makes it clear that Keolis doesn’t appear to be ready to take over,” Amtrak spokesman Steve Kulm said. “Why did Keolis put VRE and VRE passengers in this position?”
VRE says Keolis could have been ready by the transition date but that Amtrak forced VRE’s hand, requiring an answer by Wednesday as to whether it needed Amtrak to help out. Kulm responded that Amtrak needed the advance notice so it could make crew assignments.
Zehner had asked Amtrak to extend service on one of the two commuter lines, letting Keolis take over the other, but Amtrak agreed to all or nothing. Kulm said it was “easier, simpler, cleaner for us to continue while Keolis gets ready” as it would avoid having union and nonunion crews interacting at Union Station.
Keolis should take over July 12, but VRE spokesman Mark Roeber could not say Thursday what would happen if it wasn’t ready then. VRE is asking Keolis to pay for any extra costs.
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