The 2008 draft Statewide Rail Plan and the 2008 Statewide Rail Resource Allocation Plan identified the TransDominion Express (TDX) as a key project to help manage highway congestion and improve mobility along the Route 29, I-81 and Route 460 corridors. The project will improve travel time and provide more frequent service from Lynchburg to Washington, D.C., with potential service expansions to Roanoke and Bristol, VA. The project is proposed to advance in a phased approach to ensure ridership levels warrant further investment.

Phase I of the project will add one daily round trip train from Lynchburg to Washington, D.C., increase commuter capacity in the Virginia Railway Express service area, complete the capacity study for future service expansions to Roanoke and Bristol, and increase capacity for a second train from Lynchburg to Washington, D.C.

If ridership and revenue goals are met, and additional funding is identified, the Commonwealth will advance to the next phases of the project which include potential expansions to Bristol and Roanoke and the rail infrastructure improvements necessary to support the service expansion.

Currently, funding has been programmed in the Six-Year Improvement Plan for Phase I of the project. The Lynchburg to Washington, D.C. service is expected to begin in October 2009.