Preparations continue in Roanoke for return of passenger rail

Work continues in Roanoke to prepare for the return of passenger rail later this year.

Crews are now laying ties for a new track and continuing work on the platform that will serve the passenger train..

Kelsey Webb is a spokesperson for the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation.

"Right now we're still on track for a summer 2017 testing, when we will be testing the trains, Amtrak will be qualifying the trains.," Webb said. "And so we are still on track for a fall 2017 start to service."

When that testing starts, Webb says we'll see two trains a day Monday through Friday, but no passengers until service begins in the fall.