Amtrak said Thursday that the Virginia Railway Express commuter train service has asked it to continue operating its trains for several weeks beyond its June 28 contract expiration because its replacement is not going to be ready to take over.
VRE Chairman Paul Milde said VRE has asked Amtrak for breathing room because Amtrak is interfering with the transition. He said VRE asked members of Congress to intervene, saying Amtrak is a government-subsidized entity interfering with another government-subsidized entity.
“We are prepared to take over service on the 28th,” said Gregg Baxter, general manager of the Keolis service that won the VRE contract.
Amtrak, the longtime operator of VRE trains, lost out to Keolis on a bid for a renewed contract in October. – Kytja Weir
