An overhead view of the Cambria station, looking east. The soldier pile lagging wall, or retaining wall, holds Depot Street from the future bus lane.
The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority has announced the New River Valley’s Amtrak passenger rail project is making good progress.
This past week, they gave an update on where it currently stands.
At the site of the future station in Christiansburg, construction of the passenger platform continues with crews installing formwork for platform walls, columns and beams. This formwork is used to cast concrete and is temporary to the platform. It is removed as the crews continue to progress the platform construction to the east.
Crews have placed the majority of the platform’s concrete walls, columns and beams. The first precast concrete planks have been set on top of the beams at the west end of the platform, and eventually a concrete slab will top the planks to create the walking area of the platform.
The first of many precast concrete planks has been installed on the western end of the platform.
The soldier pile lagging wall is a retaining wall which will keep the soil under Depot Street separate from the bus lane in front of the station.
The wall is made up of over 100 steel H-piles, or beams, with timber lagging in between each pile. Precast concrete panels with an architectural finish will cover the timber and line the wall. Crews have only a few more piles to install before they begin placing the final finished precast concrete panels.
The future layover facility at Radford is nearing completion. The layover tracks have been placed, graded, and leveled with ballast and are now in their final location. All the facility lighting and train servicing equipment have been installed.
The Amtrak modular staff building is currently in production and will be delivered to the site this fall. Crews are now preparing the area for asphalt pavement.
Passenger rail service is expected to begin in the fall of 2027.
