Keolis historic contract renewed in the United States
Our subsidiary will continue to operate and maintain the Virginia Railway Express for at least another five years. Keolis has run these trains since it first entered the U.S. rail market in 2010.
A symbol of our presence in the United States
This contract renewal marks an important milestone for our Keolis North America teams. Our subsidiary—the country’s largest private rail operator—has won the tender to continue operating the Virginia Railway Express (VRE). These commuter trains connect residential areas in Northern Virginia VRE was the first rail service operated by Keolis in the United States, beginning in 2010.
The new contract will start in July 2026 for an initial 5-year period that can be extended to up to 15 years. It covers the operation and maintenance of trains running on two lines spanning nearly 150 km.
32
weekday trains on the VRE network
150 km
of track between Virginia and Washington, D.C.
100
Keolis employees supporting VRE operations
We won this contract through a highly competitive procurement process, as is often the case in this market, which is intensely contested by both local and European players
Keolis, International CEO
Plans to develop and modernize the VRE over the long term
Around 100 Keolis employees operate the VRE and support the service’s transport authority in implementing its long-term strategic framework, known as System Plan 2050. This plan aims to:
- expand transport services
- upgrade infrastructure
- strengthen regional connections
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