Plans to bring Amtrak to the New River Valley moved forward Tuesday when the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority board voted to continue negotiations with Norfolk Southern. If signed, the deal would bring passenger rail service to the New River Valley by the end of 2027.

Previous plans to move Amtrak to a new station near the Christiansburg shopping center failed due to the cost and time it would take to build a large tunnel.

Compared to previous plans, this new deal would save more than $100 million, says DJ Stadtler, executive director of VPRA. “We’re getting there at a lower price. And we’re getting there faster,” Stadtler said.

Stadtler said the plan would extend Amtrak passenger service beyond Roanoke to the Cambria station in Christiansburg, which was a passenger station from the early 1900s until 1979.

Norfolk Southern would be responsible for building an elevated platform and parking lot at the Christiansburg station. It would also build a facility in Radford for train maintenance and a rest area for staff during layovers.

Although not part of this plan, this route to Cambria and the ability to change at Radford opens up the possibility of eventually bringing passenger service to Radford or even Bristol.

“If there is an interchange, there will likely be a demand for service expansion, and it would be naive to think that wouldn’t be part of the next discussion,” Stadtler said. “We need to get to Christiansburg first. And if there is the desire and funding to go further southwest, it will be possible on a much easier basis.”

As part of the agreement VPRA is currently negotiating, the agency would also purchase the Manassas Line in Northern Virginia. This could allow more flexibility to open that route to evening and weekend commuter traffic.

In a press release, VPRA said it hopes to close the deal with Norfolk Southern in early September.