VRE held their monthly "Online Form" today. Here's some of the Q&A (in no particular order):
Complete transcript here.
VRE Management:
Happy October to everyone and welcome to our monthly edition of the on-line forum. For those of you new to the forum, VRE Management, which includes Rich Dalton-Deputy CEO/COO and Chris Henry – Director of Rail Operations, and other staff members answer service related questions for an hour. We can’t get to every question but do our best to answer the most frequently asked and/or interesting ones.
We try to have guests come into the studio and today is no different; we have Brian Barton, CSX Trainmaster for the VRE service area along with Earl Hunter who works with Brian in the CSX Passenger Department. Feel free to ask them railroad specific questions. The Fredericksburg Line operates on CSX territory from L’Enfant to Fredericksburg (and soon to Spotysylvania!). The Manassas Line operates on the same CSX tracks from L’Enfant to Alexandria then transitions to one of our other host railroads, Norfolk Southern.
Speaking of which, VRE has launched the Gainesville-Haymarket Extension Project website! Visit www.vre.org/ghx for more information on this study of a potential Manassas Line extension to Gainesville and Haymarket. #VREGHX (We know, we know, hashtags are becoming an overused thing, but we don’t use them when we speak, we promise!)
We see lots of questions in the queue, so let’s get started!
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Ellen from Tappahannock, va asks:
When will the Spotsylvania station open?
VRE Management:
This is a popular question so we will answer it again. While the station may appear to be done, there is still a lot of final detail work that needs completed, including getting the power and communications installed and tested, and of course the final inspections. Work is progressing quickly at this point, and the end is in sight. We will make a public announcement as soon as possible with a firm opening date.
Dave from Woodbridge asks:
Last year we were told a new train would be added to the Fredricksburg line in Oct 2014. Then we have been told it would start once the times were ironed out with CSX. It has now been a year. When will this train be added or has it been cancelled? We would like more current information.
VRE Management:
The much anticipated additional Fredericksburg line train is still planned to coincide with the opening of the Spotsylvania Station. We are working closely with our host railroads to firm up the schedule. We understand the need to get the word out as quickly as possible once a schedule has been finalized so passengers can better plan their commute. We will put that information out on all available channels as soon as we have something confirmed.
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A from Fredericksburg asks:
So I guess the soft holidays did not make enough money for the VRE to run. The whole "federal employees are not our main source of income" that went out the window huh? Now I am not trying to be a jerk but you and the board raised the prices for so many reason a new station that is over due and over budget the 95 express lanes opening and someone need another assistant to get the coffee and wash the bosses car. Instead of give hope to people by having public hearings why not just say we are doing the rate hike because we can and we need the money or was is just a ploy?
VRE Management:
We do operate on occasions when the federal government is closed. For example, on snow days when the government is closed, but we determine it is safe for passengers to reach our stations, we operate trains. On the soft holidays which we have operated like Columbus Day and MLK, Jr. Day, we found out our ridership was only in 900 to 1800 total rides those days. Five to ten percent of our normal ridership is not enough to justify 16 trains (an “S” schedule day).
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Rhett from Richmond, Va. asks:
The Congressional mandate deadline to activate Positive Train Control (PTC) across America's rail network is the last day of THIS YEAR; every railroad, including CSX and Norfolk Southern, have issued a statement telling Congress THEY WILL SHUT DOWN THEIR ENTIRE NETWORK staring Jan. 1, 2016 if Congress won't extend the deadline, which is completely NOT feasible, financially or physically. This is being echoed by ALL railroads nationwide as well as most commuter rail operations. If Congress WON'T extend the deadline and all railroads stop running this coming Jan. 1, what happens to VRE?
VRE Management:
US House of Representative Transportation Leadership has introduced a stand-alone bill that would extend the PTC deadline to 2018. We are hopeful this will pass quickly and be signed by the President in time to avoid any effect on VRE service.
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Nick from Haymarket, VA asks:
I work up near Baltimore, up until May I used the VRE and MARC every Day. Based on the falling price of gas with the increase ticket prices makes driving more feasible. Why did the systems loose reciprocity with each other? What are the future price plans for the VRE Ticket?
VRE Management:
MARC is no longer able to offer cross-honor trips to VRE passengers due to legislative action. VRE however still honors MARC's tickets for reverse flow service.
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Ron K from Springfield,Va asks:
How well maintained is the railroad bridge across the Potomac? Are there plans to replace it?
VRE Management:
The long bridge is a CSX asset and is maintained to the same exacting standard as the rest of their railroad. The District Department of Transportation, in partnership with VRE and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation is currently studying the long bridge. See www.thelongbridgeproject.com.
Tom from Manassas asks:
correction: longbridgeproject.com
VRE Management:
Thanks Tom.
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John from Washington, DC asks:
I really like technology improvements when they save time, money and flexibility so I have really been watching the VRE ticket App. However, every time I see someone on the train using it, it takes more time to check the eticket than the paper ticket by from the conductor, the rider often has problems pulling it up and then recently their was the software glich. Is the ticket App really an improvement over the paper ticket? It doesn't seem cost effective or beneficial just yet.
VRE Management:
Thank you for the comment John. VRE Mobile is a big improvement over the paper tickets both in convenience for the passenger and is cost effective for VRE. We are currently making changes to the app which will enable passengers to more quickly launch and display the ticket for inspection by the conductor. The issue we experienced on October 1 was related to a bad file received with the SmartBenefits information for the month. Since that process is automated between WMATA and our developer GlobeSherpa, we did not discover the issue until someone attempted the first purchase. We have since added an alarm that will notify us if a file comes in that is corrupted or missing data. We also have implemented a means of using the SmartBenefits “forecast” file, which we receive a few days earlier in the event that the final file has issues. Overall, VRE Mobile has been a big success with nearly 9,000 downloads of the app and now accounting for more than 10% of our sales. Try it out, we’d love to hear your feedback once you’ve used it.
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Jessica Zepeda from Bristow, VA asks:
Will there ever be mid-day or weekend service? There has been discussion of expanding 66, but not expanding rail (that I know of). I live in PWC and commute on the VRE every day. I think a better, more economical solution is to expand commuter service on the railroad. Adding a third track between Broad Run and King Street would get commuters to Alexandria, allowing them to transfer to either the metro or VRE train into the district. Also, it would provide public transportation on weekends.
VRE Management:
Midday and weekend service is planned in the latter years of the VRE System Plan 2040. The Gainesville/Haymarket extension of the Manassas line is under study and we agree VRE is one of several regional strategies that would be effective.
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VRE Management:
Thanks everyone for the great questions, but our hour is up. As a reminder, we are not operating VRE service on Columbus Day, October 12, 2015. Please check with Amtrak @ (1-800-USA-RAIL) if VRE step-up tickets will be honored that day. However, we will be operating trains for Clifton Day on Sunday, October 11th, visit www.cliftonday.com for more information.
