Manassas Line

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Manassas Line
VRE in Manassas.jpg
VRE train in Manassas station.
Overview
StatusOperating
Owner Norfolk Southern Railway, CSX Transportation
Locale Washington, D.C., Fairfax County, Virginia, Prince William County, Virginia
Termini
Stations10
Service
Type Commuter rail
System Virginia Railway Express
Train number(s)321–338
Operator(s) Virginia Railway Express
History
OpenedJune 22, 1992
Technical
Line length35 miles (56 km)
Charactergrade-separated, Underground and above ground
Track gauge 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)
Operating speed79 mph (127km/h) (top)
26.6mph (42.5km/h) (average)
Route map
Manassas Line Manassas Line highlighted in blue
BSicon CONTg orange.svg
BSicon KINTa violet.svg
BSicon KSTRe orange.svg
Union Station BSicon TRAM1.svg WMATA Metro Logo small.svg MARC train.svg BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg
BSicon TUNNEL1 violet.svg
BSicon INT violet.svg
L'Enfant WMATA Metro Logo small.svg
BSicon bGRZq.svg
BSicon hbKRZWae violet.svg
BSicon HST violet.svg
Crystal City
BSicon INT violet.svg
Alexandria BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg
BSicon STR denim.svg
BSicon tSTRl red.svg
BSicon STRl red.svg
BSicon dCONTfq red.svg
BSicon HST denim.svg
Backlick Road
BSicon HST denim.svg
Rolling Road
BSicon HST denim.svg
Burke Centre BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg
BSicon pHST denim.svg
Clifton
(seasonal)
BSicon HST denim.svg
Manassas Park
BSicon INT denim.svg
Manassas BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg
BSicon KINTe denim.svg
BSicon KSTRa cerulean.svg
Broad Run BSicon FLUG.svg
BSicon CONTf cerulean.svg
BSicon STRq violet.svg
Both VRE services sharing track

Wheelchair symbol.svg All stations are accessible
Broad Run Station - western terminus of the Manassas Line Broadrunstation.jpg
Broad Run Station - western terminus of the Manassas Line

The Manassas Line is a Virginia Railway Express commuter rail service that extends from Washington, D.C. to Bristow, Virginia. [1] The first of VRE's two lines, with service beginning on June 22, 1992, [2] the line operates on tracks owned by CSX Transportation (the RF&P Subdivision) and Norfolk Southern Railway (the Washington District). [3]

Contents

History

The line south of Alexandria, Virginia, was once owned by Southern Railway, whose Crescent train stopped at the line's Alexandria and Manassas stations. When U.S. intercity passenger service was taken over by Amtrak, the new railroad continued the Crescent service between New Orleans and New York City. [4]

In 1984, planning began for a commuter rail service for the area. Eight years later, after many new stations were constructed, Virginia Railway Express began operating trains on the line on June 22, 1992.

In 2009, Amtrak extended its Northeast Regional service south to Lynchburg, bringing more trains to Manassas and Burke Centre. [5]

In 2017, VRE began a $2.8 million study of expansion to the Broad Run station and layover facility that would allow additional Manassas Line service. [6]

As of June 2024, the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority is negotiating with Norfolk Southern to purchase the portion of the Washington District between Broad Run and Alexandria used by VRE. [7]

Stations list

StateLocationStationConnections
District of Columbia Washington Union Station BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg Amtrak: Acela , Cardinal , Carolinian , Crescent , Floridian , Northeast Regional , Palmetto , Silver Meteor , Vermonter , Amtrak Thruway to Charlottesville, Virginia
MARC train.svg MARC: Brunswick Line , Camden Line , Penn Line
Virginia Railway Express.svg VRE: Fredericksburg Line
WMATA Metro Logo small.svg Metrorail: WMATA Red.svg
BSicon TRAM1.svg DC Streetcar: H Street/Benning Road Line
Bus-logo.svg Bus: Metrobus, Loudoun County Commuter Bus, OmniRide, MTA Commuter Bus
L'Enfant Virginia Railway Express.svg VRE: Fredericksburg Line
WMATA Metro Logo small.svg Metrorail: WMATA Green.svg WMATA Yellow.svg WMATA Blue.svg WMATA Orange.svg WMATA Silver.svg
Bus-logo.svg Bus: Metrobus, Loudoun County Commuter Bus. OmniRide Commuter, MTA Commuter Bus
Virginia Arlington Crystal City Virginia Railway Express.svg VRE: Fredericksburg Line
WMATA Metro Logo small.svg Metrorail: WMATA Yellow.svg WMATA Blue.svg
BSicon BUS3.svg Metroway
Bus-logo.svg Bus: Metrobus, Arlington Transit, Fairfax Connector, Loudoun County Commuter Bus, OmniRide Commuter
Alexandria Alexandria BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg Amtrak: Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Floridian, Northeast Regional, Palmetto, Silver Meteor
Virginia Railway Express.svg VRE: Fredericksburg Line
WMATA Metro Logo small.svg Metrorail: WMATA Yellow.svg WMATA Blue.svg
Bus-logo.svg Bus: Metrobus, DASH Bus
Springfield Backlick Road Bus-logo.svg Bus: Metrobus, Fairfax Connector
Burke Rolling Road Bus-logo.svg Bus: Metrobus
Burke Centre BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg Amtrak: Northeast Regional
Bus-logo.svg Bus: Metrobus, Fairfax Connector
Manassas Park Manassas Park Bus-logo.svg Bus: OmniRide Commuter
Manassas Manassas BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg Amtrak: Cardinal , Crescent , Northeast Regional
Bus-logo.svg Bus: OmniRide Commuter
Bristow Broad Run BSicon FLUG.svg Manassas Regional Airport

Related Research Articles

<i>Northeast Regional</i> Amtrak northeastern U.S. intercity rail service

The Northeast Regional is an intercity rail service operated by Amtrak in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic United States. In the past it has been known as the NortheastDirect, Acela Regional, or Regional. It is Amtrak's busiest route, carrying 9,163,082 passengers in fiscal year (FY) 2023. The Northeast Regional service received more than $787.7 million in gross ticket revenue in FY 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virginia Railway Express</span> Commuter rail service in Virginia and the District of Columbia

Virginia Railway Express (VRE) 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 2023, the system had a ridership of 1,537,000, or about 6,700 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MARC Train</span> U.S. passenger rail system in Baltimore–Washington metropolitan area

The Maryland Area Rail Commuter (MARC) is a commuter rail system in the Washington–Baltimore area. MARC is administered by the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) and operated under contract by Alstom and Amtrak on track owned by CSX Transportation (CSXT) and Amtrak. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 3,860,600, or about 14,000 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2024, less than pre-COVID-19 pandemic weekday ridership of 40,000.

<i>Crescent</i> (train) Amtrak service between New York and New Orleans

The Crescent is a daily long-distance passenger train operated by Amtrak between New York City and New Orleans. The 1,377-mile (2,216 km) route connects the Northeast to the Gulf Coast via the Appalachian Piedmont, with major stops in Charlotte, North Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; and Birmingham, Alabama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">L'Enfant Plaza station</span> Washington Metro and VRE station

L'Enfant Plaza station is an intermodal transit station complex located at L'Enfant Plaza in the Southwest Federal Center neighborhood of Washington, D.C. It consists of an underground Washington Metro rapid transit station and an elevated Virginia Railway Express commuter rail station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orange and Alexandria Railroad</span>

The Orange and Alexandria Railroad (O&A) was a railroad in Virginia, United States. Chartered in 1848, it eventually extended from Alexandria to Gordonsville, with another section from Charlottesville to Lynchburg. The road played a crucial role in the American Civil War, saw the first of many mergers in 1867, and eventually became an important part of the modern-day Norfolk Southern rail system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexandria Union Station</span> Historic train station in Virginia, US

Alexandria Union Station is a historic railroad station in Alexandria, Virginia, south of Washington, D.C. To avoid confusion with nearby Washington Union Station, the station is often referred to as simply Alexandria. Its Amtrak code is ALX.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor</span> Proposed passenger rail project in the United States

The Southeast Corridor (SEC) is a proposed passenger rail transportation project in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States to extend high-speed passenger rail services from the current southern terminus of the Northeast Corridor in Washington, D.C. Routes would extend south via Richmond and Petersburg, Virginia, with a spur to Norfolk in Virginia's Hampton Roads region; the mainline would continue south to Raleigh, Durham, Greensboro, and Charlotte, North Carolina. Since the corridor was first established in 1992, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has extended it further to Atlanta and Macon, Georgia; Greenville and Columbia, South Carolina; Jacksonville, Florida; and Birmingham, Alabama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manassas station</span> Train station in Manassas, Virginia, US

Manassas station is a train station in the city of Manassas, Virginia, United States. The station is served by Virginia Railway Express Manassas Line commuter trains and Amtrak Cardinal, Crescent and Northeast Regional intercity trains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quantico station</span> Train station in Quantico, Virginia, USA

Quantico station is a train station in Quantico, Virginia, served by two Amtrak trains and the Virginia Railway Express's Fredericksburg Line. The existing station house was originally built by the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad in 1953. It is located at 550 Railroad Avenue at Potomac Avenue and is surrounded by the Quantico Marine Base.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fredericksburg station</span> Railway station in Fredericksburg, Virginia, US

Fredericksburg station is a passenger rail station in Fredericksburg, Virginia. It is served by Amtrak's Carolinian, Northeast Regional, and Silver Meteor trains, and the Virginia Railway Express's Fredericksburg Line. The station has two side platforms serving the two elevated tracks of the RF&P Subdivision. It is located on Lafayette Boulevard at the south end of the downtown area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Backlick Road station</span> Rail station in Springfield, Virginia

Backlick Road station is a Virginia Railway Express station in Springfield, Virginia, served by the Manassas Line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rolling Road station</span> Rail station in Burke, Virginia, US

Rolling Road station is a Virginia Railway Express station in Burke, Virginia. The station is served by the Virginia Railway Express Manassas Line. Amtrak Cardinal and Crescent trains; also use the line but do not stop at Rolling Road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burke Centre station</span> Rail station in Burke, Virginia

Burke Centre station is a railway station in Burke Centre, Burke, Fairfax County, Virginia. It is served by the Virginia Railway Express Manassas Line and a once daily Amtrak Northeast Regional round trip.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Broad Run station</span> VRE station in Prince William County, Virginia

Broad Run is the terminal station for Virginia Railway Express' Manassas Line. It is located at 10637 Piper Lane in the Bristow section of unincorporated Prince William County, Virginia, United States, adjacent to Manassas Regional Airport. It has parking for 885 cars. The station is located on a siding that leads off the 2 track main line. The siding continues to a yard for the Virginia Railway Express.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crystal City station (VRE)</span> Commuter rail station in Crystal City, Virginia

Crystal City station is a commuter rail station in the Crystal City section of Arlington County, Virginia, located near the George Washington Memorial Parkway and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. It is served by the Fredericksburg Line and Manassas Line of the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) system. VRE plans to rebuild the station nearby to accommodate longer trains and increased service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fredericksburg Line</span> Commuter rail service in Northern Virginia

The Fredericksburg Line is a commuter rail service operated by Virginia Railway Express between Washington, D.C., and Olive, Virginia. Virginia Railway Express operates 8 weekday trains, and Amtrak trains serve a few of the stations on the line. Trackage is owned by CSX as part of their RF&P Subdivision.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transportation in Northern Virginia</span> Overview of transportation in Northern Virginia

The Northern Virginia region is served by numerous mediums of transit. Transportation in the region is overseen by the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission and the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amtrak Virginia</span> Amtrak train routes in Virginia, US

Amtrak Virginia is the collective name for Virginia's state-supported Amtrak train service, all of which falls under the Northeast Regional brand. Amtrak Virginia trains run between Washington, D.C., and one of four southern termini: Richmond, Newport News, Norfolk, or Roanoke. Trains generally continue north from D.C. along the Northeast Corridor, providing one-seat rides from Virginia to Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washington District</span>

The Washington District is a Norfolk Southern Railway line in the U.S. state of Virginia that connects Alexandria and Lynchburg. Most of the line was built from 1850 to 1860 by the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, while a small portion in the center opened in 1880 as the Charlottesville and Rapidan Railroad. Today, the line is mainly used for freight service, but Amtrak's Crescent, Cardinal and Northeast Regional passenger services use all or part of the line, and the Virginia Railway Express Manassas Line commuter service uses the northernmost portion of the line.

References

  1. "VRE System Map". Virginia Railway Express.
  2. Fehr & Sanchez (June 18, 1992). "Getting On Track". Washington Post. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  3. "VRE Frequently Asked Questions". Virginia Railway Express. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
  4. "Crescent". Amtrak. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  5. "Burke Centre Now An Amtrak Stop". Railfanning.org. January 18, 2010. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  6. "VRE throttles back Gainesville, Haymarket expansion plans". Trains Magazine. March 21, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  7. "VPRA and Norfolk Southern in Discussions for New Rail Agreement" (Press release). Virginia Passenger Rail Authority. June 4, 2024.

See also

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