View source for Virginia Railway Express

{{Short description|Commuter rail service in Virginia and the District of Columbia}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox public transit
| box_width = 
| name = Virginia Railway Express
| image = Virginia Railway Express.svg
| imagesize = 100px
| image2 = MP36PH-3C on the VRE.jpg
| imagesize2 = 320px
| caption2 = A VRE train at [[Manassas station]]
| owner = [[Northern Virginia Transportation Commission|NVTC]] and [[Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission|PRTC]]
| area served = 
| locale = [[Northern Virginia]], U.S.
| transit_type = [[Commuter rail]]
| lines = 2
| line_number = 
| start = [[Washington Union Station]]
| end = [[Spotsylvania station|Spotsylvania]] or [[Broad Run station|Broad Run]]
| stations = 19 year-round, 1 seasonal, 1 planned
| daily_ridership = {{American transit ridership|VA Alexandria total daily}} ({{American transit ridership|dailydate}}){{American transit ridership|dailycitation}}
| annual_ridership = {{American transit ridership|VA Alexandria total annual}} ({{American transit ridership|annualdate}}){{American transit ridership|annualcitation}}
| chief_executive = <!-- or | key_people = -->
| headquarters = 
| website = {{url|https://www.vre.org/|vre.org}}
| began_operation = June 22, 1992
| ended_operation = 
| operator = [[Keolis]] (under contract)
| marks = VREX
| host = 
| character = 
| vehicles = 
| train_length = 
| headway = 
| system_length = {{convert|90|mi|km|0|abbr=on}}
| notrack = 
| track_gauge = {{Track gauge|ussg|allk=on}}
| average_speed = <!-- {{convert|0|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} -->
| top_speed = <!-- {{convert|0|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} -->
| map = {{switcher
| {{maplink-road|from=Virginia Railway Express.map}}
| Show interactive map
| {{Virginia Railway Express|inline=yes}}
| Show route diagram
}}
}}

'''Virginia Railway Express''' ('''VRE''') {{Reporting mark|VREX}} is a [[commuter rail]] service that connects outlying small cities of [[Northern Virginia]] to [[Washington Union Station]] in [[Washington, D.C.]] It operates two lines which run during weekday [[rush hour]] only: the [[Fredericksburg Line]] from [[Spotsylvania, Virginia]], and the [[Manassas Line]] from [[Broad Run station]] in [[Bristow, Virginia]]. In {{American transit ridership|annualdate}}, the system had a ridership of {{American transit ridership|VA Alexandria total annual}}, or about {{American transit ridership|VA Alexandria total daily}} per weekday as of {{American transit ridership|dailydateasof}}.

Service to Manassas began on June 22, 1992; the Fredericksburg service started on July 20, 1992.<ref>Virginia Railway Express Launched ''[[International Railway Journal]]'' September 1992 page 71</ref>

VRE is owned by the [[Northern Virginia Transportation Commission]] (NVTC) and the [[Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission]] (PRTC). The NVTC and PRTC are governmental entities that were created by the [[Commonwealth of Virginia]]. Local governments (such as counties and cities) within each commission's geographic area are members of each commission. The service will undergo expansion as the result of a December 19, 2019 deal brokered between former Virginia governor [[Ralph Northam]] and rail company [[CSX Transportation]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/plus/virginia-has-billion-deal-to-expand-rail-service-between-richmond/article_460c07a4-84d1-5b0c-9c0f-6dd384d7aa7b.html|title=Virginia has $3.7 billion deal to expand rail service between Richmond and Washington|last=MARTZ|first=MICHAEL|website=[[Richmond Times-Dispatch]]|language=en|access-date=2019-12-19|archive-date=December 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219234032/https://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/plus/virginia-has-billion-deal-to-expand-rail-service-between-richmond/article_460c07a4-84d1-5b0c-9c0f-6dd384d7aa7b.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==History==
===20th century===
[[File:19990205 13 Virginia Railway Express, Crystal City, VA (6615841505).jpg|thumb|A Virginia Railway Express train going through [[Crystal City, Virginia|Crystal City]] in 1999]]
Discussions about commuter rail service in Northern Virginia had occurred as early as 1964 at the [[Northern Virginia Transportation Commission]], but died in the face of opposition by the freight railroads whose tracks offered ready access to core employment areas. The [[Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments]] eventually commissioned a regional feasibility study by R.L. Banks and Associates, Inc., and planning began in earnest for VRE in 1984.<ref name="chronology" /> In the meantime, [[Washington Metro]] extended its service to much of the inner ring of Northern Virginia, including the independent cities of [[Alexandria, Virginia|Alexandria]], [[Fairfax, Virginia|Fairfax]] and [[Falls Church, Virginia|Falls Church]] and [[Arlington County, Virginia|Arlington]] and [[Fairfax County, Virginia|Fairfax]] counties, which are members of the NVTC.

By 1986, it became apparent that [[Prince William County|Prince William]] and [[Stafford County, Virginia|Stafford]] counties and the cities of Manassas and [[Manassas Park]] could not reach agreement on how to support VRE by joining NVTC, so the [[Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission]] was created for them. Legislation established a 2% motor fuels tax to support VRE expenses and other transportation investments.

By 1988, NVTC and PRTC established a VRE Operations Board, consisting of three voting members plus alternates from each of the two commissions, plus a voting representative of the Commonwealth of Virginia (currently a representative of the Director of the [[Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation]]). The following year, the jurisdictions participating in the VRE project agreed to fund it according to a formula that weighted ridership by jurisdiction of residence with a factor of 90% and population with a factor of 10%. Arlington and Alexandria agreed to contribute to the project and have paid each year approximately what their formula share would be. The cities of Fredericksburg and Manassas Park joined PRTC in 1990 and signed the VRE Master Agreement and became participating jurisdictions in 1992.<ref name="chronology">{{Cite web |url=http://www.vre.org/vre/assets/File/VRE-Chronology.pdf |title=Chronology of the Virginia Railway Express: 1964 to Present |last=Taube, Richard K. |date=August 11, 2008 |publisher=Virginia Railway Express |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117185516/http://www.vre.org/vre/assets/File/VRE-Chronology.pdf |archive-date=November 17, 2015 |url-status=live |access-date=November 16, 2015 }}</ref>

===21st century===
Spotsylvania County joined in February 2010 to allow construction of [[Spotsylvania (VRE station)|Spotsylvania station]], which opened in November 2015.<ref name="study">{{Cite web |url=http://www.spotsylvania.va.us/filestorage/2614/147/2740/159/WEB5_VRESITESTUDYFINAL810.pdf |title=Spotsylvania County VRE Commuter Rail Station Site Screening Analysis: Final Technical Memorandum |last=HDR Engineering |date=August 4, 2010 |publisher=Spotsylvania County |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140805160439/http://www.spotsylvania.va.us/filestorage/2614/147/2740/159/WEB5_VRESITESTUDYFINAL810.pdf |archive-date=August 5, 2014 |access-date=January 17, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dr-gridlock/wp/2015/10/26/vres-spotsylvania-station-to-open-next-month/ |title=VRE's Spotsylvania station to open next month |last=Lazo |first=Luz |date=October 26, 2015 |newspaper=[[Washington Post]] |access-date=October 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151027140807/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dr-gridlock/wp/2015/10/26/vres-spotsylvania-station-to-open-next-month/ |archive-date=October 27, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Operations==
[[File:Virginia Express at Potomac river (8682502764).jpg|thumb|A VRE train crossing the [[Potomac River]] in 2013]]
Rail service operates Monday through Friday during rush hour in the peak direction, with trains traveling toward Washington in the morning and toward either Manassas or Fredericksburg in the afternoon. Service is suspended or reduced on some holidays.<ref name="about">{{Cite web |url=https://www.vre.org/service/schedule/ |title=VRE Schedules |website=VRE |access-date=November 28, 2018 |archive-date=November 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181128210758/https://www.vre.org/service/schedule/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Through a cross-honoring agreement, VRE and the [[MARC Train]] allow passengers to transfer to trains on the other system that are going in the opposite direction of the rush-hour commuters.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.vre.org/service/rider/amtrak/ |title=Amtrak & MARC Cross Honor Agreements |website=VRE |access-date=November 28, 2018}}</ref>

VRE operates on lines owned and maintained by [[Amtrak]], [[Norfolk Southern]], and [[CSX Transportation]]. In December 2019, the state of Virginia agreed to purchase large portions of the right-of-way and track on the CSX line, as well as the [[Long Bridge (Potomac River)|Long Bridge]] into the District of Columbia. The state will add parallel tracks and make other improvements for increased service on the VRE.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://potomaclocal.com/2020/06/12/vre-inks-8-5-million-deal-to-keep-trains-running-to-fredericksburg-for-1-more-year/ |title=VRE inks $8.5 million deal to keep trains running to Fredericksburg for 1 more year |date=June 12, 2020 |access-date=March 21, 2021 |first=Rick |last=Horner |archive-date=May 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507213318/https://potomaclocal.com/2020/06/12/vre-inks-8-5-million-deal-to-keep-trains-running-to-fredericksburg-for-1-more-year/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Most of the Fredericksburg Line is on CSX tracks, while the portion of the Manassas Line west of Alexandria is mostly on Norfolk Southern tracks. [[Washington Union Station]] in Washington, D.C., the northern terminus for most VRE trains, is owned and operated by Amtrak, including the station tracks.

VRE's trains were initially run by Amtrak. On November 5, 2009, VRE awarded a five-year, $85 million operating and maintenance contract to [[Keolis]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.trains.com/trn/default.aspx?c=a&id=5818 |title=Keolis in, Amtrak out at VRE |date=November 6, 2009 |publisher=[[Trains (magazine)|Trains]] |access-date=June 10, 2010 }}{{dead link|date=February 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title = Amtrak ends role as VRE operator; Keolis to start Monday|url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/09/AR2010070903289.html|newspaper = The Washington Post|date = July 10, 2010|access-date = September 27, 2015|issn = 0190-8286|first = Jennifer|last = Buske|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150801102634/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/09/AR2010070903289.html|archive-date = August 1, 2015|df = mdy-all}}</ref> The change in operations took place on July 12, 2010, two weeks later than planned, to allow Keolis employees to learn how to run VRE trains.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.trains.com/trn/default.aspx?c=a&id=6925&r=rss |title=Amtrak gets two more weeks to operate Virginia Railway Express |date=June 10, 2010 |publisher=Trains |access-date=June 10, 2010 }}{{dead link|date=February 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Ridership on VRE increased an average of 13% each year from 2000 to 2005, but fell 2% in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005. VRE said passengers affected by track maintenance and heat restrictions were taking other forms of transportation.<ref name="WTOP-25July2006">[http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=25&sid=860350 "Virginia Railway Express Sees Decline in Ridership"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011123117/http://wtopnews.com/?nid=25 |date=October 11, 2007 }}, WTOP news, July 25, 2006</ref> The trend reversed in the summer of 2007, with ridership up nearly 2% in June and 4% in July compared with the corresponding months in 2006.<ref>Dan Genz (August 15, 2007), [http://washingtonexaminer.com/vre-ridership-up-commuters-likely-to-ask-for-later-trains/article/72682 "VRE ridership up; commuters likely to ask for later trains"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927234414/http://washingtonexaminer.com/vre-ridership-up-commuters-likely-to-ask-for-later-trains/article/72682 |date=September 27, 2013 }}, ''The Washington Examiner''</ref> As of October 2016, VRE transports an average of 19,400 passengers per day.<ref name="1216ceo">{{Cite web |url=https://www.vre.org/about/board/board-agenda-minutes/2016/December/16-vre-142-december-ceo-forprint-lo2-pdf/ |title=CEO Report: December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202145825/http://www.vre.org/about/board/board-agenda-minutes/2016/December/16-vre-142-december-ceo-forprint-lo2-pdf/ |date=December 2016|archive-date=February 2, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2015, VRE extended its contract with Keolis for five years, with an additional option for another five-year extension in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/passenger/commuter-regional/vre-extends-contract-with-keolis.html |title=VRE extends contract with Keolis |last=Worrell |first=Carolina |date=July 14, 2015 |website=Railway Age |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150917035514/http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/passenger/commuter-regional/vre-extends-contract-with-keolis.html |archive-date=September 17, 2015 |url-status=live |access-date=September 27, 2015 }}</ref> That option was exercised in 2020, so Keolis will continue to provide operational and maintenance services through June 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=VRE extends operations and maintenance contracts with Keolis |url=https://www.masstransitmag.com/rail/press-release/21141852/virginia-railway-express-vre-vre-extends-operations-and-maintenance-contracts-with-keolis |website=www.masstransitmag.com |publisher=Endeavor Business Media |access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref>

Starting in 2015, VRE began a study of extending service to [[Haymarket, Virginia|Haymarket]] via a short branch line from the Manassas Line, but found that ridership would not sufficiently increase to justify the estimated $660 million cost and ended further consideration of the line.<ref name="haymarket 2017">{{Cite web |url=http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2017/03/21-vre-throttles-back-gainesville-haymarket-expansion-plans |title=VRE throttles back Gainesville, Haymarket expansion plans |date=March 21, 2017 |publisher=Trains |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170321153126/http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2017/03/21-vre-throttles-back-gainesville-haymarket-expansion-plans |archive-date=March 21, 2017 |url-status=live |access-date=March 21, 2017 }}</ref>

== Lines and stations ==
VRE's fares are based on distance, with the 19 stations grouped into zones. The two lines diverge at [[Alexandria Union Station]] in [[Alexandria, Virginia|Alexandria]].

=== Manassas Line ===
{{Main|Manassas Line}}
The Manassas Line runs east–west along trackage owned by Norfolk Southern. Amtrak's {{line link|Amtrak|Crescent}} and {{line link|Amtrak|Cardinal}}, as well as {{line link|Amtrak|Northeast Regional}} trains bound for [[Roanoke, Virginia|Roanoke]], also use this line. VRE studied an extension of the Manassas Line west to the communities of [[Gainesville, Virginia|Gainesville]] and [[Haymarket, Virginia|Haymarket]], but chose instead to pursue added service on the existing line to Broad Run.<ref name="haymarket 2017" />
[[File:TrainVREtoDC.jpg|thumb|A reverse-peak VRE train to [[Washington, D.C.]]]]
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Miles (km)!!Fare Zone!!State!!Location!!Station!!Daily boardings (2012)<ref name=2012riders>{{Cite web |date=June 2015 |title=Congestion Relief Provided by Virginia Railway Express |url=https://www.vre.org/about/studies-and-reports/vre-congestion-relief-report/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230501200133/https://www.vre.org/about/studies-and-reports/vre-congestion-relief-report/ |archive-date=May 1, 2023 |publisher=Virginia Railway Express |author=Texas A&M Transportation Institute}}</ref>!!Connections
|-
|{{convert|0|mi|abbr=values}}||rowspan=2|1||rowspan=2|[[District of Columbia|DC]]||rowspan=2|[[Washington, D.C.|Washington]]||[[Washington Union Station]]
|1,135 ||[[Washington Metro]], [[MARC Train|MARC]], [[Amtrak]]
|-
|{{convert|1.8|mi|abbr=values}}||{{stl|Virginia Railway Express|L'Enfant}}
|2,050 ||[[Washington Metro]]
|-
|{{convert|4.3|mi|abbr=values}}||rowspan=2|2||rowspan=9|[[Virginia|VA]]||[[Crystal City, Virginia|Crystal City]]||{{stl|Virginia Railway Express|Crystal City}}
|870 ||[[Washington Metro]], [[Metroway]]
|-
|{{convert|8.3|mi|abbr=values}}||[[Alexandria, Virginia|Alexandria]]||[[Alexandria Union Station]]
|425<!--source data is messy; morning data appears to be correct--> ||[[Washington Metro]], [[Amtrak]]
|-
|{{convert|15.1|mi|abbr=values}}||3||[[Springfield, Virginia|Springfield]]||{{stl|Virginia Railway Express|Backlick Road}}
|170 ||
|-
|{{convert|19.3|mi|abbr=values}}||rowspan=2|4||[[Burke, Virginia|Burke]]||{{stl|Virginia Railway Express|Rolling Road}}
|395||
|-
|{{convert|21.6|mi|abbr=values}}||[[Burke Centre, Virginia|Burke Centre]]||{{stl|Virginia Railway Express|Burke Centre}}
|920||[[Amtrak]]
|-
|{{convert|26.8|mi|abbr=values}}|| ||[[Clifton, Virginia|Clifton]]||{{stl|Virginia Railway Express|Clifton}}
|880||''Special events only''
|-
|{{convert|30.6|mi|abbr=values}}||rowspan=3|6||[[Manassas Park, Virginia|Manassas Park]]||{{stl|Virginia Railway Express|Manassas Park}}
|880||
|-
|{{convert|32.7|mi|abbr=values}}||[[Manassas, Virginia|Manassas]]||{{stl|Virginia Railway Express|Manassas}}
|880||[[Amtrak]]
|-
|{{convert|35.9|mi|abbr=values}}||[[Bristow, Virginia|Bristow]]||{{stl|Virginia Railway Express|Broad Run}}
|1290||
|}

=== Fredericksburg Line ===
{{Main|Fredericksburg Line}}
The Fredericksburg Line runs north–south along trackage that was once part of the [[Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad]] and is now part of CSX. Amtrak service to [[Richmond, Virginia]], and points south (the {{line link|Amtrak|Silver Service}}, {{line link|Amtrak|Palmetto}}, {{line link|Amtrak|Carolinian}}, and {{line link|Amtrak|Northeast Regional}} runs to [[Hampton Roads]]) also uses this line. An extension to Spotsylvania opened in November 2015.<ref name="opening">{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dr-gridlock/wp/2015/11/15/vre-spotsylvania-station-opens/ |title=VRE Spotsylvania station to open Monday |last=Lazo |first=Luz |date=November 15, 2015 |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=November 16, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151115221550/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dr-gridlock/wp/2015/11/15/vre-spotsylvania-station-opens/ |archive-date=November 15, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Miles (km)!!Fare Zone!!State!!Location!!Station!!Daily boardings (2012)<ref name=2012riders/>!!Connections
|-
|{{convert|0|mi|abbr=values}}|| rowspan="2" |1|| rowspan="2" |[[Washington, D.C.|DC]]|| rowspan="2" |[[Washington, D.C.]]||[[Washington Union Station]]
|930 ||[[Washington Metro]], [[MARC Train|MARC]], [[Amtrak]]
|-
|{{convert|1.8|mi|abbr=values}}||{{stl|Virginia Railway Express|L'Enfant}}
|1,675 ||[[Washington Metro]]
|-
|{{convert|4.3|mi|abbr=values}}|| rowspan="2" |2|| rowspan="6" |[[Virginia|VA]]||[[Crystal City, Virginia|Crystal City]]||{{stl|Virginia Railway Express|Crystal City}}
|930 ||[[Washington Metro]], [[Metroway]]
|-
|{{convert|8.3|mi|abbr=values}}||[[Alexandria, Virginia|Alexandria]]||[[Alexandria Union Station]]
|630 ||[[Washington Metro]], [[Amtrak]]
|-
|{{convert|15.7|mi|abbr=values}}||3||[[Springfield, Virginia|Springfield]]||{{stl|Virginia Railway Express|Franconia–Springfield}}
|290|| [[Washington Metro]]
|-
|{{convert|20.2|mi|abbr=values}}||4||[[Lorton, Virginia|Lorton]]||{{stl|Virginia Railway Express|Lorton}}
|510|||
|-
|{{convert|24.6|mi|abbr=values}}|| rowspan="2" |5||[[Woodbridge, Virginia|Woodbridge]]||{{stl|Virginia Railway Express|Woodbridge}}
|455||[[Amtrak]]
|-
|{{convert|27.9|mi|abbr=values}}||[[Featherstone, Virginia|Featherstone]]||{{stl|Virginia Railway Express|Rippon}}
|545||
|-style="background:silver;"
|{{convert|30.6|mi|abbr=on}} ||||[[Virginia|VA]]||[[Dumfries, Virginia|Dumfries]]||{{stl|Virginia Railway Express|Potomac Shores}} ''(under development)''
| ||
|-
|{{convert|34.8|mi|abbr=values}}||6|| rowspan="5" |[[Virginia|VA]]||[[Quantico, Virginia|Quantico]]||{{stl|Virginia Railway Express|Quantico}}
|540||[[Amtrak]]
|-
|{{convert|45.7|mi|abbr=values}}|| rowspan="2" |8||[[Brooke, Virginia|Brooke]]||{{stl|Virginia Railway Express|Brooke}}
|630||
|-
|{{convert|50.2|mi|abbr=values}}||[[Leeland, Virginia|Leeland]]||{{stl|Virginia Railway Express|Leeland Road}}
|1100||
|-
|{{convert|54.2|mi|abbr=values}}|| rowspan="2" |9||[[Fredericksburg, Virginia|Fredericksburg]]||{{stl|Virginia Railway Express|Fredericksburg}}
|1770 ||[[Amtrak]]
|-
|{{convert|60.3|mi|abbr=values}}||[[Olive, Virginia|Olive]]||{{stl|Virginia Railway Express|Spotsylvania}}
|''Opened in 2015'' ||
|}

== Rolling stock ==
Virginia Railway Express commenced operations in 1992 with ten [[EMD GP40-based passenger locomotives#RP39-2C|EMD RP39-2C]] diesel locomotives, 38 [[Mafersa coaches]], and 21 remanufactured [[Budd Rail Diesel Car]]s from the [[MBTA Commuter Rail|MBTA]]. [[Morrison-Knudsen]] rebuilt the locomotives from [[EMD GP40]]s at a total cost of $5.9 million. Mafersa built the coaches new at $24.7 million, or $600,000–$700,000 per car.<ref>Virginia find a bargain in Brazil: a $700,000 commuter car ''[[Railway Age]]'' March 1990 page 28</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=North American commuter rail 1994 |last=Middleton |first=William D. |date=1994 |publisher=[[Pentrex]] |location=Pasadena, CA |page=16 |oclc=32665882}}</ref> During Summer 1998, SEPTA leased some VRE Boisie Budds for the Regional Rail services. VRE sold 33 of the Mafersa coaches to the [[Connecticut Department of Transportation]] in 2004 for its [[Shore Line East]] service.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ct.gov/dot/lib/dot/documents/dplansprojectsstudies/plans/state_rail_plan/State_Rail_Plan_Final_Draft_8-24-12.pdf |title=Connecticut State Rail Plan 2012–2016 |date=2012 |publisher=[[Connecticut Department of Transportation]] |pages=37; 238 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401042557/http://www.ct.gov/dot/lib/dot/documents/dplansprojectsstudies/plans/state_rail_plan/State_Rail_Plan_Final_Draft_8-24-12.pdf |archive-date=April 1, 2016 |url-status=dead |access-date=March 26, 2016 }}</ref> [[QIT-Fer et Titane]], a [[Quebec]] mining company, purchased the remaining five cars in 2008.<ref name="chronology" />

VRE operated 13 [[Kawasaki Heavy Industries Rolling Stock Company|Kawasaki]] [[Bilevel rail car|bi-level cars]] between 1999 and 2008, after which they were sold to [[MARC Train|MARC]] (these cars were originally procured as an option on MARC's larger order).<ref name="chronology" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=December 2011|title=Virginia Railway Express Transit Development Plan FY2013 – FY2018|url=http://drpt.virginia.gov/media/1510/virginia-railway-express-transit-development-plan-fy2013-fy2018.pdf|access-date=|website=|publisher=Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=August 29, 2008|title=Maryland Transit purchases passenger-rail coaches from VRE|url=https://www.progressiverailroading.com/passenger_rail/news/Maryland-Transit-purchases-passenger-rail-coaches-from-VRE--17772|access-date=2021-01-12|website=Progressive Railroading|language=en}}</ref> Starting in 2001, VRE also operated a number of second-hand [[Pullman Company|Pullman-Standard]] [[Pullman Gallery Car|gallery cars]] from [[Metra]] in [[Chicago]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=May 2004|title=Strategic Plan 2004–2025|url=https://www.vre.org/sites/vre/assets/File/gainesvillehaymarket/strategic-plan.pdf|access-date=|website=|publisher=Virginia Railway Express}}</ref> These were all replaced by new [[Sumitomo Group|Sumitomo]]/[[Nippon Sharyo]] [[gallery cars]] from 2006 to 2017 as some cars returned to [[Metra]] and others went to the [[North Carolina Transportation Museum]] in [[Spencer, North Carolina]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name="equipment" />

As of 2017, trains comprise one and on some occasions two MPI MP36PH-3C locomotives pulling usually at least four Sumitomo/Nippon Sharyo gallery cars to a maximum of eight.<ref name="equipment" />

=== Locomotive fleet ===
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! width="100" | Numbers
! Status
! width="100" | Model
! Notes
! Photo
|-
| V1–V10<ref name="diesel shop">{{Cite web |url=http://www.thedieselshop.us/VRE.HTML |title=Virginia Railway Express |publisher=The Diesel Shop |date=October 29, 2015 |access-date=November 28, 2018 |archive-date=March 22, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100322231426/http://www.thedieselshop.us/VRE.HTML |url-status=live }}</ref>
| rowspan="4" | retired
| [[EMD GP40-based passenger locomotives#RP39-2C|EMD RP39-2C]]
| Rebuilt from original units by [[Morrison-Knudsen]]. All sold to other operators.<ref name="diesel shop" /> Lack the flared radiators of VRE's GP40s.
| [[File:Virginia Railway Express train.jpg|100px]]
|-
| V20–V21<ref name="diesel shop" />
| [[EMD GP40-based passenger locomotives#RP40-2C|EMD RP40-2C]]
| Rebuilt from original units by [[Morrison-Knudsen]]. V20 sold to [[Royal Gorge Route Railroad]] and renumbered 728. V21 sold to the [[United States Army|US Army]].<ref name="diesel shop" />
|align=center| [[File:VRE in Manassas.jpg|x100px]]
|-
| V22–V24<ref name="diesel shop" />
| [[EMD GP40-based passenger locomotives#GP40H-2|EMD GP40H-2]]
| V22 and V24 sold to US Army. V23 sold to other another operator.
| [[File:VRE in Northern VA.jpg|100px]]
|-
| V30–V36<ref name="diesel shop" />
| [[EMD F40PH]]-2
|All were former Amtrak units.
V30 owned by Amtrak(AMTK 403). When lease was up, it was returned to Amtrak and received its original number.
V31 sold to another operator.
V32 sold to Metra renumbered 217.
V33 sold to [[Exo (public transit)|AMT]] and then LTEX renumbered 330.
V34-V36 sold to LTEX and V35 sold to Webb Rail, LLC (WEBX).<ref name="equipment">{{Cite web |date=November 21, 2017 |title=Equipment & Train Consist |url=https://www.vre.org/service/rider/consist/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240324063618/https://www.vre.org/service/rider/consist/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2024-03-24 |access-date=November 28, 2018 |website=Virginia Railway Express}}</ref>
| [[File:Locomotives at Ivy City VRE EMDF40PH-2.jpg|100px]]
|-
| V50–V69<ref name="equipment" />
| active
| [[MPI MPXpress|MPI MP36PH-3C]]
| Total order of 20.<ref name="RA">{{cite web|url=http://www.railwayage.com/breaking-news/vre-orders-12-motivepower-locomotives-with-option-for-eight-more.html|title=VRE taps MotivePower for 12 locomotives, option for 8|date=August 18, 2009|access-date=July 8, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090822094307/http://www.railwayage.com/breaking-news/vre-orders-12-motivepower-locomotives-with-option-for-eight-more.html|archive-date=August 22, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=VRE has $5.1 million surplus|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dr-gridlock/2010/09/vre_has_51_million_surplus.html|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=September 20, 2010|date=September 20, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100919181518/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dr-gridlock/2010/09/vre_has_51_million_surplus.html|archive-date=September 19, 2010}}</ref> The first unit was delivered in June 2010, entered service in August 2010, and all units are currently in service. These are the first new locomotives that VRE purchased. To be overhauled within the next 5 years.<ref name=":1">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/03/AR2010080306678.html|title=Virginia Railway Express begins adding new locomotives to its fleet|last=Buske|first=Jennifer|date=August 5, 2010|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=August 5, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111041042/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/03/AR2010080306678.html|archive-date=November 11, 2012}}</ref>
|[[File:In Push Mode.jpg|100px]]
|}

VRE also operated a pair of [[EMD F59PH|EMD F59PHI]] locomotives and 18 high capacity [[Bombardier Transportation|Bombardier]] [[Bombardier BiLevel Coach|BiLevel cars]] leased from [[Sound Transit]] from 2002 to 2008; they have been returned to [[Sounder commuter rail|Sounder]] and replaced by locomotives V50–V69 and the [[Sumitomo Group|Sumitomo]] bi-level cars.<ref name="diesel shop" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vre.org/about/strategic/StratPlan_Sect1.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=September 19, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202091926/http://vre.org/about/strategic/StratPlan_Sect1.pdf |archive-date=December 2, 2010  }}</ref>

=== Coach fleet ===
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! Numbers
! Years Built
! Status
! Builder
! Model
! Seats
|-

|-
| 405, 408, 412, 413, 415*<ref name="equipment" />
| 1956
| rowspan="3" | retired
| rowspan="3" | [[Pullman Company]]
| Gallery I coach
| 123
|-
| 421-430*<ref name="equipment" />
| 1956
| Gallery II coach
| 123
|-
| 431-458*<ref name="equipment" />
| 1960-66
| Gallery III coach
| 123
|-
| 710–730*<ref name="equipment" />
| 2006–08
| rowspan="3" | active
| rowspan="3" | [[Sumitomo]]&thinsp;/&thinsp;[[Nippon Sharyo]]
| Gallery IV cab car
| 123
|-
| 800–819*, 850–869, 870–879<ref name="equipment" />
| 2007–09
| Gallery IV trailer car
| 132*&thinsp;/&thinsp;144
|-
| 820–848*<sup>†</sup><ref name="equipment" />
| 2014
| Gallery IV trailer car
| 132
|}
<small>* with restroom</small>

<small>† Eight cars ordered in February 2012 with options for 42 more.<ref name=":1" /> As of 2018, 21 further cars had been procured from these options.<ref name="equipment" /></small>

== Safety and accidents ==
[[File:VRE derailment, 2006-01-05.jpg|thumb|The VRE derailment on January 5, 2006]]
On January 5, 2006, at 6:45&nbsp;am, Fredericksburg line train No. 304 bound for [[Washington, D.C.]], derailed at [[Possum Point]], just north of [[Quantico, Virginia|Quantico]].  Four people, including the assistant conductor, suffered minor injuries. The [[National Transportation Safety Board]] determined that the derailment was intimately related to [[CSX]]'s maintenance practices: a switch point had been repeatedly identified as deteriorating, but CSX failed to replace it.  Eventually, the excessively worn and chipped point caused the lead truck of a passenger car to derail—the fourth car on train 304.<ref>[https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/fulltext/RAB0606.html "Railroad Accident Brief – Derailment of Virginia Railway Express train near Quantico, Virginia, January 5, 2006"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915161004/https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/fulltext/RAB0606.html |date=September 15, 2012 }}, National Transportation Safety Board report NTSB/RAB-06/06 (includes link to pdf document with full report), retrieved March 22, 2008</ref>

On October 3, 2012, [[Bob McDonnell|Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell]] launched a review of "multiple internal control issues", including reports of corruption and favoritism, that "call into question the management of the Virginia Railway Express". For example, VRE managers disregarded warnings by a former employee, later borne out, that trains would hit the new Broad Run platform.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://manassaspark.patch.com/articles/gov-mcdonnell-initiates-review-of-vre-206e5c53|title=Gov. McDonnell Initiates Review of VRE|date=November 14, 2012|website=patch.com}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of United States railroads]]
* [[List of Washington, D.C., railroads]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
{{Attached KML|display=title,inline}}
*{{Official website|http://www.vre.org/|Virginia Railway Express – official website}}
{{VRE}}
{{Keolis}}
{{Transit In DC}}
{{Transit in NOVA}}
{{USCommRail}}
{{Virginia railroads}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Virginia Railway Express| ]]
[[Category:1992 establishments in Virginia]]
[[Category:Commuter rail in the United States]]
[[Category:Keolis]]
[[Category:Northern Virginia]]
[[Category:Passenger rail transportation in Virginia]]
[[Category:Passenger rail transportation in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Railway companies established in 1992]]
[[Category:Standard-gauge railways in the United States]]
[[Category:Transportation in Alexandria, Virginia]]
[[Category:Transportation in Arlington County, Virginia]]
[[Category:Transportation in Fairfax County, Virginia]]
[[Category:Transportation in Fredericksburg, Virginia]]
[[Category:Transportation in Prince William County, Virginia]]
[[Category:Transportation in Spotsylvania County, Virginia]]
[[Category:Transportation in Stafford County, Virginia]]
[[Category:Virginia railroads]]
[[Category:Washington, D.C., railroads]]