Bryan L. Jungwirth, Director of Public Affairs & Government Relations |
Kathryn A. Smith, Public Information Officer |
Spotsylvania County and Alexandria, VA. – The Virginia Railway Express (VRE) will commence VRE commuter rail service from the new Spotsylvania Station on Monday, November 16, 2015. VRE built the new station and platform while Spotsylvania County built the 1,500-space parking lot for commuters. Spotsylvania County and VRE will host a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. that morning.
Spotsylvania Station, located southwest of US 17 and Crossroads Parkway, will become the southern terminus for VRE train service on the Fredericksburg Line and represents the first extension of VRE commuter rail service since it began operations in 1992. The station consists of the 1,500 space parking lot, a waiting area with bathroom facilities, and a 700-foot platform with canopy.
“We’ve been long anticipating the completion of the Spotsylvania Station. It will be a tremendous amenity for the citizens and businesses of Spotsylvania County and points south,” said Gary Skinner, Spotsylvania County Supervisor and VRE Operations Board Vice-Chairman, who represents the County’s Lee Hill District.
Doug Allen, Chief Executive Officer of VRE, said, “The new Spotsylvania Station is a great addition to our Fredericksburg Line service. The Station is well-designed, conveniently located and has plenty of parking.”
This has been a joint effort with several stakeholders working in concert towards a successful overall project. Spotsylvania County built the parking lot for commuters while VRE built the station and platform. In addition to the station, VRE, CSX Transportation, and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation are constructing a third track between Crossroads Parkway and Mine Road to efficiently accommodate passenger and freight rail traffic in the corridor. The third track project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2015.
The first train will depart Spotsylvania Station at 4:57 a.m. Monday morning, November 16th. Train service from Spotsylvania will begin using the existing schedule with trains departing eight minutes prior to Fredericksburg Station departure times. Please go to VRE.org for all train arrival and departure times. VRE will add an additional train on the Fredericksburg Line and make minor schedule adjustments prior to the end of 2015.
Media and the general public are invited to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony on November 16th at 10 a.m. Local, State and Federal elected officials will be in attendance to help celebrate the station opening.
About the Virginia Railway Express (VRE)
VRE is the tenth largest commuter rail agency in the U.S. and is a transportation partnership of the Northern Virginia and Potomac & Rappahannock Transportation Commissions. VRE’s mission is to provide safe, cost-effective, accessible, reliable, convenient, and customer responsive commuter-oriented rail passenger service. It serves northern Virginia and Washington D.C. and its offices are based in Alexandria, VA. Visit our website at: www.vre.org
About Spotsylvania County
Spotsylvania County's 407 square miles contain a mix of beautiful rural landscape alongside an energetic, dynamic residential and business community. Spotsylvania is one of Virginia's fastest-growing counties, largely because of its strategic, desirable location along Interstate 95, midway between metropolitan Washington and Richmond. Visit our website at www.spotsylvania.va.us