April

• Ross from Woodbridge asks
  just a note... when you say "as noted above" in a comment, for me i'm seeing prior comments "below".. the new stuff is always displayed at the top for me in this forum...

  VRE Response
  Duly noted, Ross.

• Steven from Warrenton, VA asks
  Bring Your Kid to work day (APril 27) is coming up, will the age limit for free rides be raised to accommodate this event?

  VRE Response
  VRE supports Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day on April 27. Any school age children will be allowed to ride for free with their parents. As an aside, on normal days, children ten and under are allowed to ride free as long as they are accompanied with a fare paying adult. Children between the years of 11-18 are eligible to apply for a Youth Fare ID.

• Keith from Fredericksburg, VA asks
  On the Fredericksburg Line, Train 301 leaves at 12:55 pm, 303 leaves at 3:10 pm, and 305 leaves at 3:25 pm. Why can't 303 and 305 times be adjusted, so there isn't so much time between Train 301 and 303 to give an earlier option to go Southbound, since 12:55 pm is to early for some riders, but they have to wait around to 3:10 pm. Then 305 is literally right behind on most days 15 minutes later at 3:25 pm and 307 leaves at 4:10 pm?

  VRE Response
  There are other freight and passenger trains (Amtrak) scheduled in the corridor between VRE trains 301 and 303. As such, we have worked with our host railroads to develop the current schedule to accommodate all train movements including VRE trains during the peak demand periods.

• TJ from Springfield asks
  Good Afternoon - could you please do a courtesy reminder to not block the doors in the cars. With the crowded trains lately, people have been congregating right in front of the doors, and not moving out of the way to let riders off. At the very least, move into the vestibule, or off the train while others are detraining. The conductors won't let the train leave without folks getting back on. Please.

  VRE Response
  Thanks, TJ.  Great reminder.  This goes with the recurring comments about queuing in the aisles. As a general rule, anyone standing in the aisles and not alighting at the next stop, should step off the train to allow everyone off who wants off.  Once all passengers have alighted, they may re-board the train.  Conductors are expected to assist in this effort, especially on crowded trains, so no one misses their stop.

• Dave from Manassas, VA asks
  I have a handicapped placard and park in a handicapped spot in Bristow. Many times on the Southbound Manassas line I have to stand until Burke Center. Are there handicapped seats available and how do I convince passengers to let me sit there? Would a badge/sticker from VRE be helpful?

  VRE Response
  Dave, if you need special accommodations to ensure a seat, please see a conductor and he/she will make sure you have a seat in the priority seating area.  If eligible, you may also apply for a reduced-fare ID which would help the conductor recognize the need for your accommodation.  

• John from Alexandria asks
  Any chance you can add a recurring monthly auto-pay option for VRE Mobile? I am having real trouble remembering to manually purchase my ticket at the beginning of every month.

  VRE Response
  We are not pursuing an auto-pay option at this time. We have concerns when riders do not want their regular ticket for that month and forget to turn off auto-pay. That said, we are looking into adding a favorite ticket option to make it easier to make regular purchases.

• Dan from Haymarket, VA asks
  Has the change in administration adversely affected any VRE plans or created uncertainties where you need us to speak to our national representatives?

  VRE Response
  We have seen new changes in various elements of the Federal Government and we are looking forward to working with the new administration in crafting infrastructure enhancement plans and balancing regulations.

• Kevin from Stafford, VA asks
  What is the current status of the future station at Potomac Shores? Within the past two months, I've noticed several rail speed restrictions at various locations between Rippon and Quantico...are these related?

  VRE Response
  The speed restrictions between Rippon and Quantico have been due to normal track maintenance in the area and have not been related to Potomac Shores.

• Linda H from Manassas asks
  Where is the VRE rep at union station? Try as we might, we cannot find her.

  VRE Response
  Kim is here with us today for the forum and will be headed back to Union Station this afternoon.  During our afternoon service, she generally spends her time in the main gate area, but often assists passengers around to the elevator.  

• Dale from Alexandria, VA asks
  It seems like VRE's time is running out. At one point, there was a time when freight trains yielded to passenger trains, however this no longer seems to be the case. Freight trains seem to have taken a priority over passenger trains, which is what VRE's business is based on. Therein lies the problem, if freight is a priority, how can VRE continue to operate (and be on-time)? The future doesn't seem promising for VRE, regardless of the increased ridership. The continued delays and mechanical issues will eventually drive people away and force them to look at alternative modes of transportation. So long VRE!

  VRE Response
  Train traffic on the corridor between Washington, DC and Richmond, VA is very heavy, consisting of VRE, Amtrak, and freight trains. The train dispatcher has to dispatch the territory in a way that keeps the entire network fluid, as other trains have schedules and commitments as well, that may include routes over multiple states, as well as the entire eastern seaboard. The parties involved in the operations work closely together and communicate on operations in real time. Sometimes however, the unexpected happens and unforeseen circumstances requires the dispatcher to move train traffic that may cause delays to some, but minimizes overall delays. The process of dispatching constantly changes and dispatchers have to adjust. Every effort is made to keep delays to VRE trains at a minimum.

• David from Woodbridge, VA asks
  Does VRE have any plans to replace the damaged yellow tactile strips at L'Enfant Plaza?

  VRE Response
  Yes, the tactile strips are part of our overall improvement plan and we should start later this year replacing at various stations. If you observe any that appear damaged that need immediate attention, please email us at: Gotrains@vre.org

• Lane N. from Manassas Park, VA asks
  I saw a short report in Trains Magazine that VRE is scrapping the proposed Haymarket extension. Can you provide any more details?

  VRE Response
  The VRE Operations Board voted to pursue alternatives. For the item that appeared before the Operations Board, see Agenda Item 9-A here.

• David from Woodbridge, VA asks
  Courtesy tip: Don't open the vestibule doors until we get to train station and if someone opens it, don't keep holding it open. Let the doors close. There is no need to keep the door open so long, which allows the hot/cold air into the passenger compartment or open it too early.

  VRE Response
  Thanks for the courtesy reminder.

• John from Centreville, VA asks
  I asked this question last month but did not see a response posted. I have been a VRE Manassas line rider for several years. VRE provides a great service and is run with attention paid to rider concerns. My concern is in regards to the overcrowding on the platform due to both the Southbound Fredericksburg and Manassas line trains stopping at the same spot for afternoon boarding. Specifically the L'Enfant Plaza stop where I board for trains 327 / 329. The Fredericksburg trains 305 / 307 arriving before the Manassas train have been repositioned this past year to stop at the same platform spot as the Manassas trains behind them. In the past there was at least a 15 foot space between the two train stops making it possible to accommodate the two groups without crowding. The current repositioned stop creates an unsafe and unpleasant gathering of the two groups waiting for the train to arrive. With increased ridership and in cases of inclement weather this only amplifies the issue. There is approximately 15 minutes between the two schedules for each train but gathering on the platform takes place well before the trains arrive. The platform is not large enough to accommodate the number of people waiting for their respective train. Is there a way to resolve this issue by going back to the old spots for boarding? Thank you in advance for your response.

  VRE Response
  Thanks, John.  We need to revisit this issue periodically with the crews, so we will do it again.  

• David from Woodbrige, VA asks
  When will VRE start using the storage tracks at L'Enfant Plaza?

  VRE Response
  We hope to be using the L'Enfant Storage tracks sometime this summer.

• David from Woodbridge, VA asks
  When will VRE add Trip Tools to its app and not just a link to VRE's website? Even the PRTC uses the Moovit app which allows riders to track buses, but we have no way trains in VRE's app. The Moovit app is avialable for DC Transit, so MARC might use it as well.

  VRE Response
  Many find the Train Status map on our website helpful for seeing where the trains are. That said, we are currently developing a real-time arrivals feature for our app. Look for that update in a few months.

• Jason from Bristow, VA asks
  More of a comment/suggestion. Thanks! Love the VRE! I usually ride Manassas southbound 327 and 329 and have heard a lot of courtesy announcements about queuing and seen some complaints here about the Broad Run parking lot being crazy. Because of my work responsibilities, I have to sometimes ride the later trains. And guess what, the trains are not packed full and there is much less queuing and calm drivers leaving the parking lot! Then I did an experiment where I did not queue on the busy 329, and I got home 15 minutes later! I save 15 minutes by queuing, briskly walking or jogging to my car and being one of the first out of the lot. When I don't queue, I hit the traffic out of the lot, then turning left on 28 had to wait for several lights. I realized the main reason people queue and jog to their cars is the train is so full of people, it can take 15 minutes to get off the platform and to your car, out of the parking lot and through the lights to State Hwy 28. Two suggestions: 1) Add southbound trains (I know that is several years out, requires a renovated station etc. but still - If another train or two is added between 3pm and 5pm southbound, the queuing and traffic would be reduced as a matter of course. 2) Add a walkway. Unlike Manassas, Manassas Park where travellers can exit the station by foot several places, the peds bottle neck at the station entrance at Broad Run. Extending a foot bridge over the moat near where the quiet car is would reduce that bottle neck and get everyone to their car faster.

  VRE Response
  Thanks for the comments, Jason. We can understand your frustration, but much of these circumstances (train times, main road-station access patterns, etc) are beyond our control. One recent development that may interest you is the shift of focus from a Gainesville-Haymarket extension to enhancements for the existing Broad Run Station. We are just entering preliminary stages, but we expect to consider these common issues as we pursue this development.

• Schyzycs from Manassas, VA asks
  I'm amazed at seeing the same stupid questions with the same stupid answers every month. Nothing ever changes. Why do you give these people the time of day?

  VRE Response
  We enjoy the communication with our riders every month even if we sometimes disagree with their sentiments. These healthy conversations help us improve our service, but we do ask participants refrain from name calling. Although there are repeat questions, we know there are riders who are new and would appreciate an answer directly. On that note, we do have a FAQ available and update it when we see a need.

• Janet from Downtown Manassas asks
  Parking Question: The second floor of the parking garage is for paid parking. I never see many cars. Can we designate this floor or, at least the ramp for 65 or older VRE riders. This would be a much better use of the parking garage. Does Burke limit their parking? Do they have paid parking? I don't think so! Come on Manassas, let's don't be so greedy.

  VRE Response
  The issue here is with the garage's co-location with a downtown shopping district. When developing the garage, Manassas wanted to preserve some spaces to provide daytime parking options for people visiting and shopping at the stores in the immediate area. Burke Centre's sole purpose is to support commuters.

• Elizabeth from Fredericksburg, VA asks
  Is Amtrak going to include the Spotsylvania station as one of their stops in the near or distant future?

  VRE Response
  Spotsylvania's station track does not continue south on the main tracks like other station tracks do, so Amtrak trains are unable to use it. Amtrak will continue to use Fredericksburg for the foreseeable future.

• Hiba from Manassas asks
  What needs to be done to get the temperature a little higher on the trains? It's not even that hot outside yet, but I feel like the ac is already too strong on the trains. I've asked around to make sure I'm not the only one and looks like others are also freezing. Is there a certain part of the train that is a little warmer because I already sit in the downstairs section. Please improve the temperature so I continue to ride the vre to work during spring/summer.

  VRE Response
  Car temperatures on all trains have been stabilized to a consistent range of 70 to 72 degrees.

  While we will continue to look for ways to improve our train’s HVAC units, there is no perfect temperature for everyone and some passengers will always feel cold while others will be hot and still for others the temperature will be just right. If you are cold, we recommend that you do not sit in the upstairs section of the train, as this is where the blower used to circulate fresh air is located. This blower cannot be adjusted and it is usually the constant blowing of air that chills riders. Downstairs the blowing of air is less pronounced. Hopefully, this helps.

• Sarah from Alexandria VA asks
  Re: The Northbound 310 that goes through Alexandria around 7:39am - it's always a game to guess which track it will come on. Sometimes the standard announcement that it will arrive on track farthest from the station plays within a minute of a subsequent announcement that it will be closest to the station. This used to be funny, but with foot surgery coming up, I can't do the 200 yard dash to go down and under and up steps when the track changes as the train is approaching, and I think it's a TERRIBLE idea to hobble directly across the tracks. Isn't there anything you can do to give more warning re: where the train will come in, or even better - make up your mind and have the trains come in one place or the other? Thanks. SZap

  VRE Response
  Thanks, Sarah.  On a typical day, 310 will arrive on the track furthest from the station (Track 2).  The CSX dispatcher may adjust that, however, depending on other traffic in the area.  Our staff monitors the CSX screens so we can give as much notice as possible in the event of a change, but sometimes the change does not occur until the train reaches the interlock just south of the Alexandria station.  We monitor the cameras to make sure the crews are aware when we see passengers in the tunnel, in an effort to make sure no one gets left behind.

• Steve from Fredericksburg asks
  There are folks who ride VRE and mistake the train as their personal phonebooth - they talk quite loudly on their cell phones and fail to comprehend they're much louder - and more socially awkward - than they realize. This is especially problematic when as a passenger, I cannot hear crew announcements and/or information from conductors because some narcissist on their phone is jabbering louder than the PA system. This is no longer a manners issue but a safety issue. Can we ban cell phone use in all cars?

  VRE Response
  This is certainly a courtesy issue, and unfortunately, not limited just to VRE trains. It would be unreasonable and unenforceable to ban cell phone use on all cars, but we can continue to ask passengers to be considerate of others when they use the trains.

• Tom from Stafford asks
  How do you determine the daily passenger count that you so often quote in your statistics? Some days a conductor will come through with their clicker, but on crowded days when the count would be highest they can't even make it through the cars. Also, what constitutes a passenger ride? If someone gets on at Spotsylvania and detrains at Lorton, then someone else gets on at Lorton and rides to Union Station is that one trip because one seat was occupied the entire way or is that two trips because there were two individuals that got on the train?

  VRE Response
  Great questions Tom.

  Passengers are counted at the maximum load point for each line (between Franconia/Springfield and Alexandria on the Fredericksburg Line, and between Backlick Road and Alexandria on the Manassas Line).  Those counts go into a formula developed to account for the average number of passengers who alight prior to the count.  The actual ridership is higher than the count at the max load point due to this formula adjustment.  The formula is refined periodically to account for changing ridership patterns.  You may have seen staff from one of our consultants onboard the trains recently beginning this year's verification study.  They will be in yellow safety vests and will count all passengers boarding and alighting at each station.  We expect the study to continue for the next month or so to make sure we accurately reflect the patterns.

  We also have an active project underway to issue a Request For Proposals for an Automatic Passenger Counter system, which may ultimately allow us to move away from the manual counts.

   

• Rob from Rippon asks
  to whomever lost the inhaler (and a crayon) on Fred 314 this morning... it was given to a conductor, so contact VRE's lost and found...

  VRE Response
  Thanks, Rob!

• John from Manassas, VA asks
  The 328 has been slow between Alexandria and L'Enfant for the past few weeks. What is going on? I usually get to L'Enfant around 7:38...now it is 7:52.

  VRE Response
  Train 328's scheduled departure from L'Enfant is 7:46 am, so it should be arriving at approximately 7:44 am.  We'll check to see if anything specific is slowing it down between Alexandria and L'Enfant other than normal congestion.

   

• Lori from Centerville, VA asks
  Why is the cost for tickets going up when ridership has increased? Would not the number of new riders offset the inflation and operations costs?

  VRE Response
  Very good question Lori.  Over the past several months we have seen an increase in ridership. As you can imagine, we attribute most of that to Metro’s SafeTrack surges. The SafeTrack program is nearing completion, and while we expect some folks who tried VRE during this period to continue riding, it is possible overall ridership may go back  to pre-SafeTrack levels during FY18.  In that case, we would be in a difficult financial situation if we based the FY18 budget on the current ridership numbers.

   

• Dan from Burke, Virginia asks
  Are there any plans to mitigate the lack of parking at the VRE Rolling Road lot? As ridership increases, parking at the lot is becoming increasingly scarce, with the lot filling up well before the later morning trains come through. And Fairfax County Police are quick to ticket cars parked in the grassy area along Burke Road, which riders use as an ad hoc overflow parking area. Can we get the police to back off writing tickets for cars parked there?

  VRE Response
  Fairfax County has taken steps to control the parking issues at Rolling Road, especially with vehicles parked well outside marked spaces in the lot and those parked up on the grassy area. We understand the parking challenges there but the lot is Fairfax's to enforce. The best solution we can offer for the time being is to utilize Burke Centre. The garage there has excess parking capacity.

• Lorne from Nova asks
  When is train 312 finally getting new cars? Also when is train 309 getting an extra car to alleviate midweek SRO?

  VRE Response
  Great questions Lorne.  As mentioned above, the 5 replacement cars for 312 shipped this week.  They will need to be commissioned on the railroad, but we should have them in service by the end of this month.

  The 9 expansion cars mentioned above are in production, and we will keep you posted on an expected arrival schedule as soon as we know more.  309 is slated to be expanded to an 8 car set with one of the new cars.

• Chris from Burke, VA asks
  Can you explain the parking enforcement policy for the "overflow" spaces people have carved out of the grass at Rolling Road? I see lots of cars parked there every day and lots of shiny No Parking signs, but I have yet to see any tickets on windshields at the end of the day. As much as FCPD loves revenue collection, I am wondering if VRE has asked the police to go easy on cars in the grass. The neighbors in the adjacent neighborhood have no qualms about calling in commuters who don't leave a vehicle space between the parked cars and their driveways.

  VRE Response
  Fairfax County has taken steps to control the parking issues at Rolling Road, especially with vehicles parked well-outside marked spaces in the lot and those parked up on the grassy area. We understand the parking challenges there, but the lot is Fairfax County's to enforce. The best solution we can offer for the time-being is to utilize Burke Centre. The garage there has excess parking capacity.

• Chris from Burke asks
  Train 332 does not seem to be following the new schedule. It keeps leaving Rolling Road a minute or two early. For those of us scrambling to make the last train of the morning, this is not helpful.

  VRE Response
  Thanks, Chris.  Rolling Road was where we were experiencing excessive dwell time with the previous schedule; train 332 is now scheduled to depart Rolling Road at 8:21 am.  We will look into this.

• Evelyn from Manassas asks
  There is one conductor who often chooses to make announcements that I feel are designed to hear her own voice rather than provide meaningful and necessary information. She cannot seem to pass a microphone without picking it up and advising us of something important to her, which as I suggest again is simply hearing the sound of her own voice. Comments about her verbosity have been made in the past, and you have made your excuses for her without acknowledging that she might be over-doing her announcements. Can you please consider asking her to not touch that microphone unless absolutely required to? This would be much appreciated.

  VRE Response
  Thanks, Evelyn.  Conductors are expected to make announcements pertinent to the operation of the train.  This may also include courtesy announcements or informational announcements regarding which cars may be on or off the platform at the next station.  If the announcements are too frequent or not related to the trip, please share specifics at Gotrains@vre.org and we'll get with the specific individual.

• Lin from Burke asks
  Do you know when/if the access road into Burke Centre is going to be restriped? There is going to be an accident. Just this morning I witnessed someone turning right from the left lane, almost hitting someone also turning right, but from the right (turning) lane. It's not the first time, either. The problem seems to be that the lines are COMPLETELY worn away, possibly combined with new riders who do not know the traffic pattern. Fairfax was so worried about drivers going in the out door of the deck that they put up posts to block access, but have done nothing about what seems to be an actual safety issue, as opposed to drivers showing a simple lack of courtesy.

  VRE Response
  Roadway striping applications are typically done when ambient temperatures become warmer and stabilize (spring). We'll reach out to Fairfax County and discuss this if it is not already on their agenda.

   

• Dave from Woodbridge Va asks
  Recently VRE moved the 300 Express departure time from Spotsy up a few minutes. It has helped a little with reaching expected arrival times at other stations. The only issue is now it runs right behind the early Manassas train. Once that happens the good time that was made entering Crystal City and DC is lost. Is there anyway the 300 Express could depart an additional 10-12 minutes earlier? That way it would be in front of the early Manassas train and get to DC on time each day.

  VRE Response
  Thanks, Dave.  At this time, we do not have plans for 300 to depart earlier.  

   

• Yvonne from Fredericksburg VA asks
  Would you mind letting my fellow passengers know that it is not necessary to kick the bottom "open door" panel so hard as to startle their fellow passengers, especially when passing through the quiet car in the mornings? Applying a gentle pressure would go a long way towards good citizenship and preserving the equipment. Thank you in advance.

  VRE Response
  We agree, Yvonne.  No need to kick the doors. Simply pressing the button is all that is needed.

• Janet from Stafford asks
  Courtesy is key especially when dealing with the public. I totally understand the necessity of common courtesy. With that said, could you please ask your very courteous conductor, Walt, to stop holding the train at Lorton for those people who arrive late and mosey on to the train? It's unfair to those of us who make it a point to arrive early and wait for the train, to see it being held for someone who knows they can take their time as long as they are seen by Walt. Also, summer is right around the corner and heat restrictions and those precious minutes will start adding up to further delays.

  VRE Response
  Thanks, Janet. Conductors should not be holding the trains for late arriving passengers unless they have additional time in the schedule.  We'll share your comments with the train crews and work with them to resolve this.

• Jenny from asks
  If myself or another passenger is unsatisfied with a response we get on this forum, who can we contact? (A real person though, not a generic account.)

  VRE Response
  You can send any unanswered questions or other comments to GoTrains@vre.org.  Ryan typically answers the emails, but he can forward to any of us as necessary for a more thorough response.

• Angie from Alexandria asks
  Thank you for hosting the forum as a way for us to get answers to our questions!! Is there a standard location for the conductor locations in the afternoons? I have difficulty with the giant step down at the Alexandria station, and I've not been able to consistently anticipate a conductor location. Once we are at Alexandria, the trains tend to be too crowded to rush to a different door once you see there is no conductor with the step box. In the mornings, the conductors tend not to put boxes down, but at least Amtrak has a few scattered around the Manassas side for us to move ourselves. Thanks!

  VRE Response
  At Alexandria, there is usually a conductor at the north end of the train.  The other conductor(s) may work different doors each day depending on whether there are passengers who need assistance in different cars.  Your best bet is to speak with a conductor when you board to see which cars will be on the platform and be staffed when you arrive at Alexandria.  The conductors should always put down the step stools at Alexandria on the platform closest to the station.

• Pamela from Fredericksburg asks
  I asked last month if anything could be done about the traffic light situation crossing Benchmark and Mills Drive because the light was extremely long and your advice was to contact VDOT and make them aware of the situation. Well, I put in a trouble ticket advising them that the light was too long and I have not heard from them. Could you please on behalf of your ridership contact them as well to look into the matter? Thank you

  VRE Response
  Thanks, Pamela.  We'll share your comment with VDOT.  If you like, please forward your contact info to us at Gotrains@vre.org and we'll follow-up with you specifically.

• Diane from Fredericksburg, VA asks
  Reminder to parents - I'm sure riding the VRE is exciting for young children, but when the train is full and "paying" customers are standing in the aisles, be a little considerate and free up the seats for older adults. I've seen very young children taking seats when they could have easily sat with their parent(s) which would free seats for others.

  VRE Response
  Thanks for the courtesy reminder, Diane.

• Mark from Manassas VA asks
  What can you tell us about the Piper Lane road closing on April 9th? Impacts access to Broadrun station [sign by the road today, but drove by too quickly to fully read the sign]

  VRE Response
  Thanks, Mark.  Our Facilities Manager checked it out.  Piper Lane will be closed on Sunday 4/9 from 7 am until 11 am, so no impact on VRE riders.

• Billy from Manassas VA asks
  Will the VRE ever get equipped with charging outlets by the seats Like in Amtrak trains. ? Are VRE trains equipped with wifi patrons can connect to While on train? As connections drop and signals are weak While on the train presently.

  VRE Response
  Retroactively wiring our trains for charging outlets for every row would be very cost prohibitive. The non-continuous and weak cell service is one of the main reasons we do not offer WiFi on our trains. Please see our FAQ here.

• Shelby from Richmond, VA asks
  Does VRE have any plans to extend their service to Richmond, Virginia in the future?

  VRE Response
  Thanks for the question, Shelby.  We have no current plans to extend beyond our current Spotsylvania station.

• Molly from Fairfax, VA asks
  Can the conductors please ask people to refrain from putting personal belongings on seats and also to move to the window seat if they're in a row with two seats? The trains are getting more and more crowded and this would make it much easier to quickly identify open seats when boarding -- especially seats that are upstairs and toward the back. You'd think this would be common courtesy for people to do once the train is filling up, but unfortunately, it seems it is not. I know this issue is repeatedly brought up, but it still happens quite often, sadly. I think conductors need to reinforce these practices constantly for the time being while the trains are crowded through announcements and reminders.

  VRE Response
  Thanks for the comment, Molly.  We have shared this comment with the transportation managers and will work with them to resolve this issue.

   

   

• Pragnesh from Clifton VA asks
  When are you going to expand manassas park parking space. It's hard to find parking for last two train schedules. Budget cut for amtrak, will it effect VRE in anyways.

  VRE Response
  VRE and the City of Manassas Park are currently working on plans for a parking garage at the station.  We can share additional information at our upcoming Meet The Management events.

• John from Fairfax Station, Virginia asks
  I notice the trains are becoming increasingly crowded; most likely due to metro issues. More people are unable to find seats and the aisles are narrow. Do you plan to add cars, or wait until SafeTrack is over and see if that decreases ridership? Thank you.

  VRE Response
  Good question, John.  We do have plans to lengthen some of the trains.  Five new replacement cars shipped this week from the factory in Rochelle, IL.  Those cars will be used to retire the Legacy cars currently being used on Fredericksburg train 312/313.  We have an additional nine new cars coming which will be used to lengthen trains and provide additional capacity.  We will keep everyone posted on an expected delivery schedule for the nine expansion cars. 

   

Thank you for joining us today, April 5, for another edition of the VRE Online Forum. We, Rich Dalton - Chief Operating Officer & Deputy Chief Executive Officer, and Chris Henry- Director of Rail Operations, answer as many service-related questions for the next hour.

Spring is a time of new beginnings, so welcome to all the new riders that have joined us - you have helped VRE reach an all time ridership high. Thanks to all the veteran riders for all your loyal patronage and helping us make VRE what it is today. Together, we will continue to improve VRE to new levels of quality.

With that said, on to the questions!