Free Transfers Between VRE, MARC Commuter Trains Offered With Multi-Day Passes

VIRGINIA — Commuters may no longer have to pay for two tickets to ride trains between Virginia suburbs like Woodbridge, Alexandria and Manassas and Maryland stops like Frederick, Baltimore and BWI Airport.

Virginia Railway Express and Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration's MARC announced a collaboration Thursday to allow free transfers to multi-day ticketholders. Riders who have a weekly, monthly or 10-day trip pass from VRE or MARC to DC's Union Station can transfer to the other train system at no extra cost. Union Station, a stop for VRE and MARC, would be the transfer point.

The agreement between Maryland and Virginia seeks to improve accessibility and affordability for commuters in the region.

"This agreement effectively expands the geographic footprint of commuter rail service in the region and provides passengers with an affordable two-seat ride across state lines," said VRE's CEO Rich Dalton. "It lays the groundwork for future efforts to better align MARC and VRE operations, which is consistent with our long-range plan to grow VRE from a peak-period, commuter-focused rail service to an all-day, bi-directional transit system that can better meet the transportation needs of a growing region."

VRE has 19 stations between its two lines — Manassas and Fredericksburg — serving L’Enfant and Union Station in D.C. The MARC Train has 42 stations, including stops in Baltimore and D.C. and BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport as well as service to West Virginia. VRE does not run on weekends but is looking into expanding service to Saturday. MARC's Penn Line runs on weekends, while others only run on weekdays.