French operator Keolis has been reconfirmed by Virginia Railway Express (VRE) to operate and maintain commuter rail services in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area in the state of Virginia.
The new contract has an initial term of five years, until 2031, and includes two additional five-year options, which could extend the partnership to a total of 15 years.
Starting in July 2026, Keolis will continue to operate 32 daily trains on weekdays on two lines totaling nearly 150 km of track and approximately 100 passenger cars.
More than 100 Keolis employees will be involved in train operation, rolling stock maintenance, and dedicated facility maintenance.
Operation and maintenance in a single contract
The new agreement consolidates operation and maintenance into a single contract, with the aim of ensuring a more integrated and efficient organization. Through this formula, Keolis will support VRE in implementing “System Plan 2050,” the long-term strategic plan that aims to expand services, modernize infrastructure, and strengthen regional connectivity.
Keolis has been operating the VRE network since 2010 and claims to have maintained a punctuality rate of over 99%. The company has also held ISO 9001 certification for its work within VRE since 2015.
International expertise in rail transport
Part of the SNCF Group, Keolis is active in the design, operation, and development of rail systems in several countries, including the Netherlands, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and Canada.
“We are honored by Virginia Railway Express’ renewed confidence in us for the coming years. This new contract confirms our rail expertise, built on high standards of safety, operational performance, and service quality,” said Laurence Broseta, CEO International at Keolis.
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