Amtrak news: Last VRE run; scheduled to launch train between Richmond and Washington, D.C.

Today is the final day Amtrak will run Virginia Railway Express trains. Keolis Rail Services America will begin its five-year, $85-million contract with VRE on Monday. It's been a difficult eight-month transition process between the contract being awarded to Keolis and its operational hand over. Accusations of improper training and transition interference along with a two-week extension of Amtrak service as a precautionary move all marred the situation. Keolis has said its crews are all trained and qualified to operate the trains and they have shadowed Amtrak engineers all week. In other news, Amtrak will begin operating a second state-funded intercity passenger train between Richmond and Washington, D.C., beginning July 20. The new service, which is funded by the Commonwealth of Virginia, is part of a three-year, $17.2-million pilot project to increase the number of mass-transit options and determine how feasible enhanced rail service in Virginia can be. With this new train, hourly morning departures are available from Richmond's Staples Mill Station to the Northeast Corridor and more convenient afternoon return trips are available from Washington, D.C. The total number of morning departures from Richmond to Washington is now five, with six return departures available in the afternoon and evening. The new train has Virginia stops at the Staples Mill, Ashland, Fredericksburg, Quantico, Woodbridge and Alexandria stations. Passengers may travel directly to destinations along Amtrak's Northeast Corridor as far north as Boston.