WOODBRIDGE, Va. – Virginia Railway Express (VRE) CEO Rich Dalton announced his retirement at the VRE Operations Board meeting on Friday, June 20, 2025. Dalton, who has led the agency since stepping in as interim CEO in 2019 and becoming permanent CEO in 2020, will officially retire on October 3, 2025.

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PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. – After more than a decade of promises, delays, and renewed commitments, the long-awaited Potomac Shores Virginia Railway Express (VRE) station is finally inching toward full construction, with key infrastructure nearly complete and developers eyeing a construction start by the end of 2025.

At a June 5 meeting of the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC), officials confirmed that the parking garage and station access infrastructure—critical components of the overall project—are “just about to get wrapped up.” Construction of the station itself, which will be led by private developers with VRE now included in “intimate discussions,” could begin as early as late 2025, pending final documentation and approvals from CSX.

A Long Road to the Tracks

The Potomac Shores VRE station was first announced with great fanfare in 2014, when then-Governor Terry McAuliffe (D) broke ground on the project as part of a public-private partnership. At the time, the $14 million passenger depot was to be built by SunCal, the developer behind the Potomac Shores community, with Virginia taxpayers funding necessary track upgrades. Officials hoped the station would become a transportation anchor for new housing and commercial growth along the Potomac River.

“We are building the transportation infrastructure of the future,” McAuliffe said at the time.

However, by 2018, delays had taken hold. We reported that the station had been delayed for nearly four years due to shifting development priorities and complexities involving multiple jurisdictions and agencies. Developers told Potomac Local they were “ready to move forward” after extensive planning, and VRE reiterated its commitment to the site.

Another milestone came in 2023, when Prince William County Potomac District Supervisor Andrea Bailey announced a new agreement between the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority and Biddle Real Estate Ventures to jumpstart the stalled project. Bailey touted the station as a key element of economic growth and transit-oriented development in eastern Prince William County.

In November 2024, officials celebrated the groundbreaking of the station house, a signature building that will feature two levels of retail space and a grand arch leading to a riverfront boardwalk. A $24 million, 350-space parking garage was also completed—marking a visible step forward for residents long skeptical of the project’s progress.

Construction and Coordination

At the recent PRTC meeting, officials said environmental remediation work has been completed, and permits are in place. The biggest remaining obstacle is securing final paperwork with CSX, the freight rail company that owns the tracks.

VRE’s involvement has increased as the project moves toward construction, though officials clarified the agency is not building the station itself. That responsibility remains with private developers, but VRE is expected to operate passenger rail service from the site once complete.

Once completed, the Potomac Shores station will serve riders on VRE’s Fredericksburg Line and connect the growing Potomac Shores community with destinations to the north and south. The station’s unique design includes elevated walkways, stairs, and an elevator to move passengers from a bluff down to the tracks.

The station will also feature a riverfront boardwalk and access to the Potomac Shores Trail System, making it one of the most architecturally distinctive stations in the VRE system.

If station construction begins in late 2025, the Potomac Shores VRE Station could be operational by mid-to-late 2027. Local officials and transportation planners see it as a transformative piece of infrastructure—one that could finally deliver on a decade of anticipation and tie together the area’s goals for smart growth, reduced traffic congestion, and increased transit access.

Related Coverage from Potomac Local News:

• 📸 Potomac Shores VRE Station House Breaks Ground (2024)
• 🔁 New Promise to Build VRE Station After Near Decade of Delay (2023)
• ⏳ After a Nearly 4-Year Delay, Potomac Shores Will Get Its VRE Station (2018)
• 🚆 McAuliffe Breaks Ground on Potomac Shores VRE Station (2014)
• 🏞️ Potomac Shores VRE Station to Be Unlike Any in System (2014)

STAFFORD, Va. – Stafford County will lose one of its two seats on the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) Operations Board beginning July 1, 2025, after new ridership data showed other jurisdictions posted slightly greater gains in boardings.

“We literally just fell under that care,” said one Stafford representative during the FAMPO Policy Committee meeting on May 19. “Stafford's ridership still did go up, but everybody else went up just slightly more. And they have a point-on count. So that point-on count, that one day, is what they pay everything.”

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MANASSAS, Va. – Virginia Railway Express (VRE) unveiled a sweeping set of changes coming to its downtown Manassas station, promising major improvements in safety, accessibility, and future service flexibility. The update came during a presentation to the Manassas City Council on May 20, 2025.

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Editor's Note:

This is the final part of our three-part series exploring Virginia Railway Express' vision for the future. Thank you for following along.

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Editor's Note:

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Editor's Note:
This is the first in a three-part series exploring Virginia Railway Express’ (VRE) ambitious System Plan 2050, which outlines a vision for how the commuter rail system could grow over the next 25 years. We'll break down what the plan means for the region, what riders can expect, and how the system hopes to pay for its bold goals.

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Public transportation in Northern Virginia is seeing a significant rebound as ridership continues to climb on both Virginia Railway Express (VRE) trains and OmniRide commuter and local buses. However, transit leaders warn that increased demand may soon outpace available resources, especially for locally funded services.

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The Virginia Railway Express (VRE) Operations Board has authorized a comprehensive painting and surface restoration project for the Woodbridge Station, aiming to enhance both the facility's longevity and the passenger experience.

The project, assigned to Fresh Air Cleaning LLC, encompasses extensive preparation work, including sandblasting and sealing, before repainting. This initiative is part of VRE's ongoing life-cycle maintenance strategy to uphold and improve its facilities.

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The Virginia Railway Express (VRE) Operations Board meeting on January 17, 2025, saw several significant discussions aimed at enhancing service and infrastructure across the transit system.

Among the most talked-about topics were the introduction of Saturday service, a crucial funding agreement for the Manassas Line, solutions for parking challenges at stations, and significant infrastructure projects, including the redevelopment of Seminary Yard and the Long Bridge upgrades. These initiatives are designed to improve the commuter experience and accommodate a growing ridership base.

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