“Update: Fredericksburg trains 301, 303 and 305 and 315 will NOT operate.”
Washington, D.C. Fire and EMS: “Amtrak derailment in tunnel at entrance to Union Station. Initial report minor in nature & no reported injuries. Fire units are working to reach the train, which is occupied.”
Virginia Railway Express: “The Virginia Railway Express (VRE) has officially opened its new Lifecycle Overhaul and Upgrade (LOU) Facility, which allows the commuter rail service to perform expanded maintenance onsite in Spotsylvania County, Virginia.”
“The LOU features a drop table to remove locomotive and railcar trucks and wheelsets; wheel truing machine to reprofile rolling stock wheelsets; overhead bridge crane with two lift points – one with a 5-ton and the other with a 30-ton capacity; and two tracks, each holding up to four locomotives or railcars.”
On a separate note, we’re hearing rumblings about significant changes coming to Virginia’s only commuter rail system, including weekend service, which we reported last week.
The system continues to see about a third of its pre-pandemic ridership.
“The Amtrak Step-Up program allows VRE multi-ride ticketholders to ride select Amtrak trains for an additional charge. The nearly $1.5 million in 1-395/95 Commuter Choice funding will not only provide for the program’s reinstatement but subsidize the cost of Step-Up tickets on VRE’s Fredericksburg Line, which runs parallel to I-95 and I-395. VRE is working with Amtrak to finalize trains to include in the program and a mechanism to allow VRE passengers to ride, as Amtrak began requiring reservations on all trains when the pandemic hit.”
“Historic Manassas Inc. Facebook page: “Miss Virginia Volunteer 2023, Kate Clatterbuck, will be making a special appearance in Manassas on Sunday, May 28, 2023. During her visit, she will dedicate her time to volunteering at the Manassas Visitors Center and actively promote ticket sales for the highly anticipated Manassas Railway Festival [Saturday, June 3, 2023].”
“From 9:00 am to 11:30 am, Kate Clatterbuck, the reigning Miss Virginia Volunteer, will engage with the community, emphasizing the significance of the Manassas Railway Festival and its impact on the region.”
The commuter rail service charges as much as $12.15 one-way on the Fredericksburg line and $10 one-way on the Manassas line. Free-Friday fares will begin Friday, June 2, 2023, and last through September 1, 2023.
Free Fridays would cost the system about $300,000 in fare revenue, VRE estimate. The operations board meets at 9 a.m. Friday, May 18, 2023, at the OmniRide Transit Center, 14700 Potomac Mills Road in Woodbridge.
