Amtrak could be coming to the New River Valley sooner than expected, as the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority board voted Tuesday to approve a new plan that would expedite the process for a lower cost. It’s planned for the historic Cambria station in Christiansburg.

It’s been a record-breaking year for tourism in the Commonwealth, according to the governor’s office. Visitor spending generated $33.3 billion in Virginia last year.

The federal government alleges in a lawsuit against Norfolk Southern that the railroad has been causing chronic delays for Amtrak between New York and New Orleans by forcing the passenger trains to wait while its massive freight trains pass.

Amtrak rail service between New York and Boston has been restored after a lightning strike was believed to have caused a circuit breaker to malfunction.

A $12 billion high-speed passenger train line between Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area has started construction.

You’ll soon be able to plan those trips to our nation’s biggest cities once The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority extends service to the New River Valley.

Officials are presenting their plans for the area, and also asking for community input on what they want from the rail service.

Though the original date has changed, officials from the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority said they are working to get a railway in the New River Valley.

Amtrak could be coming to Bedford, but town leaders said they need just a little more funding to build a stop.

More than 55 million people are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home for Thanksgiving this year, and there's no Butterball hotline to help them with any bumps along the way.

President Joe Biden has promoted new cash for Amtrak.

The Biden administration has awarded $1.4 billion to projects improving railway safety and boosting rail capacity.

A derailment of an Amtrak train in Montana that killed three people in 2021 was caused by a poor track conditions at the accident site, federal investigators said in a final report.

A pair of Amtrak train cars has derailed outside of Washington D.

More people are riding the rails this year, according to the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority.

Danville man, Cedric Coles was struck and killed by an Amtrak train on Sunday morning.

Riders on an Amtrak train that runs from Maine to Boston can continue buying alcoholic beverages during the 35-mile stretch of the trip that goes through New Hampshire as officials work out a “creative solution” to avoid violating a state liquor law.

Investigators probing a fatal 2021 Amtrak train derailment in Montana say the track had been bent along a curve near the accident site and the problem had been getting worse as freight trains traveled over it before the derailment.

Looking to be more adventurous in 2023? Well, Amtrak is giving you the chance to explore America by train for less.

Amtrak hit a record of 119,280 passengers traveling on four state-supported routes in Virginia in the month of August.

BNSF Railway says in a federal lawsuit that victims of an Amtrak derailment in Missouri should be required to seek settlements through arbitration, rather than filing lawsuits.

Amtrak says it is working to quickly restore canceled trains after President Joe Biden announced that a tentative railway labor agreement has been reached.

Rail companies and their workers reached a tentative agreement to avert a nationwide strike that could have shut down the nation’s freight trains and devastated the economy less than two months before the midterm elections.

Supply chain issues along with commuter routes are just some areas that could see an impact from a nationwide freight railroad strike.

Carmakers say buyers might not get the vehicle they want on time, commuter rail lines could see service disrupted, and shipments from everything from oil to livestock feed could be disrupted.

Members of one union have rejected a tentative deal with the largest U.S. freight railroads, while two ratified agreements and three other unions remained at the bargaining table just days ahead of a national strike deadline.

Business and government officials are bracing for the possibility of a nationwide rail strike at the end of this week while talks carry on between the largest U.S. freight railroads and their unions.

Passenger rail service is returning to Vermont's largest city after an absence of almost 70 years as part of a renewal in interest in passenger rail service nationwide.

A much-anticipated train rolled into Downtown Roanoke from Washington D.C. on Monday and was greeted by city leaders and residents – The arrival marked a new chapter of transportation to and from Roanoke.

Here's a look at some of the stories we'll be following today as they make headlines in Southwest Virginia.

The first lawsuits have been filed following an Amtrak train collision and derailment in rural Missouri that killed four people and injured up to 150 others.

The chief elected official in the Missouri county where an Amtrak train slammed into a dump truck says residents and county leaders have been pushing for a safety upgrade at the railroad crossing for nearly three years.

An Amtrak passenger train struck a dump truck at an uncontrolled crossing in a rural area of Missouri, killing three people on the train and one in the truck.

A passenger train traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago derailed in Missouri on Monday after hitting a dump truck that was blocking a public crossing, Amtrak said.

Three people were killed and dozens others were injured Monday when an Amtrak passenger train traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago struck a dump truck and derailed in a remote, rural area of Missouri.

Amtrak’s new departure times make for a more flexible and convenient way to travel from Roanoke to cities in Northern Virginia, Southwest Virginia, and Washington D.C.

Time to plan your Independence Day weekend!

Fast winds are complicating the fight against fires burning across northeast New Mexico.

Looking to get away for spring break? Amtrak is now offering fares at $10 for travel within Virginia on the Northeast Regional.

An Amtrak engineer has been acquitted of charges related to a high-speed derailment that left eight people dead and hundreds injured in Philadelphia in 2015.

The location of the New River Valley’s proposed train station in Christiansburg is being narrowed down to two sites.

Amtrak has good news for people who love to travel and want to give their loved one something special this Valentine’s Day

The Democratic Senator says he recently received a briefing from Amtrak, where the company admitted they made a mistake.

As we reported earlier this month, downed trees and power lines from a winter storm prevented the train from reaching its destination in New York.

Every three hours a person or vehicle is hit by a train.

What’s been assumed is now set in stone.

At about 4:15 p.m. Tuesday, the Crescent Train 20 departed Lynchburg en route to its final destination of New York City.

Amtrak passengers may be facing service cutbacks in January.

Amtrak is giving its customers a chance to treat themselves and a friend.

Amtrak and Norfolk Southern are inching closer to a final deal to bring a second Amtrak train to Roanoke.

A preliminary report on an Amtrak train derailment in north-central Montana last month that killed three people and injured dozens more provides no information on the cause of the accident.

A federal agent shot and killed by an Amtrak train passenger in Arizona is being remembered as a revered leader with a career spanning almost two decades.

Authorities say a Drug Enforcement Administration special agent was killed when a passenger opened fire as officers were doing a routine inspection for illegal contraband on an Amtrak train in Tucson, Arizona.

Businesses that have announced vaccine mandates say some workers who had been on the fence have since gotten inoculated against COVID-19.

An Amtrak train that derailed in rural Montana over the weekend was going just under the speed limit at about 75 mph (121 kph) when it went off the track along a gradual curve.

The deadly Amtrak derailment in north-central Montana of the Empire Builder, traveling from Chicago to Seattle, is being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board.

Federal officials sent a team of investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board to the site of an Amtrak derailment in north-central Montana that killed three people and left seven hospitalized Sunday.

President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson have bonded over their shared love of trains.

Germany's Siemens AG is one of the weather vanes for the global economy and the Munich-based company says things are looking up.

- Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has pardoned a man who served 22 years in prison for a role in a drive-by shooting in which testimony indicated he wasn't involved.

Rail services across southwest Virginia will be making several large expansions over the next several years.

As Congress eyes an infrastructure package, a coalition of transportation agencies and Amtrak has released a 15-year plan of rail improvements for the congested Northeast Corridor.

Governor Ralph Northam is expected to speak at Danville Community College about Virginia’s tuition-free community college initiative Wednesday at 9 a.m.

Amtrak CEO William Flynn says that plans to spend $7.3 billion on 83 new trains to replace some that are 50 years old will speed up travel, make it more comfortable, and will help clean the environment.

Amtrak plans to spend $7.3 billion to replace 83 passenger trains, some nearly a half-century old, though much of the funding must still be approved by Congress.

As summer approaches, travel is on the brain of so many -- especially after the last year we’ve had, cooped up and fighting COVID-19.

Amtrak is looking to give students a helping hand with their traveling needs.

If you love watching Roanoke trains, you can now watch them right from your home!

Gov. Ralph Northam will be in Christiansburg on Wednesday where he is scheduled to make a rail announcement at 2 p.m.

Here's a look at some of the stories we'll be following today as they make headlines across the country and Southwest Virginia.

President Joe Biden didn't want to be anywhere else Friday than helping his Amtrak family celebrate 50 years on the rails.

Gov. Ralph Northam was at Pittsylvania County for the AeroFarms groundbreaking event on Thursday at 11 a.m.

Next month, Virginia will see some coronavirus restrictions eased.

Gov. Ralph Northam signed a bill legalizing marijuana in Virginia at 2 p.m. on Wednesday.

The U.S. 7th Fleet that operates throughout the Indo-Pacific says more than 14,000 of its service members have received their full doses of the coronavirus vaccine, which it began administering on January 5.

ROANOKE, Va. – Virginia will spend $3.7 billion to revamp the commonwealth’s railway system. Acquiring 386 miles of rail and 223 miles of track, a major project is picking up steam. Partnering with Amtrak, CSX, and Virginia Railway Express, the goal is to expand rail services across the stateIt will make it easier for passengers traveling to and from the New River Valley, especially college students. AdSaving the planet, Governor Ralph Northam points out rail travel produces 83 percent fewer greenhouse gases than driving. AdThe major project is expected to boost the state’s economy by $2 billion a year and could create tens of thousands of jobs.

CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. – Plans for bringing a passenger rail service to the New River Valley are chugging right along. “We’re excited because the state is just all in behind passenger rail,” said Larry Hincker with the New River Valley passenger rail initiative. On Friday, the governor signed a bill into law establishing the New River Valley Passenger Rail Station Authority, which creates a governing board with stakeholders in the area and more importantly, clears the way for negotiations between VDOT and Norfolk Southern. “Half of the undergraduate students would be able to ride the passenger rail because that’s where they come from, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and so it’s really, really important to us,” Hincker said. Expanding rail service across Virginia could cost up to $200 million.

The New River Valley is one step closer to having an Amtrak station after Gov. Chris Hurst introduced, will establish the New River Valley Passenger Rail Station Authority. According to officials, VDOT and Norfolk Southern are in the process of finalizing plans to bring passenger rail to Christiansburg. “I am excited about this major step towards bringing passenger rail to the New River Valley. The New River Valley is already a great place to live and this makes it even better.

Amtrak workers perform tunnel repairs to a partially flooded train track bed, Saturday, March 20, 2021, in Weehawken, N.J. With a new rail tunnel into New York years away at best, Amtrak is embarking on an aggressive and expensive program to fix a 110-year-old tunnel in the interim. On a recent Saturday morning, workers used heavy machinery to clear away chunks of the tunnel floor after rails and wooden ties had been removed. “If we had a new tunnel we wouldn’t be spending anything on it,” Amtrak Chairman Anthony Coscia said. On a broader scale, it must keep the tunnel operating reliably for years until a new tunnel is built and the old one can be closed for a complete overhaul. Against that backdrop, a funding dispute between local lawmakers and the administration for former President Donald Trump stalled the new tunnel project for four years.

The Virginia General Assembly is all aboard a plan to build a new Amtrak station in the New River Valley. On Monday, a bill to establish the NRV Passenger Rail Authority passed. The project has been years in the making and members of the local New River Valley Passenger Rail Initiative hope to locate the station on a parcel of land near the Christiansburg Aquatic Center. This project is just a small part of a statewide push to expand passenger rail service in Virginia. State transportation leaders are in negotiations with Norfolk Southern now, hoping to get $100 million to make a deal.

CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. – While state leaders are working on some other projects for our region, folks in the New River Valley have been asking for passenger rail expansion and they are one step closer to getting it. As the trains continue rolling across the Commonwealth, the focus on passenger rail continues to grow. And Larry Hincker with the New River Valley Passenger Rail group is pleased with what he sees. Bills by Delegate Chris Hurst and Senator John Edwards to create a New River Valley Passenger Rail Authority have been received favorably. AdOn Wednesday, state lawmakers elected to keep $50 million in their budget earmarked for passenger rail expansion statewide.

WASHINGTON – Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg will quarantine for 14 days after a member of his security detail tested positive Monday for the coronavirus. The agent had been “in close contact” with Buttigieg, including Monday morning prior to the agent’s positive result, the Transportation Department said in a statement. Following contact tracing protocols, the department said it determined that one other person in the security detail had also been in “close contact” with the agent and will also quarantine for 14 days. Ad“We will continue to prioritize safety as the foundation of everything we do,” Buttigieg told department employees in an email message last week. “We know it’s the appropriate measure for international travel, people traveling into the U.S.,” partly because of the threat of virus variants from other countries, Buttigieg told CNN.

Although the heaviest parts of the storm had moved through the metropolitan area by Monday evening, lighter snow showers were expected to continue virtually all day Tuesday, forecaster James Tomasini said. “We’re looking at a long two days here,” New York Gov. Across the Northeast, many coronavirus vaccination sites closed Monday. AdHundreds of flights and many trains and were canceled, and aboveground New York City subway service stopped at 2 p.m. In recent days, a storm system blanketed parts of the Midwest, with some areas getting the most snow in several years.

FILE - In this Jan. 1, 2021 file photo, The Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge overlooks the newly-completed Moynihan Train Hall in New York. Two major railroad workers unions have asked the Department of Homeland Security to beef up security on Amtrak and other passenger rail lines, including by creating a no-ride list akin to the no-fly list that prevents people identified as risks from boarding planes. – Two major railroad workers unions have asked the Department of Homeland Security to beef up security on Amtrak and other passenger lines, including by creating a no-ride list akin to the no-fly list that prevents people identified as risks from boarding planes. Ferguson, of SMART-TD, acknowledged there would be a cost to creating a no-ride list, but he said it should be minimal considering that officials would simply be sharing the existing no-fly list with railroads. The unions also asked the Federal Railroad Administration to require more security, but that agency declined to intervene Thursday because the Department of Homeland Security has jurisdiction over such matters.

ARLINGTON, Va. A major piece in potentially bringing more Amtrak service to Roanoke passed a crucial step on Wednesday. The Long Bridge project would alleviate train traffic between Arlington and Washington with two new train bridges over the Potomac River. Virginia Department of Public Rail and Transportation director Jennifer Mitchell said the current bridge over the Potomac River is at 98% capacity, making it impossible to expand Amtrak service. She said the Long Bridge project will not only open up new Amtrak possibilities, but take freight traffic away from Interstate 81. We know people are looking for an alternative to I-81, so we hope we can continue to expand passenger service.The Long Bridge project is in its early stages.

Mayor Bill de Blasio is asking travelers from 34 states, including Florida where COVID-19 infection rates are high, to quarantine for 14 days after arriving in the city. Authorities said this week a fifth of all new coronavirus cases in New York City have been from travelers entering the city from other states. Despite the specter of fines, the checkpoints are more educational than punitive, and officials acknowledged the effort relies on voluntary compliance. The campaign was criticized for sowing confusion and raising questions about how travelers' personal information would be retained. He said officials have made more than 86,000 phone calls and sent more than 20,000 text messages to travelers entering New York City from states with high coronavirus infection rates.

Starting May 11, Amtrak is requiring face coverings in stations, as well as on trains and thruway buses. “Amtrak continues to operate as an essential service for those who must travel during this public health crisis. Small children who are not able to maintain a facial covering are exempt from this requirement. Amtrak continues to take extra steps to sanitize stations and trains. Additional measures include temporarily reduced coach and business-class sales to 50% capacity and temporarily accepting only cashless payments in stations and on trains.

ROANOKE, Va. – Amtrak is making changes to try to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. For anyone who may need to change travel plans, change fees for reservations made through the end of April are being waived. Charles Parker depends on buses to get around and said being so close to so many other people worries him. “You just never know, if someone coughs, what’s going to happen. They tell you not to wear masks, so (I’m) just constantly wondering what’s going to happen,” Parker said.

ROANOKE, Va. – Tuesday is National Plan Your Vacation Day, and Amtrak is making it easier - and cheaper - to celebrate. Amtrak is offering 30 percent off when travelers book between Tuesday and Thursday, January 28-30. The deal is only valid on trips between Feb. 16 and May 31, 2020. For example, the deal would make a ticket from Roanoke to New York City as little as $71. Now is the time to find the perfect trip and travel via Amtrak.

ROANOKE, Va. – Looking to travel in the first part of this year? Amtrak is looking to make your travel plans easier with its limited-time buy one, get one free promotion. Tickets must be bought before Jan 13. to be eligible and the offer is valid for travel from Feb. 1, through June 12, with blackout dates on April 10, April 13 and May 22 through May 25. Even if you’re looking to make a long trip, the deal is good for both coach and sleeping accommodations. Both tickets must be purchased in the same transaction and all prices will be automatically discounted from the standard fare when accessing the promotion on Amtrak’s special web page or by using the discount code V605 when booking a trip.

ROANOKE, Va. - If you're looking to take a trip, Amtrak has a buy one get one free deal on several sleeper train routes. You need to act fast, though -- the sale concludes Monday. The BOGO deal is valid for trips between Nov. 11 through the first week of April 2020. There are some blackout dates around the holidays. Amtrak says customers can share the experience with a friend, while taking in some of the best views and sightseeing opportunities the United States has to offer.

ROANOKE, Va.- - Since mid-September, passengers have bought over $10,000 tickets after Amtrak announced $10 one-way tickets. For the first 10 days of October, one-way trips to anywhere Amtrak Northeast Regional travels throughout Virginia and Washington, D.C., will only cost $10. Tuesday also marks the 10-year anniversary of the inaugural daily round-trip service from Lynchburg to Washington D.C. on the Amtrak Northeast Regional. Make sure you use the code V110 at checkout when purchasing the one-way tickets. The $10 fare is one of several discounts available for travel in Virginia and to Washington, D.C., and other cities in the Northeast.

ROANOKE, Va. - Amtrak is celebrating its Virginia anniversary and offering an amazing deal to travelers. For the first 10 days of October, one-way trips to anywhere Amtrak Northeast Regional travels throughout Virginia and Washington, D.C., will only cost $10. The key is to make sure you use the code V110 at checkout. Below is a screenshot of what to do on the Amtrak website when purchasing your tickets to make sure you score this amazing deal. Amtrak is offering this rate as it celebrates 10 years of Virginia sponsored rail service.

18 people are injured when an 18-wheeler collides with an Amtrak train in Texas. The-CNN-Wire & 2019 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.

Alex Wong/Getty ImagesAmtrak has announced the launch of a new service that will provide riders a direct service between Washington D.C. and New York, according to WJLA. As of now, the schedule includes one southbound and one northbound train per day. The southbound train from New York will depart at 6:35 a.m. and is scheduled to arrive in D.C. around 9:10 a.m. The northbound train will depart D.C. at 4:30 p.m., and arrive in New York around 7:05 p.m. The Acela Nonstop service comes in advance of the 2021 launch of brand-new Acela trainsets.

ROANOKE, Va. - Roanoke's famed 611 steam locomotive is headed for a little road trip next week. "The experience alone, just to be near an engine like this is wonderful, add to it the firing up of the engine," museum education director Courtney Plaster said. 611 is making the trip because Strasburg is one of the few places with private tracks for the locomotive to run on. The Strasburg Railroad is calling it a once-in-a-lifetime steam extravaganza because the 611 will reunite with Strasburg's engine, the Norfolk and Western 475. Although 475 was not made in Roanoke like 611 was, the two locomotives were stablemates at points throughout their careers, according to Barrall.

(CNN) - Train travel between New York City and Washington is now faster than ever. On Thursday, Amtrak announced that starting in September it will offer a new direct route between Washington Union Station (WAS) and New York Penn Station (NYP). "The new Acela Nonstop service will have you halfway to your New York City or DC destination in the time it would take you to board a flight," Amtrak President & CEO Richard Anderson said in a statement. "This new service will offer an ideal solution for travelers who want to save time and travel between city center DC and New York." Riders can expect to travel for two hours and 35 minutes instead of four hours with the direct service.

The town is preparing for what it hopes will one day become an Amtrak station. Copyright 2019 by WSLS 10 - All rights reserved.