If you’re standing up on a VRE train, you’d better be ready to get off the train.
VRE CEO Dale Zehner stated in an email to riders on Friday riders should only stand, or queue, as trains are pulling into stations. If riders are standing, it must mean they want to get off the train, or detrain, stated Zehner.
The commuter railroad years ago had a no-standing policy in effect on the system’s Fredericksburg line. But as trains became more popular with riders, and the amount of available seating became limited, it went away.
The policy has been effectively reinstated as a pilot program on Manassas line train 329, and plans are to roll it out on the rest of the system.
The queuing policy comes as VRE plans to add more railcars to trains beginning May 2.
As part of the plan, three morning and afternoon trains on the Fredericksburg line will see increased seating capacity. Two Manassas line trains will also see more seats.
Zehner says conductor will not enforce the no-standing policy when all of the seats are taken, but adds riders should sit down when more open seats become available.
“For those of you who prefer to queue, remember that not everyone wants to, or is able to, stand for 10-15 minutes on a moving train. Allowing everyone the opportunity to detrain at their station means that everyone will get home on-time,” stated Zehner.
Riders headed into Washington on VRE often have problems exiting trains at the Crystal City station, stated Zehner.
Conductors on afternoon trains have been told to enforce the no-standing policy after trains leave the Burke Center station on the Manassas line and Rippon station on the Fredericksburg line.
