| Fredericksburg Line | |
|---|---|
VRE train outside of Fredericksburg. |
|
| Overview | |
| Type | Commuter rail line |
| System | Virginia Railway Express |
| Locale | Washington, D.C., Alexandria, Fairfax County, Prince William County, Stafford County, and Fredericksburg, Virginia |
| Termini | Union Station (Washington, D.C.) Fredericksburg, VA |
| Stations | 12 |
| Operation | |
| Opened | July 20, 1992 |
| Owner | CSX Transportation |
| Operator(s) | Virginia Railway Express |
| Character | 2 track main line |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 54 miles |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) |
The Fredericksburg Line is a commuter rail line operated by Virginia Railway Express between Washington, D.C. and Fredericksburg, VA. Virginia Railway Express operates 7 weekday trains[1], and Amtrak trains serve a few of the stations on the line. Trackage is owned by CSX as part of their RF&P Subdivision.
Contents |
What is today the Fredericksburg Line was originally part of the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad (or RF&P), a connector railroad between the Pennsylvania and Baltimore and Ohio Railroads in Washington, D.C., and the Seaboard Air Line and Atlantic Coast Line Railroads in Richmond. In 1991 CSX absorbed the RF&P and the line is now their RF&P Subdivision.
In 1992 Virginia Railway Express (or VRE) was formed to serve the former RF&P between Washington's Union Station and Fredericksburg, VA as well as stations between Washington and Manassas, VA on Norfolk Southern's Piedmont Division.
Along with VRE, many Amtrak trains also utilize this line. Their Northeast Regional trains stop at 6 of the 12 stations on the line and Alexandria is a major stop for 6 of their long distance trains.
Work has started on a third track between Alexandria and Franconia-Springfield. This track will enable VRE and Amtrak trains to bypass slow freight trains over Franconia Hill. Currently trains are often delayed as they slowly follow CSX trains over the hill. VRE would also like to add another third track between Powell's Creek in Prince William County and Arkendale Road in Stafford County in the near future.[2]
| State | Town/City | Station | Connections |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | Washington | Union Station | Amtrak: Cardinal, Capitol Limited, Carolinian, Crescent, Lake Shore Limited, Northeast Regional, Palmetto, Silver Meteor, Silver Star, Vermonter, Thruway Motorcoach to Charlottesville, Virginia MARC Train: Penn Line, Camden Line, Brunswick Line VRE: Manassas Line Metrorail: Red Line Metrobus, Loundoun County Commuter OmniRide MTA Commuter Bus: 915, 929 |
| L'Enfant | Metrorail: Green Line, Yellow Line, Blue Line, Orange Line VRE: Manassas Line |
||
| Virginia | Arlington | Crystal City | Metrorail: Yellow Line, Blue Line WMATA Metrobus Arlington Transit Fairfax Connector Loundoun County Commuter OmniRide Commuter |
| Alexandria | Union Station | Amtrak: Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Silver Meteor, Silver Star Virginia Railway Express: Manassas Line Metro: Blue Line, Yellow Line |
|
| Springfield | Franconia-Springfield | Amtrak: Northeast Regional Fairfax Connector: 123, 171, 231, 232, 301, 303, 304, 305, 310, 321, 322, 331, 332, 380, 401 Metro: Blue Line Metrobus: OmniRide, 18R, 18S, S80, S91 |
|
| Lorton | Lorton | Fairfax Connector | |
| Woodbridge | Woodbridge | OmniRide & OmniLink | |
| Rippon | |||
| Quantico | Quantico | OmniRide | |
| Stafford | Brooke | ||
| Falmouth | Leeland | ||
| Fredericksburg | Fredericksburg | Amtrak Carolinian, Northeast Regional Fredericksburg Regional Transit D1, F2, F4, VF1, VS1 |