RICHMOND, Virginia – State officials on Tuesday approved a contract with Norfolk Southern to expand commuter and passenger rail service in southwestern and northern Virginia.

The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority said the agreement would extend a passenger line into the New River Valley, allowing state authorities to run passenger trains between Roanoke and Christiansburg on the private railroad’s main line, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported.

With access to the line, state officials said, they could expand passenger service to Norfolk Southern’s Cambria Yard station in Christiansburg, which served as a passenger terminal from 1904 to 1979.

State agency officials said they also purchased Norfolk Southern tracks in Northern Virginia, which could help with efforts to create more commuter rail stops between Prince William County and Washington, D.C. Officials said they plan to increase rail service in the evenings and on weekends.

“We are excited to deliver these benefits as we continue to accelerate outcomes not only in these two regions, but across the Commonwealth,” Governor Glenn Youngkin said in a statement.

In a press release, Rail Authority Executive Director DJ Stadtler thanked Norfolk Southern for partnering with the state. “We look forward to finalizing this agreement, which will make mass transit a viable option for even more Virginians,” Stadtler said.