(The following story by Uriah A. Kiser appeared on the News & Messenger website May 25, 2010.)
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. — Big changes are coming for Virginia Railway Express riders on June 1.
Only three morning trains and three evening trains will run on the Fredericksburg line that day. On the Manassas line, all regularly scheduled morning trains will terminate near the Van Dorn Street Metro station in Alexandria.
The schedule change will affect riders on that day only, and comes as CSX works to build a new rail bridge south of Alexandria in an effort to increase capacity on the rail line, said VRE spokeswoman April Maguigad.
“VRE has been working toward increasing the capacity of the rails we operate on. Over the last several years, this has included additional interlockings, an additional bridge over Quantico Creek, a third track near our L’Enfant Plaza station, and a third track between the Potomac River and Alexandria,” stated Maguigad in an e-mail to riders.
The new bridge will carry Fredericksburg line VRE trains, and CSX fright trains over tracks owned by the Norfolk Southern fright railway, whose tracks carry Manassas line VRE trains.
While construction of the new bridge has been ongoing for months, on Tuesday crews will cut out the old bridge and slip the new bridge—complete with three tracks—into place, said Maguigad.
The commuter rail agency is asking its riders to pack their patience since delays could ensue, and since riders will need to transfer to a Metro train or local bus to get to their destinations.
Fredericksburg line train 300 leaving Fredericksburg at 5:15 a.m., train 304 leaving at 6:10 a.m., and train 308 leaving at 7:15 a.m. will be the only morning VRE trains that will run Tuesday. Each will terminate at the Franconia-Springfield Metro station. Riders can then show their VRE ticket to Metro station managers and VRE personnel who will also be there to continue their trip at no additional cost on Metro rail, said Maguigad.
That afternoon, Fredericksburg line trains 303, 307 and 311 will begin at the Franconia-Springfield Metro station at 4:08 p.m., 5:14 p.m., and 6:33 p.m. respectively. Those trains will serve each station south of Springfield. Riders are asked to take Metro to Franconia-Springfield, and will again be asked to show their VRE ticket to board the Metro train at no extra cost.
On the Manassas line, all morning trains will end at a temporary station near the Van Dorn Street Metro station in Alexandria. Riders will then be able to walk, or transfer to a DASH shuttle bus that will take them back to the Metro station, were they can show their VRE ticket and board Metro for free.
The Manassas midday train and Manassas reverse flow trains, 321, 336 and 338 have all been canceled that day, said Maguigad.
That afternoon, all trains will begin at the Van Dorn station and serve each remaining station on the Manassas line. To get to the Van Dorn Street station, riders will once again be asked to take Metro to the station for free by showing their VRE ticket when enter the Metro station closest to their work, said Maguigad.
VRE anticipates the construction to be done that day, and has not released any information about possible schedule changes for following day.