July

• Dan from Triangle, VA asks
  Hi, does VRE plan on providing FREE service for the month of September? What are the VREs plans for ticket prices and when would they change?

  VRE Response
  We will be going to our Operations Board next week with a request to authorize free fares in September.  More info to follow if this is approved.

• Beth from Manassas, Va asks
  Since someone mentioned the mobile ticket, do you have a breakdown of how many passengers use mobile vs paper ticket? I myself will never go to a mobile ticket.

  VRE Response
  Since launching in 2015 through early 2019 (pre-pandemic), VRE Mobile accounted for about 30% of our ticket sales.  More recently, in May 2022, mobile usage is up to 42% of ticket sales.

• Cary from Manassas, Va asks
  Last I saw was a response in 2018 regarding wifi on the trains. Do you know if there have been any further updates on added cell towers so we can get wifi? The long ride between Manassas Park and Burke Center is terrible without wifi. I used to do some work on the trains but this stretch makes it way too hard anymore. Thanks.

  VRE Response
  Later this summer, we plan to do an updated cellular WiFi coverage survey for both lines. From that, we will evaluate potential next steps.

• Angie from Manassas, VA asks
  I've been riding the Manassas Line since 2005 and love my commute. My one request is to please please please add or adjust a train back to the morning schedule to eliminate that hour+ gap between trains 328 and 330. I know you have put out information stating that the gap is there so that a train can be added in the future, but it was really a poor decision to leave a gap that wide in the morning rush hour. I understand that maneuvering thru all the NS and Amtrak trains does not make scheduling easy, but it leaves a very inconvenient hole in what has always been a consistent schedule of 30-45 minutes between trains. Just consider this one more vote/request/plea to adjust those trains as soon as possible. Thanks for the great service over the years and Happy Anniversary!!

  VRE Response
  Thanks for the feedback Angie, we too would like to get a train in the gap between 328 and 330 and we plan to do so when possible.  We just do not have the ability to make it happen right now.

• Dan from Fredericksburg (Spotsylvania) asks
  Why doesn't VRE have a backup locomotive. During yesterday's breakdown. It would have made more sense to send a locomotive from the Spotsylvania yard up to couple with 301. As it was 301 was delayed over 3 hours and 303 over 2 hours. This could have been avoided with a backup locomotive.

  VRE Response
  Thanks for the question Dan,

  Each of our southern maintenance and facilities keeps a protect locomotive ready to rescue a train if needed.  These locomotives are facing north because they are generally ready to protect the morning, northbound service.  The protect locomotive at the storage yard in DC is facing south to protect the afternoon service.  The best option yesterday given the location of the train and all the other freight and Amtrak traffic on the railroad was to couple with 303, despite the long delay between trains.  The fact that 303 had to couple from the south end added delay time to an already challenging situation.

  We apologize for the lengthy delays and the inconvenience experienced by everyone onboard those trains.

• Reese Trictedspeide from Fredericksburg asks
  Your onboard audio should be updated to encourage adoption of the mobile ticketing solution instead of just "display your ticket at all times."

  VRE Response
  Great idea.

• Steve from Alexandria VA asks
  Can you please explain what is meant by an 'L' station? Is Alexandria an 'L' station? The website does not indicate this yet the morning trains depart significantly earlier than published times.

  VRE Response
  An L station indicates the VRE train may depart once station work is complete, whether ahead of schedule or not.  Traditionally, Alexandria was designated as an L station since very few passengers utilized the station to originate their trips.  During the Metro shutdown a few years ago, we removed the L designation because we had more riders originating there.  During the pandemic, we relaxed the requirement to hold for their schedule because we have trains from both lines arriving at Alexandria and as long as their was another train, we would allow the earlier train to depart.  We have just asked the crews and our Operations staff to make sure trains adhere to published schedule times at Alexandria moving forward.

• Eric from Stafford VA asks
  The north most cars on trains 306, 308 and 310 have small flying bugs. This has been case for a very long time. Are you not able to eliminate these?

  VRE Response
  Since the northernmost car is the Cab Control car on the northbound trips, as it leads the consist, it runs into swarms of bugs along the way.  The very small bugs are pushed through the door seals.  We will continue to look for solutions, but the best option right now is to not sit at the very north end of the cab car.

• Leonor from Stafford asks
  I have five ride tickets free but I did not realize All already expired. On 6.30.2022 . Could VRE costumers service exchange for new ones ?

  VRE Response
  For any type of ticket exchange or refund, we handle every situation individually.  Please give us a call at 703-684-1001 or send us a note at gotrains@vre.org and someone will assist.

• Phillip from Dumfries, VA asks
  When will the Potomac Shores station be completed?

  VRE Response
  For the latest updates on all projects, check our Projects page at VRE.org.  For Potomac Shores specifically, check  https://projects.vre.org/project?Project=Potomac%20Shores%20Station

  There is also a link on this page to the developers site for additional information.

• Paul Melchior from Fredericksburg Va asks
  When will VRE commuter shuttle start again. I was told A few months ago that shuttle would start again once people started riding train regularly again. Thank you.

  VRE Response
  Thanks for the question Paul.  We spoke with FXBGO yesterday, they do plan to resume the feeder routes but no timeline yet.

• James from Fredericksburg Virginia asks
  Are the step up tickets being accepted on Amtrak trains

  VRE Response
  The Amtrak Step-Up program was suspended by Amtrak during the pandemic.  The program will resume, but there is now a requirement for VRE riders to appear on the Amtrak manifest for each train.  We have our VRE Mobile contractor working with Amtrak on a solution and we will keep everyone informed once a solution is in place.  We do not have a firm timeline yet of when the program will resume.

Good afternoon and welcome to the July 2022 edition of the Online Forum. 

We have enjoyed the return of Meet the Management and the opportunity to see many of you in person at the Union Station and L’Enfant events.  Crystal City and Alexandria are next on 7/13 and 7/20 respectively.  Please stop by and say hello and meet many of the individuals who help make the VRE service possible.  We have staff from all departments, contractors, and host railroad representatives on hand to answer questions and receive feedback on our service.

We’ve gathered in person today to answer your questions and comments, so let’s get to it!