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Select Q&A from VRE's Monthly On-Line Forum - 5/1/24

 

Don from Spotsylvania va asks

Why does the 510 PM Manassas train always sit and usually always late in the evening at union station? It always seems to hold up the Fredericksburg train.  Also your afternoon service is hit or miss anymore.

VRE Response
Thanks for the question Don.  The Manassas Line train which departs Union Station at 5:10 is train 331.  331 comes into Union Station as our northbound 336.  Due to congestion in the terminal, there is frequently only one track for VRE trains to utilize.  This means 336 comes in and turns as 331, and the Fredericksburg Line train cannot depart until 331 is gone.  We are working with Amtrak on ways to improve the congestion challenges at Union Station and appreciate your patience and understanding in the meantime.

 

 

Davin from Woodbridge, VA asks
Is VRE working with Amtrak to sop or minimize congestion delays at Union Station? They are happening too often

VRE Response
Hi Davin, thank you for commenting.  Yes we are working with Amtrak and others to help reduce the impact of congestion at Union Station on the VRE trains.

 

 

 

Pam from Fredericksburg VA asks
This question is in regards to the Northbound Fredericksburg line.: At least on the express train, I'm still not certain why we are in a continual hold pattern at King Street/Alexandria. There aren't any passengers boarding during that wait. How much longer is this going to go on? At this point you should have the statistical numbers which suggest that holding there is not doing anything other than delaying us (which you've been really good at for our trips home). Please don't blame CSX on this one because this is something you should be able to renegotiate. Thanks

VRE Response
Hi Pam,

We do have an adjustment planned for train 300 at Alexandria to eliminate the extra dwell time.  We hope to have this implemented soon but even a seemingly small change like this does require approval from not only the host railroads but coordination with other local transit operators who have their schedules built around our arrival and departure times.  Stay tuned. and appreciate your patience and understanding in the meantime.

 

 

Marc from Brooke asks
When is VRE going to start offering weekend service? When you start weekend service, are you going to have WIFI? Instead of the same week answer I have heard for 20 years, why not try and see if you can get cell tower companies to put up some cell towers where service is week. Work with Amtrak, your partner, the different counties/cities that VRE stops in. Let's move VRE into the future with great service. I know it comes down to money, get sponsors to help assist with the equipment for the train, just like at airports. Make an effort to move forward with this. NO is always the answer until you ask.

VRE Response
Marc,

We do have a proposed Saturday service in our budget for Fiscal Year 2025, but we do not yet have a planned start date.  As far as WiFi is concerned, our response stays the same, we have no plans to add WiFi.  Any WiFi offering would be based on cellular connectivity, which is weak on large portions of both our lines.  Amtrak has WiFi but they experience the same loss of signal through our territory.  The difference is this area is just a small part of the overall Amtrak network, so they can deal with short-term lapses and still offer a quality product through the majority of their network.