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Notes: Virginia Railway Express approves Saturday service and fare increase
Notes: Virginia Railway Express approves Saturday service and fare increase
ALXnow.com Today at 9:00am
You need to know
A VRE train heading south through Potomac Yard (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)
The Virginia Railway Express (VRE), which runs through Alexandria, could soon run on Saturdays.
Patch reported that the proposal to add Saturday service and increase fares was approved as part of the fiscal year 2025 budget.
The VRE runs from Washington D.C. down to Alexandria, splitting there on Manassas and Fredericksburg lines.
That new service still requires VRE to reach an agreement with the rail companies that VRE partners with to run on the railroads. If approved, Saturday rail service and the price increase would start on July 1, with a flat $5 fare for travel between stations from Alexandria to D.C.
{snip}
ALXnow.com Today at 9:00am
You need to know
A VRE train heading south through Potomac Yard (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)
The Virginia Railway Express (VRE), which runs through Alexandria, could soon run on Saturdays.
Patch reported that the proposal to add Saturday service and increase fares was approved as part of the fiscal year 2025 budget.
The VRE runs from Washington D.C. down to Alexandria, splitting there on Manassas and Fredericksburg lines.
That new service still requires VRE to reach an agreement with the rail companies that VRE partners with to run on the railroads. If approved, Saturday rail service and the price increase would start on July 1, with a flat $5 fare for travel between stations from Alexandria to D.C.
{snip}
Traffic & Transit
Virginia Railway Express Approved Budget Includes Saturday Service
The approved budget for the commuter rail includes fare increases and a plan for new Saturday service.
Emily Leayman, Patch Staff
Posted Tue, Jan 16, 2024 at 1:12 pm ET
ALEXANDRIA, VA — Saturday service and increased fares will be coming to the Virginia Railway Express commuter rail after budget approval last Thursday.
A proposal to introduce Saturday service for the first time was included with the fiscal year 2025 budget. VRE would introduce 12 one-way trains running on Saturdays: three northbound and three southbound each on the Manassas and Fredericksburg lines. The commuter rail service currently only runs weekdays on its lines between Manassas and DC and Fredericksburg and DC with 32 one-way trips on weekdays. ... The rail service on Saturdays could start as soon as July 1, 2024. The new service is dependent on which VRE reaching agreement with its host railroads — Amtrak, CSX Transportation, and Norfolk Southern — and its operations and maintenance contractor.
Fare increases will also begin on July 1, 2024, and the underutilized seven-day pass will be eliminated. In zones 1 to 3, a $5 flat fare will become permanent. Zone 1 stations include Union Station and L'Enfant Plaza, Zone 2 stations include Crystal City and Alexandria, and Zone 3 stations include Backlick Road and Franconia-Springfield. ... In addition, children 18 and under can ride free with a paying adult. Currently, children under 11 can ride free with a paying adult.
VRE will also bring back its Amtrak Step-Up ticket program through I-395/95 Commuter Choice funding. The program will work on VRE Mobile only due to Amtrak's requirements. Final details of the program will be set through ongoing discussions with Amtrak and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
{snip}
Virginia Railway Express Approved Budget Includes Saturday Service
The approved budget for the commuter rail includes fare increases and a plan for new Saturday service.
Emily Leayman, Patch Staff
Posted Tue, Jan 16, 2024 at 1:12 pm ET
ALEXANDRIA, VA — Saturday service and increased fares will be coming to the Virginia Railway Express commuter rail after budget approval last Thursday.
A proposal to introduce Saturday service for the first time was included with the fiscal year 2025 budget. VRE would introduce 12 one-way trains running on Saturdays: three northbound and three southbound each on the Manassas and Fredericksburg lines. The commuter rail service currently only runs weekdays on its lines between Manassas and DC and Fredericksburg and DC with 32 one-way trips on weekdays. ... The rail service on Saturdays could start as soon as July 1, 2024. The new service is dependent on which VRE reaching agreement with its host railroads — Amtrak, CSX Transportation, and Norfolk Southern — and its operations and maintenance contractor.
Fare increases will also begin on July 1, 2024, and the underutilized seven-day pass will be eliminated. In zones 1 to 3, a $5 flat fare will become permanent. Zone 1 stations include Union Station and L'Enfant Plaza, Zone 2 stations include Crystal City and Alexandria, and Zone 3 stations include Backlick Road and Franconia-Springfield. ... In addition, children 18 and under can ride free with a paying adult. Currently, children under 11 can ride free with a paying adult.
VRE will also bring back its Amtrak Step-Up ticket program through I-395/95 Commuter Choice funding. The program will work on VRE Mobile only due to Amtrak's requirements. Final details of the program will be set through ongoing discussions with Amtrak and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
{snip}
