September

• Maria from Woodbridge, VA asks
  Why so many delays, especially later afternoon around 4PM? I enjoy the VRE more than taking the metro rail Thank you

  VRE Response
  We're sorry for the delays Maria, but we are addressing the underlying issues.  

   

• Maria from Woodbridge, VA asks
  Can the background of the VRE map tracking be lighter, the dark tone does not allow one to view where the train's location Or perhaps an option for one to switch from dark to light I am nearsighted Thank you

  VRE Response
  We are working on a whole new map and a new look to the station monitors and mobile app.  We'll keep you posted as this work progresses.

   

• David from Manassas Park asks
  Are there any plans to have a VRE-rep at Union Station in the afternoon to answer our questions and keep us informed regarding delays or changing platforms, etc? Having to wait for misleading automated announcements or our personal cellphones for updates doesn't work very well...and the newer riders are VERY confused at times.

  VRE Response
  Thanks for the question David.  Since Union Station is an Amtrak facility, VRE provides an Amtrak Station Manager, Kim to help manage our passenger's experience at the station. She is usually very visible and carries a bullhorn to help her communicate on any track changes or other information.  If she is not available, she will generally have an usher or other Amtrak staff member to assist.

   

• Jerry from Manassas asks
  Riding in the last three cars leaving Union Station in the afternoon, that long ride through the tunnel gives the added-pleasure of inhaling heavy diesel fumes. Can we get the outside vents closed in those cars prior to going thru the tunnel? Thanks in advance.

  VRE Response
  Thanks Jerry, crews are supposed to close the vent prior to entering the tunnel and then re-open once through the tunnel.  If this is not happening, please reach out through GoTrains@vre.org with specific day and train number, we'll address it with the crew.  In the meantime, Richard will add this to the job briefing about ticket checks.

   

• tom from broad run asks
  Every morning riders get on at Alexandria for their free-ride into town, every afternoon it's the reverse out to that station. No tickets are ever checked between those stations....why is that?

  VRE Response
  Tickets should be checked on every trip, even between Alexandria and Union Station.  Richard from Keolis is here with us and will make sure he addresses this with all crews.

   

• dave from manassas, va asks
  Continuing VRE-scheduling kerfluffles, due either to host-railroad/Amtrak/Union Station maintenance and platform-scheduling , now heat-restrictions. NO VRE representation at Union Station in the afternoon (although the occasional Union Station rep does help). The absolute worst month for on-time that I can remember after riding since 2009 (and thru the pandemic). The ONLY saving grace is the continuing professionalism of the VRE crew-members.

  VRE Response
  Thanks Dave, we'll share your comments about the crew members.  As discussed in a couple other responses, we are as frustrated as you with the ongoing challenges, but it is great to know the crews have not let that frustration affect their professionalism and performance.

   

• Marc from Brooke Station asks
  A courtesy note to all riders, please do not wear so much perfume or essence oil on the train. It is overwhelming to the other passengers and causes headaches. Please be considerate of others. Yesterday on the 307 it was too much.

  VRE Response
  Thanks for the PSA Marc.

   

• Davin from Woodbridge, VA asks
  Why does Amtrak keep having switch problems at Union Station so frequently? VRE has been having too many delays lately which is unacceptable This morning Train 304 was stuck just south of the L'Enfant Plaza platform for 20 minutes, so passengers could not detrain. VRE should moved 302 off sooner, so 304 could get to the platform

  VRE Response
  Thanks Davin, we agree about the delays being unacceptable.  We apologize for this morning.  We could not move 302 up until the other trains could get into the tunnel.

   

• Davin from Woodbridge, VA asks
  Why are Norfolk Southern's heat restrictions slower then CSX?

  VRE Response
  Good question Davin.  It is up to the host railroad to determine the speeds we can run when heat restrictions are in effect and we simply adhere to their requirements.  

   

• JD from Springfield VA asks
  Hi there. Thanks for this forum. Are there any plans to correct the flooding problems in the Rolling Road station parking lot? I now know not to park in certain areas on rainy days, but a few weeks ago, I returned to the station to find several riders wading through water to reach their cars. Thanks.

  VRE Response
  Thanks for mentioning this JD.  We are aware of the issue and Fairfax County did a temporary fix to help keep the grate from clogging.  Our Facilities crews have committed to checking it a couple of times each week to make sure the grate remains cleared while we work on a more permanent fix.

   

• J from Manassas asks
  The delays have been quite bad this summer for various reasons. What is being done to improve performance and to be better prepared for these long delays/cancellations? More people are being told to come back into the office and VRE isn't providing reliable service.

  VRE Response
  Hi J, thank you for the question. The issues affecting our service and the impact on reliability is unacceptable and we are working with our host railroads to help address recurring challenges.

   

• Michael from Alexandria, VA asks
  Hi VRE Staff, I try to be a huge advocate for VRE for those needing to have a one seat ride to Union Station or SW. I love many things about the VRE experience but it's increasingly a hard sell because of all the switch issues at Union Station. I recognize that Amtrak owns the station and a lot of it is out of your power as a result but is there any reason to think it will get better soon? If not are there any creative options you are exploring like running more reverse flow trains / more storage at L'Enfant etc.... Thanks!

  VRE Response
  Thanks Michael, as mentioned in the opening, we are looking at any opportunities to change what we can control to help improve service. We will keep everyone informed as any changes are implemented.

   

   

• HermanB from Fredericksburg, VA asks
  What can be done about marijuana smokers on the platform at Lorton? Couldn't help but notice it on the southside of the platform last week in the afternoon as I was forced to walk through the cloud.

  VRE Response
  We will work with Fairfax County to see what can be done to help the situation.

   

   

• Rainman from Ruther Glen, Virginia asks
  Greetings: I really appreciated you guys installing the hand sanitizers on the train cars a while back. I take the 303 line home in the evening and I have noticed that the hand sanitizer unit that I have been utilizing has not been refilled in about a month. Are you guys still maintaining the hand sanitizer units for your passengers or is the hand sanitizerunit that I am using just being missed when they are being refilled? Thanks.

  VRE Response
  We know there were some issues with getting replacements/parts for some of the sanitizers, but they should be checked and filled daily.  If you continue to see an issue on a specific train/car, let us know through GoTrains@vre.org.

   

• Paul Melchior from Fredericksburg Va asks
  When will the VRE commuter transportation bus (Fredride) start up again. It stopped due to pandemic and never started again?

  VRE Response
  We'll reach out to FXBGO to see if they have a planned timeline to resume the feeder routes to the station.

   

• Bushman from Broad Run asks
  VRE It's time to let me go. I began life as a boxwood hedge along the walk up to the Broad Run station. It was the early 90s and times were good. I could tell you some stories from all these years sitting out here. But, all good things must come to an end. And that includes me. I'm no longer the neat and tidy boxwood I used to be. Although I appreciate your grounds team's attempt to keep me shaped, I'm a total mess of gnarled and overgrown memories. So, please. Let me retire to somewhere nice as mulch. All these haircuts have got to be expensive!

  VRE Response
  Thanks Bushman, our Facilities cosmetologists will check it out.

   

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

We have enjoyed seeing all the new riders on Fridays taking advantage of the Fare Free Friday promotion.  This week we have spoken with quite a few individuals and families who enjoyed the experience so much they are now getting VRE Mobile accounts so they can continue visiting DC year-round.  We welcome all these new passengers to the VRE family.

As many of you have noted in the questions submitted earlier, VRE’s On Time Performance has suffered recently due to multiple reasons.  Please know reliability is of the utmost importance to us, second only to safety.  We know how important your time is and utilizing our service allows for a better commute experience and helps improve your quality of life. Reliability is paramount to a successful service.  To that end, we are meeting daily with our host railroads in an effort to improve the on time performance.  We are looking for ways to change what we can control and minimize the issues which we cannot control.  We have the attention of all our partners, at all levels of the organizations, focused on helping  to improve your experience. 

Everyone is here to help us answer your questions, including representatives from VRE, Keolis, Amtrak, and CSX. 

Let’s get to the questions!