Long Bridge Project Prompts Schedule Changes On VRE's Manassas, Fredericksburg Lines

MANASSAS, VA — The Long Bridge Project designed to ease train congestion between Virginia and D.C. will cause travel disruptions for commuters during construction.

Virginia Railway Express announced the first schedule changes in January when the Long Bridge project begins. Adjustments to VRE service may change over time as construction happens between 2026 and 2030.

Construction on the Long Bridge will happen between 8:15 a.m. to 1 p.m., and through traffic of trains to D.C. will be suspended during these hours. The commuter train service says it is not cancelling any trains and will continue to run 32 trains per day. It will add an extra Manassas Line train in the morning before the track closure. In the afternoon, riders will be able to enter at Union Station, L'Enfant Plaza or Crystal City, but some passengers may have to transfer at the Alexandria station.

In January, a.m. schedule changes include Manassas Line 332 and 334 as well as Fredericksburg Line 312 and 314 ending at the Alexandria station rather Union Station. Transfers are available to Metro's Yellow and Blue Lines at the King Street-Old Town station to continue to D.C. The Yellow Line is the most direct connection to L'Enfant Plaza.

In the p.m., Manassas Line 325 will depart Union Station at 1 p.m., and passengers going to the Fredericksburg Line will transfer at the Alexandria station. Fredericksburg Line 307 will depart Union Station at 4 p.m., and passengers would have to transfer at Alexandria to continue to the Manassas Line. Manassas Line 331 will depart Union Station at 5:10 p.m., and Fredericksburg Line passengers will transfer at Alexandria.

VRE says the Amtrak Step-Up Program will provide flexibility to commuters during the construction. VRE allows multi-ride ticketholders to ride select Amtrak trains to and from Union Station.

Temporary VRE schedules for the Manassas Line and Fredericksburg Line are available online.

The Long Bridge Project will provide more rail capacity for passenger and freight trains between Virginia and D.C., providing relief for one of the worst bottleneck areas on the East Coast. Improvements include providing four tracks between the Long Bridge Aquatic Center in Arlington and L’Enfant Plaza in D.C., five new rail bridges and two new pedestrian and bicycle bridges. A new two-track rail bridge over the Potomac River will be adjacent to the current Long Bridge, along with a new bike and pedestrian bridge between Long Bridge Park in Arlington to East and West Potomac Park in D.C.

Separately, several projects are beginning in Alexandria to add a fourth rail, make VRE Alexandria Station platform improvements, replace the King and Commonwealth bridges replacement and make King and Commonwealth streetscape improvements.