Keolis to continue operation of Virginia Railway Express

Keolis North America (Keolis) receives new contract to continue the strong partnership of operating and maintaining the commuter rail service for Virginia Railway Express (VRE). Following a competitive procurement process, this new contract affirms the agency’s confidence in Keolis’ long-standing record of safety, performance, and operational excellence, delivering safe and reliable transportation services across Central and Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C. region.

This new contract for Keolis and VRE will commence July 2026, with the potential to expand to 15 years. Keolis will maintain operations for 32 weekday trains over two lines that span 90 route miles, with a rolling stock of 20 diesel locomotives and 100 passenger cars. The VRE fleet will be operated by over 100 Keolis employees, performing equipment, facilities, and lifecycle maintenance. Keolis will provide train operations and maintenance of equipment, select facilities maintenance, and lifecycle maintenance services.

“We are honored that VRE has once again placed its trust in Keolis,” said Brad Thomas, president and CEO of Keolis North America. “This renewal underscores the operational excellence our teams deliver each day, and we remain committed to the highest standards of safety, reliability, and customer service as we support the DMV region’s mobility needs.”

Keolis’ tenure with VRE began in 2010 and has been marked by industry-leading results, including adjusted on-time performance exceeding 99 percent. Keolis has an exemplary safety record during its tenure at VRE with no train accidents and multiple work units achieving a decade or more of injury free service. Additionally, since 2015 Keolis has maintained ISO 9001 certification at VRE, which underscores its commitment to continuous improvement toward the highest quality and safety standards.