“Things of quality have no fear of time.”
al-in-chgo wrote: 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")
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.
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
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
al-in-chgo wrote: I am so enjoying this thread and finding it useful, too. Please keep posting!!
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
al-in-chgo wrote: Hasn't anyone anything good or bad to say about the Virginia Rail Express? This IS the Transit post, after all.
Hasn't anyone anything good or bad to say about the Virginia Rail Express?
This IS the Transit post, after all.
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.
Patrick Boylan
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