Backlick Road station

Backlick Road
Station shelter in 2020
General information
Location	6900 Hechinger Drive Springfield, Virginia United States
Coordinates	38°47′49″N77°11′02″W / 38.79694°N 77.18389°W / 38.79694; -77.18389
Line(s)	NS Washington District
Platforms	1 side platform
Tracks	2
Connections	Fairfax Connector: 321, 322, 401, 402 Metrobus: 18J
Construction
Parking	220 spaces
Bicycle facilities	Bicycle racks
Accessible	Yes
Other information
Fare zone	3
History
Opened	1992 [1]
Services
Preceding station Virginia Railway Express Following station Rolling Road toward Broad Run Manassas Line Alexandria toward Union Station
Location

Backlick Road station is a Virginia Railway Express (VRE) commuter rail station in Springfield, Virginia. It is served by the Manassas Line. The station has one side platform serving the southern track of the two-track Norfolk Southern Railway Washington District.

History

The station serves a right-of-way first laid down in the 1840s by the Orange and Alexandria Railroad (O&A). During the American Civil War, the O&A's Springfield station, which stood on or near the site of today's facility, was briefly seized by Confederate troops in 1861, recaptured by Union troops, and raided again the following year. ^[2]

The right-of-way passed via successor railroads to its current owner, Norfolk Southern. ^[2] Additional trackage rights are held by VRE and Amtrak, whose Cardinal and Crescent trains pass through Backlick Road station but do not stop there.^{[ citation needed ]}

The current station opened in 1992 as one of the original VRE stations. ^[2] Planned upgrades include a 290-foot platform extension, lighting improvements, and communication system upgrades to accommodate longer trains and improve rider safety and comfort. ^[3]

References

1. Fehr, Stephen; Sanchez, Carlos (June 18, 1992). "Getting On Track". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 5, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
2. Peniston, Bradley. "Springfield's Rail History". VRE.org. Archived from the original on April 22, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
3. "Backlick Road Station Improvements" (PDF). Northern Virginia Transportation Authority. July 27, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2025.

External links

• VRE – Backlick Road Station