Virginia is launching a dedicated bus service connecting Richmond, Washington DC, and Virginia Beach starting in mid-2026, a temporary solution while the state builds new rail infrastructure to permanently link the three cities.

The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority is seeking contractors to operate four buses daily along the route from July 2026 through at least December 2028. The service is designed to prove demand and maintain connectivity while construction proceeds on a new Long Bridge over the Potomac River, a $2.3 billion project that won't open until 2030.

The current Long Bridge is a 120-year-old, two-track bottleneck that limits how many trains can run between Virginia and DC. Virginia committed $1.9 billion toward replacing it as part of a broader push to double Amtrak service between Richmond and DC by 2030. But until the new bridge opens, buses will fill the gap.

Virginia Beach, the state's largest city with over 450,000 residents, has been pushing for better rail connections since the 1990s but has been stuck relying on cars and air travel. The city is isolated from passenger rail despite being a major tourist destination and home to Naval Station Norfolk. Richmond, the state capital, and DC, with its massive federal workforce, complete the triangle of cities the service will connect.

The bus plan is part of Virginia's $4 billion rail expansion, the most ambitious state-led passenger rail project in the country. In 2019, Virginia bought 386 miles of rail corridor from CSX for $3.7 billion, the largest rail infrastructure deal in U.S. history, giving the state control over its own passenger rail future.

Contractors must provide buses equipped with ADA lifts and maintain a facility within 60 miles of the route. Proposals are due March 17, 2026.