The state’s only commuter railroad warns of canceled trains on both lines, from Fredericksburg and Manassas to Washington, D.C. The lines are owned by freight railroads CSX and Norfolk Southern, respectively, and without train dispatchers monitoring the traffic on those lines, VRE trains cannot operate.
“Any labor strike would result in the immediate suspension of all Virginia Railway Express train service until a resolution is reached,” VRE penned notice to riders.
This summer, the Virginia Railway Express Operations Board voted to suspend fares. The goal is to make VRE a more attractive and viable option for Metro riders during the closure of Blue and Yellow Line stations south of Reagan National Airport (DCA), slated to begin September 10, and those returning to work post-Labor Day, VRE Commissioners said.
Fare-free rides in September will be systemwide. In October, they will be limited to travel between the six VRE stations most impacted by the Blue Line station closures – Backlick Road on the Manassas Line, Franconia-Springfield on the Fredericksburg Line, and Alexandria, Crystal City, L’Enfant, and Union Station on both lines.
The decision to suspend fares will make VRE a more attractive and viable option for Metro riders during the closure of Blue and Yellow Line stations south of Reagan National Airport (DCA), slated to begin September 10, and those returning to work post-Labor Day.
“VRE will be a major contributor to mitigation efforts in the region during the first part of the Metrorail shutdown, which is expected to last six weeks,” said VRE CEO Rich Dalton. “The temporary elimination of fares will maximize VRE’s usage.”
