Manassas Line
{{Short description|Commuter rail service in Northern Virginia}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox rail line
| name = Manassas Line
| color = {{rcr|Virginia Railway Express|Manassas}}
| image = In Push Mode.jpg
| image_width = 300px
| caption = Manassas Line train at Manassas station in 2011
| type = Commuter rail
| system = Virginia Railway Express
| status = Operating
| locale = Washington, D.C., Fairfax County, Virginia, Prince William County, Virginia
| start = Washington Union Station
| end = Broad Run station
| stations = 10
| routes =
| trainnumber = 321–338
| daily_ridership = 5,062 boardings (April 2025)
| open = June 22, 1992
| owner = Virginia Passenger Rail Authority, CSX Transportation
| operator = Virginia Railway Express
| character =
| stock =
| linelength = {{convert|35|mi|km}}
| tracks =
| gauge = {{Track gauge|ussg}}
| speed = {{convert|79|mph}} maximum
| elevation =
| map = {{switcher
| {{maplink-road|from=Manassas Line.map}} Manassas Line highlighted in blue
| Show interactive map
| {{Manassas Line|inline=yes}}
| Show route diagram
}}
}}
The Manassas Line is a Virginia Railway Express commuter rail service that extends from Washington, D.C., to Bristow, Virginia.{{cite web |url=https://www.vre.org/service/map/ |title=VRE System Map |publisher=Virginia Railway Express}} The first of VRE's two lines, with service beginning on June 22, 1992,{{cite news |last1=Fehr & Sanchez |title=Getting On Track |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1992/06/18/getting-on-track/17395a0f-8401-4481-840d-980c3ddc4b41/ |access-date=11 August 2020 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=18 June 1992}} the line operates on tracks owned by CSX Transportation (the RF&P Subdivision) and Virginia Passenger Rail Authority.{{cite web |url=https://www.vre.org/service/faq/#faq-frm-additional |title=VRE Frequently Asked Questions |publisher=Virginia Railway Express |access-date=November 28, 2018}}
The line got around 5,062 boardings per day in April 2025.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-07 |title=Train Utilization |publisher=Virginia Railway Express |url=https://www.vre.org/service/train-utilization/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250407200306/https://www.vre.org/service/train-utilization/ |archive-date=2025-04-07 |access-date=2025-04-07}}
History
The line south of Alexandria, Virginia, was once owned by Southern Railway, whose Crescent train stopped at the line's Alexandria and {{stl|VRE|Manassas}} stations. When U.S. intercity passenger service was taken over by Amtrak, the new railroad continued the {{lnl|Amtrak|Crescent}} service between {{stl|Amtrak|New Orleans}} and New York City.{{cite web|url=https://www.amtrak.com/routes/crescent-train.html |title=Crescent |publisher=Amtrak |access-date=November 26, 2019}}
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 {{lnl|Amtrak|Northeast Regional}} service south to Lynchburg, bringing more trains to Manassas and {{stl|VRE|Burke Centre}}.{{cite web |title=Burke Centre Now An Amtrak Stop |url=https://railfanning.org/2010/01/burke-centre-now-an-amtrak-stop/ |website=Railfanning.org |date=January 18, 2010 |access-date=November 26, 2019}}
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.{{cite web |url=http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2017/03/21-vre-throttles-back-gainesville-haymarket-expansion-plans |title=VRE throttles back Gainesville, Haymarket expansion plans |work=Trains Magazine |date=March 21, 2017 |access-date=March 21, 2017}}
The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority purchased the line from with Norfolk Southern between Broad Run and Alexandria used by VRE in 2024.{{cite press release |url=https://vapassengerrailauthority.org/vpra-purchases-manassas-line-from-norfolk-southern/ |title=VPRA Purchases Manassas Line from Norfolk Southern |date=September 5, 2024 |publisher=Virginia Passenger Rail Authority}}
Stations list
| class="wikitable sortable"
!State !Location !Station !Connections | |||
| rowspan=2|District of Columbia | rowspan=2|Washington | Union Station | {{Rint|us|amtrak}} Amtrak: {{lnl|Amtrak|Acela}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Cardinal}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Carolinian}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Crescent}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Floridian}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Northeast Regional}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Palmetto}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Silver Meteor}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Vermonter}}, Thruway Bus to Charlottesville, Virginia {{Rint|baltimore|marc}} MARC: {{rcb|MARC|Brunswick|inline=square}}, {{rcb|MARC|Camden|inline=square}}, {{rcb|MARC|Penn|inline=square}} {{Rint|vre}} VRE: {{rcb|VRE|Fredericksburg|inline=square}} {{Rint|washington|metro}} Metrorail: {{Rint|washington|red}} {{Rint|tram|link=DC Streetcar}} DC Streetcar: H Street/Benning Road Line {{Rint|bus|1}} Metrobus, Loudoun County Transit, OmniRide, MTA Commuter Bus |
| |{{stl|VRE|L'Enfant}} | {{Rint|vre}} VRE: {{rcb|VRE|Fredericksburg|inline=square}} {{Rint|washington|metro}} Metrorail: {{Rint|washington|g}} {{Rint|washington|y}} {{Rint|washington|b}} {{Rint|washington|o}} {{Rint|washington|s}} {{Rint|bus|1}} Metrobus, Loudoun County Transit. OmniRide, MTA Commuter Bus | ||
| rowspan=8|Virginia | Arlington | {{stl|VRE|Crystal City}} | {{Rint|vre}} VRE: {{rcb|VRE|Fredericksburg|inline=square}} {{Rint|washington|metro}} Metrorail: {{Rint|washington|y}} {{Rint|washington|b}} {{Rint|bus|brt|link=Metroway}} Metroway {{Rint|bus|1}} Metrobus, Arlington Transit, Fairfax Connector, Loudoun County Transit, OmniRide |
| Alexandria | {{stl|VRE|Alexandria}} | {{Rint|us|amtrak}} Amtrak: {{lnl|Amtrak|Cardinal}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Carolinian}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Crescent}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Floridian}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Northeast Regional}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Palmetto}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Silver Meteor}} {{Rint|vre}} VRE: {{rcb|VRE|Fredericksburg|inline=square}} {{Rint|washington|metro}} Metrorail: {{Rint|washington|y}} {{Rint|washington|b}} {{Rint|bus|1}} Metrobus, DASH | |
| Springfield | {{stl|VRE|Backlick Road}} | {{Rint|bus|1}} Metrobus, Fairfax Connector | |
| rowspan=2|Burke | {{stl|VRE|Rolling Road}} | {{Rint|bus|1}} Metrobus | |
| |{{stl|VRE|Burke Centre}} | {{Rint|us|amtrak}} Amtrak: {{lnl|Amtrak|Northeast Regional}} {{Rint|bus|1}} Metrobus, Fairfax Connector | ||
| Manassas Park | {{stl|VRE|Manassas Park}} | {{Rint|bus|1}} OmniRide | |
| Manassas | {{stl|VRE|Manassas}} | {{Rint|us|amtrak}} Amtrak: {{lnl|Amtrak|Cardinal}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Crescent}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Northeast Regional}} {{Rint|bus|1}} OmniRide | |
| Bristow | {{stl|VRE|Broad Run}} | {{Rint|air|link=Manassas Regional Airport}} Manassas Regional Airport |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Attached KML|display=title,inline}}
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{{VRE}}{{Transit in NOVA}}
Category:Rail infrastructure in Virginia
Category:Southern Railway (U.S.)