Inaugural VRE express is delayed

By: Uriah Kiser | Insidenova.com
Published: July 19, 2010

WOODBRIDGE, Va. – Virginia Railway Express’ new express train didn't live up to its name Monday.

The new train launched at 5:15 a.m. and was supposed to get riders to Washington 25 minutes faster than any other VRE train, but it hit delays in the Woodbridge area.

The train left the Fredericksburg station on schedule but encountered signal delays about 5:30 a.m. near the Rippon station, according to VRE spokesman Jeremy Flores.

By the time the express train reached Woodbridge it was already 20 minutes late.

Trains that left Fredericksburg after the express train were also delayed.

By 7:30 a.m., an e-mail from the commuter railroad to riders stated the new express train was 40 minutes late getting to Union Station in Washington. The train was supposed to arrive there at 6:29 a.m., according to VRE’s posted schedule.

VRE Board Chairman Paul Milde says the delays are unfortunate, but they are working to improve on time performance.

“I would say that our new train 300 was successful beyond our expectations. Unfortunately our inauguration was somewhat less rosy than it could have been because we started running late around Brooke.”

Milde said by the time the express train reached Woodbridge, those who got on board had to stand.

At least 100 chose not to board and to wait for a later train, said Milde.

The signal problems started sometime after midnight Monday and crews were unable to repair them before VRE trains started rolling, said Milde.

VRE’s new express train doesn’t serve every stop on the rail line. After leaving Fredericksburg it serves the Leeland Road and Brooke stations in Stafford County and then the Woodbridge station.

From there it serves Alexandria and then each subsequent station terminating at Union Station in Washington.

Officials say the express train will alleviate crowding on later trains.

One option the commuter railroad has examined: adding more train cars to the new express train and shortening the length of later trains.

Everyone who rode the express train this morning received a free ticket due to the delays.

Staff writer Uriah A. Kiser can be reached at 703-530-3905.