September

• Kevin from Rippon asks
  Will you be opening up the app and platform machines for October ticket purchases before the month turns?

  VRE Response
  Purchases will be re-enabled on VRE Mobile, our vendor locations and at the platform TVMs after the last day of service in September.

• Alan from Burke VA asks
  Is there a projected opening for the extended platform at Rolling Road?

  VRE Response
  No specific date yet as we are working on a couple last items, but it will open by the end of this month.

• Raul from Stafford, Virginia asks
  Before the pandemic I could pay for my VRE tickets using my employer's provided transposition benefits debit card on the app. Now I am being told that I can only use the card at the kiosks. This is a problem: I board the train at Brooke and normally I get off at Woodbridge but if the train is running late then I stay on the train to Springfield. When I board in Breok I buy a ticket to Woodbridge and if the train is late and I need to stay on board I used quickly buy the next segment from Woodbridge to Springfield. Now I am told I need to get off in Woodbridge go to the kiosk and buy the next segment but by then the train is already gone. The company that administers the benefits told me they don't have a restriction that the restriction is on VRE app that doesn't allow me to put in my benefits debit card.

  VRE Response
  There is no reason why you can't utilize the benefits card if it is branded as Visa or MasterCard.  Please reach out to us through gotrains@vre.org, or give us a call at 703-684-1001 and we'll have someone work with you to resolve the issue.

• Christopher from Burke VA asks
  On the Burke platform several benches have been removed because the supports rusted. They have not been replaced. Are there any plans to replace the seats?

  VRE Response
  There were some supply chain challenges which has delayed getting new benches.  We'll check with our Facilities Manager on what the plans are for Burke Centre.  If you would, please send your contact information to gotrains@vre.org and we'll get back with a more definitive answer.

• BV from Richmond, VA asks
  What happened to all my tickets that were previously purchased in the app? Where did they go? And why can I not see any of my prior ticket purchases now?

  VRE Response
  Not sure BV.  Please give us a call at 703-684-1001 and one of our Passenger Support Specialists will be happy to assist.

• Eric from Manassas, Va asks
  Why was the schedule changed for the Manassas line and why is there no train available between 6:30 and 7:35 for the Manassas Park line?

  VRE Response
  Thanks for the question Eric.  The schedules were changed in October of 2021 in a joint effort with Amtrak and our other host railroads as a part of the Transforming Rail in Virginia program.  We are still running the same number of trains, but the times were adjusted to allow us to put an additional train on the schedule.  We will keep everyone posted when we have a better idea for the start of the additional service. We apologize if the change has affected your current commute.

• Ed from Stafford, VA asks
  Recently three people were killed by a lightning strike in Lafayette Park. Occasionally I've been on the L'Enfant platform as thunderstorms with lightning rolled through. Please describe what protections from lightning strikes have been built into the platform structures. Also, please identify if there are any platforms lacking such protections.

  VRE Response
  Great question Ed, we just don't have an immediate answer for you.  We have reached out to our Facilities Manager and Chief Engineer for specifics and can provide you that information if you send us your contact information to gotrains@vre.org.

   

• Todd from Fredericksburg, VA asks
  At the Fredericksburg station there is a large tree on the corner of the exit from resident/pay sticker lot that makes it very difficult for those in the lot as well as those on Sophia Street to see oncoming traffic. Any chance of asking the city to trim it please?

  VRE Response
  We'll ask the City to take a look at it Todd.

Good afternoon and welcome to the September 2022 edition of VRE’s Online Forum. 

It is Fare-Free September on VRE.  It is great seeing our ridership numbers continue to improve and seeing a lot of new faces on the trains.

As a reminder, WMATA (Metro) begins a series of scheduled shutdowns on Saturday which will impact VRE riders who transfer to Metro at Franconia-Springfield and Alexandria.  Please check WMATA.com for more details.

We’ve got the whole gang together here in studio, so let’s get on to the questions.