4 replies to this topic

[CNJRoss]

Patch 10/3/23

 

Virginia Railway Express Weekend Service, Fare Increases Proposed

 

The first weekend service could come to Virginia Railway Express under the commuter rail's proposed budget.

 

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Virginia Railway Express could get weekend service for the first time under a budget proposal for the commuter rail. A proposed fare increase is also proposed in the budget.

 

The commuter rail service currently only runs weekdays on its lines between Manassas and DC and Fredericksburg and DC. According to a preliminary budget memo, VRE's operations board and stakeholders gave positive feedback on possible Saturday service starting in fiscal year 2025, which begins on July 1, 2024. 

 

 

Continue here.

 

[KevinKorell]

Washington, DC Post, 10/27/23:

 

 

    VRE plans new weekend service, fare increases next year    

 

 

Virginia Railway Express is on track to launch Saturday service next year, marking the first major expansion in the system’s 31-year history.

 

More

[CNJRoss]

Patch, 1/16/24

 

Virginia Railway Express Approved Budget Includes Saturday Service

 

The approved budget for the commuter rail includes fare increases and a plan for new Saturday service.

 

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Saturday service and increased fares will be coming to the Virginia Railway Express commuter rail after budget approval last Thursday.

 

A proposal to introduce Saturday service for the first time was included with the fiscal year 2025 budget. VRE would introduce 12 one-way trains running on Saturdays: three northbound and three southbound each on the Manassas and Fredericksburg lines.  . . .

 

 

Continue here.  

 

[CNJRoss]

Inside NoVa, Woodbridge, VA 1/16/24

 

 

Newly approved VRE budget includes fare hike, 

potential weekend service

 

The Virginia Railway Express last week approved a fiscal 2025 budget that makes way for a 5% fare increase and potentially new weekend service at a time when the commuter line is struggling to lure back riders lost to remote work.

 

The fare hikes, which take effect July 1, are the first increases since 2020. VRE officials said the move is not primarily motivated by lower ridership numbers, according to WTOP. Costs of service — number of trains, facilities, labor and equipment — have inflated greatly since 2020.

 

SNIP

 

The budget includes funding for three trains to run on Saturdays on VRE’s main lines: Manassas and Fredericksburg. But agreements with VRE’s host railroads – Amtrak, CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern – must be reached before weekend service can begin.

 

“While VRE would like to begin service as early in the new fiscal year as possible, we cannot guarantee that trains will be running that first Saturday, July 6,” a spokesperson said in a statement. “We are in talks with our host railroads, which are working to expedite the process – but there is no deadline.”

 

 

More here.  

[KevinKorell]

Virginia Mercury,  4/22/24:

 

 

    Commuter train system eyes expansion, part of Virginia’s evolving rail trends  

 

 

While 2050 is more than a quarter century away, The Virginia Railway Express wants to start transforming its commuter rail operations much sooner by offering Saturday services as it considers its System Plan 2050, part of holistic, multi-agency efforts to transform rail services in the commonwealth.

 

 

Here is the story.