Virginia Railway Express will operate modified service on Sunday, August 23, with northbound morning trains and southbound afternoon trains, giving Northern and Central Virginia residents a way to reach the Washington region without driving into expected gridlock from the Freedom 250 Grand Prix. The one-day service, detailed in a VRE press release, coincides with the IndyCar street race around the National Mall that is projected to draw about 140,000 visitors daily and trigger extensive road closures and parking restrictions in the District.
Tickets will cost the usual VRE rates and can be bought through the VRE Mobile app or station ticket machines. The press release does not list specific train times, stations served on each line, or the exact number of trips; a schedule PDF is available on vre.org and is subject to change. The special Sunday run also serves as a test of demand and operations for a possible regular weekend service once major projects, such as the Long Bridge expansion, are completed under VRE’s System Plan 2050. District officials are urging travelers to use transit that weekend.
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Full Press Release:
Virginia Railway Express to run service on Sunday, August 23
Northbound AM trains and southbound PM trains will allow residents to bypass city gridlock and traffic congestion on Freedom 250 Grand Prix race day
Alexandria, Va. – Virginia Railway Express will run service on Sunday, August 23, giving travelers in Northern and Central Virginia a convenient and affordable way to leave the car at home for weekend excursions in and around the DC Metro region. The modified weekend service coincides with the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, expected to bring 140,000 daily visitors to Washington, DC over the race weekend, along with significant traffic impacts due to event-related road closures and parking restrictions.VRE tickets will be available to purchase at standard VRE rates on VRE Mobile and ticket vending machines found at all VRE stations. A pdf of the schedule (subject to adjustment) can be found here and on vre.org/schedule.
The August 23 service represents an important milestone for VRE as the rail agency explores weekend service, serving as an opportunity to demonstrate how rail can support major regional events and aid local jurisdictions’ tourism and economic goals. This single-day Sunday service will also help VRE evaluate operational needs and customer demand for regular weekend service, which is currently set to begin upon completion of several rail infrastructure projects funded through the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Transforming Rail in Virginia initiative, including the expansion of Long Bridge over the Potomac River.
“VRE is thrilled to provide weekend service to our community and visitors on August 23,” said VRE CEO Katie Choe. “We are committed to delivering more travel options and greater flexibility for our riders, as laid out in VRE’s long range plan and service vision, System Plan 2050, adopted last year. We look forward to welcoming both longtime riders and first-time passengers on board, and using what we learn to help shape the future of VRE service.”
The District of Columbia is encouraging those traveling through DC during the Freedom 250 Grand Prix weekend to take transit and plan ahead. More information about the Grand Prix and road restrictions can be found at 250.dc.gov, while schedule and fare information for VRE service on Sunday, August 23rd can be found at www.vre.org.
