Virginia Rail Express (VRE)

[al-in-chgo]

In about a month I hope to visit the Washington D.C. area, in no small part to experience the transit systems that have been inaugurated or expanded since my student days in Charlottesville (VA) in the 1970s. 

Since VRE is set up for commuting, I'm having a hard time on their site finding other connections for other interests.

Specifically, is one of the Fredericksburg stops close enough to any of the Civil War sites to be hikeable? 

And VRE connections with the Washington Metro:  are some more difficult than others in terms of amount necessary to walk or non-intuitive instructions to get from one system to the next? 

Grateful for any remarks, info.  Thanks, Al Smalling    ("al-in-chgo") 

 

[al-in-chgo]

Hasn't anyone anything good or bad to say about the Virginia Rail Express? 

This IS the Transit post, after all. 

[gardendance]

I don't know if you count this as good or bad, last I checked their ticket machines did not accept cash, one could pay with credit card only.

[Amtrak77]

Hasn't anyone anything good or bad to say about the Virginia Rail Express? 

This IS the Transit post, after all. 

Al, Amtrak 77 reporting...

Ok, I think I can take this one since I use to live in that area.

1.  Have cash on hand when taking the VRE.  In Union Station you can get tickets from the machines or the counter and you don't have to wait in line to board them.

2.  Don't get on the wrong train! after leaving King Street you may be wonder why the train went under the 95 instead along side it and end up in Masassas.

3.  The furher out you go, using your card may not help in getting tickets in some area but pray to the train gods they do, if not then you can always purchase a ticket on the train (prices may vary)  There pretty good about there time schedules but the fredrickburg line may have heavy trains due to inbound/outbound amtrak and freight.  You may get the Bi-level cars or just the single level depending upon the times.  They also have a quiet car (I think towards the front so they will come tap you if your listen to headphones, cell phone calls, etc)

4.  For a good view of the city, freeway and other things, sit on the right side and have a camera ready.  When you leave Union Station after the tunnel you can get a view of DC, Hains Point, 14th Street Bridge, the pentagon, Crytal City (look for the metro yellow/blue lines).  If you leave before 3pm you may see the Amtrak Auto train staging area/station in Repon (right side).  MCB Quanitco - the base is on the right while Quantico is on the left (Say hi to the Marines)

5.  You probally already know, VRE don't run on weekends!!! So in the morning, more trains head into DC and in the afternoon they all head out so don't get stuck in fredrickburg or you be waiting for the Amtrak #90, 91, 93 in think (probally from richmond, NC, etc)

In all I say the VRE is a good commuter train so have fun out there.

[al-in-chgo]

I am so enjoying this thread and finding it useful, too.  Please keep posting!!

 

[al-in-chgo]

I am so enjoying this thread and finding it useful, too.  Please keep posting!!

 

Just lately I've noticed how bad my assumptions were.  Seems to me that it's almost impossible to reverse-commute, and that VRE and MARC simply don't work on weekends.

That having been said, perhaps there are suburban motels that are convenient to the stations?  I don't want to be in a motel that requires any kind of private-auto trip, because I'm a late-morning person and any popular suburban stations' parking lots will probably be full up.  So we'd want to walk or get a motel shuttle, or maybe a very brief taxicab ride.

So we're thinking of staying in/near Harpers Ferry, also Fredericksburg, for the history in both places.  But I want to commute into the District probably at least twice to see friends and catch up.

Any and all suggestions welcome!

Thanks, Al Smalling

 

[MP57313]

Al,

  On weekends, there is Amtrak!  Both VRE lines have Amtrak service on weekends (for a bit more green).  At Manassas, the former station is now a visitor center, and about 2 blocks away there is a Civil War Museum.  Manassas also has an interesting downtown, and there is at least one hotel within walking distance of the station.

  At Alexandria, the Amtrak/VRE station is adjacent to the Metro station, although you do have do go down to street level and walk around to the other station.  There are hotels within walking distance, across the street from the Metro station. When I was there in '04 there was an Embassy Suites with a view of the station.

  The picture is from a sunny and chilly December 2004 at Alexandria.  I rode VRE later that day; the only time I was able to (there was a late afternoon reverse commute into DC).  The view faces generally north, with a southbound Silver-series train just arriving at the station.

  I don't recall if there are hotels close to the Fredericksburg station.

MP

[oltmannd]

In about a month I hope to visit the Washington D.C. area, in no small part to experience the transit systems that have been inaugurated or expanded since my student days in Charlottesville (VA) in the 1970s. 

Since VRE is set up for commuting, I'm having a hard time on their site finding other connections for other interests.

Specifically, is one of the Fredericksburg stops close enough to any of the Civil War sites to be hikeable? 

And VRE connections with the Washington Metro:  are some more difficult than others in terms of amount necessary to walk or non-intuitive instructions to get from one system to the next? 

Grateful for any remarks, info.  Thanks, Al Smalling    ("al-in-chgo") 

The Fredericksburg station is right in town and the town is great to visit with lots of historical sights - all within walking distance.  There is a very nice visitor's center within a few blocks with good info.  Much of the history in downtown Fredericksburg dates from the Colonial era.  It's a great little town to tour on foot.

The Civil War battlefield park is several miles further south and is best toured car since it is fairly large and linear in nature.

[Warren J]

Al:

I live in Harpers Ferry and use the MARC Brunswick Line to get to work in DC. There are only two MARC trains in-bound (5:50AM and 6:55AM) and three out-bound (4:55PM express, 5:35PM, and 7:15PM) that service the three stations in West Virginia; all other Brunswick Line trains terminate in Maryland (either Brunswick or Frederick). Amtrak's Capitol Limited is scheduled in-bound from Harpers Ferry at 11:45AM and out-bound at 4:05PM; that in-bound train is notoriously late from Chicago. All trains use Union Station in DC as their terminus; there is connecting Red line Metro service at Union Station.

The MARC fare to/from Harpers Ferry is $9.00 each way. Amtrak's fare averages about $13.00 each way but requires reservations; Amtrak uses "yield management" similar to the airlines to determine ticket pricing. Cash tickets may be purchased on-board MARC trains at Harpers Ferry with the on-board fee waived as it is an unmanned station; at Union Station, purchase your tickets at the Amtrak counter or the QuickTrak machines before boarding (they accept major credit and debit cards). Harpers Ferry is due to have a QuickTrak machine, too, but they haven't installed it yet.

The Hilltop House hotel in Harpers Ferry is closed for renovations but there are many B&Bs in this town that are within walking distance of the train station. Go on-line to see what's available.