Seminary Yard MSRF

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Project Description

VRE proposes to construct a permanent midday storage replacement facility for VRE trains that travel to and from the District of Columbia. The facility's proposed location is at the former Norfolk Southern yard at seminary passage in Alexandria Virginia at the converging point of VRE’s Fredericksburg line and Manassas line. VRE evaluated a wide range of potential alternative sites in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia for the relocated storage facility, taking into consideration operations, access, environmental, community, and cost criteria. The new permanent facility will supplement the current storage space provided by the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) in Washington, DC. VRE trains are currently stored during the day in Amtrak's Coach Yard. Amtrak identified the need to store additional intercity trains in this location and that requires VRE to relocate from the Amtrak Coach Yard rail facility.

Project Purpose

The midday storage replacement facility at Seminary Yard in Alexandria, VA is strategically located at the convergency point of the VRE Manassas and Fredericksburg Lines. VRE will no longer be able to storge trains at the Amtrak Coach Yard in Washington, DC due to the expansion of the Amtrak fleet and this new alternative storage facility in necessary to maintain and improve VRE operations.

Anticipated Project Schedule:

Phase Start Date Finish Date
Development 2/6/2025 6/30/2026
Property Acquisition 7/1/2025 6/30/2026
Final Design 9/1/2026 2/1/2028
Construction 7/1/2028 2/1/2029

Current Phase: Development

Phase Image Phase Image

Project Cost:

$75,899,512.00

Project Documents

There are no documents for this project.

Latest Updates

  • 10/9/2026
    The Phase 1B track maintenance work is currently underway and is expected to be completed later this month. We are also wrapping up the conceptual design phase, with final deliverables anticipated within the coming weeks.

  • 8/31/2026
    KRSV is scheduled to begin Phase 1B track maintenance work during the week of September 14. This work will rehabilitate the remaining portions of the yard acquired from VPRA in June and continue efforts to improve overall track condition and operational reliability within the facility.

  • 8/10/2026
    In July, the VRE Operations Board authorized the proposed Phase 1B track maintenance work, which will make the northern portion of the facility available for immediate use. Work is expected to begin within the next month, pending flagging availability.