Virginia Railway Express in expansion mode in NOVA (Norfolk, Manassas: 2015, prices)

[phoenixmike11]

VRE kicks off major expansion plan with new Spotsylvania station - The Washington Post

Expansion coming to VRE in the near future.

[e2ksj3]

Glad to see this happening. I hope they will get funding for the Long Bridge bottleneck so we can have weekend & off-peak service. I think it would give people an option other than using I-95 or I-66 to get into the city. Even Metro is getting too crowded these days on the weekends. Boston, NYC, Philadelphia, & Chicago have this on their commuter rail systems so I'm not sure why there hasn't been a greater push for expansion here.

[gomason]

Don't hold your breath on this coming instantly. This is like a wish list that is 7-30 years off. VRE barely got enough funding to just study expanding the Manassas Line to Haymarket.

But yes, it badly needs expanded and that should go without saying. People are so fixated on Metro thinking that it is a godsend and don't realize how helpful VRE can be more many people.

[car54]

There is also the inconvenient fact that VRE does not own an inch of track. The owners (CSX & Norfolk Southern) restricts how many VRE trains can run on their tracks so as not to interfere with their core freight business.

I seem to recall that they were reluctant in the beginning for just this reason....the inevitable push to expand VRE.

[gomason]

Originally Posted by car54

There is also the inconvenient fact that VRE does not own an inch of track. The owners (CSX & Norfolk Southern) restricts how many VRE trains can run on their tracks so as not to interfere with their core freight business.

I seem to recall that they were reluctant in the beginning for just this reason....the inevitable push to expand VRE.

They have agreed in principle that if they build a new Long Bridge and add a 3rd track all the way to Fredburg, they can run more trains.

Apparently VRE has 40 slots for trains currently and is only using 30 of them.

[e2ksj3]

Originally Posted by gomason

They have agreed in principle that if they build a new Long Bridge and add a 3rd track all the way to Fredburg, they can run more trains.

Apparently VRE has 40 slots for trains currently and is only using 30 of them.

Interesting about the 40 slots. I didn't know that. You would think they would try & use them all. I know people who would use VRE if it ran a little later during the week. It would cut back on overcrowding on VRE & both Metro with the extra capacity.

[greekchampion04]

I took VRE for a few months, but as gas prices have gone down it is cheaper and faster for me to drive into DC all the way from Fredericksburg. My main gripe with VRE is that there is no train between 1pm and 3:30pm heading south. If they had one around 2-2:30pm I would go back to paying $300 a month for it.

[Oldhag1]

Originally Posted by greekchampion04

I took VRE for a few months, but as gas prices have gone down it is cheaper and faster for me to drive into DC all the way from Fredericksburg. My main gripe with VRE is that there is no train between 1pm and 3:30pm heading south. If they had one around 2-2:30pm I would go back to paying $300 a month for it.

I agree. To me, the reason the VRE hasn't caught on more is its limited run schedules.

[gomason]

Originally Posted by e2ksj3

Interesting about the 40 slots. I didn't know that. You would think they would try & use them all. I know people who would use VRE if it ran a little later during the week. It would cut back on overcrowding on VRE & both Metro with the extra capacity.

I'm not really sure why but it probably has something to do with logistics. Either they don't have enough trains or not enough room to store them at Union Station or a combination.

If they do expand VRE to Gainesville/Haymarket, then they will probably use almost every slot.

[Hudlander]

Originally Posted by Oldhag1

I agree. To me, the reason the VRE hasn't caught on more is its limited run schedules.

Yep....when DC actually runs trains like a real city (NY and BOS) I'll ride.