Virginia Railway Express Reaches 100 Million Rider Milestone

WOODBRIDGE, VA — Virginia Railway Express, a commuter rail between Virginia's suburbs and Washington, D.C., announced it reached a 100 million rider milestone Monday.

"Reaching 100 million riders is a powerful reminder of how vital regional rail has become for daily life, mobility, and sustainability across our service area," VRE Acting CEO Dallas Richards. "We are humbled by the confidence placed in us, and we recommit to delivering safe, reliable, and rider-focused service into the future."

"We have reached the 100 million riders milestone at the start of a new chapter for VRE," added said VRE Operations Board Chair and City of Alexandria Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley. "Our region is changing, and so are the ways people travel. VRE has and will continue to grow with our communities while delivering the safe, sustainable, and high-quality service riders deserve and have come to expect from VRE."

VRE dates back to 1992, when train service began on the Manassas Line in June and the Fredericksburg Line the following month. VRE is co-owned and co-operated by the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission and the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission and has 19 stations. A future station will be added in Potomac Shores on the Fredericksburg Line.

The commuter train service experienced ridership challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, but more riders have returned. VRE reported that it had 100,000 more passengers in July 2025 compared to the same month in 2024.

Over the summer, VRE adopted its VRE System Plan 2050, which aims to expand train frequency and hours, expand capacity and access on both lines, improve connectivity with Metrorail, local bus systems and regional trails, and support regional initiatives like the Transforming Rail in Virginia program and long-term collaboration with Amtrak, CSX and Norfolk Southern.

VRE is also looking to add Saturday service, but that is dependent on reaching agreements with its host railroads — Amtrak, CSX Transportation, and Norfolk Southern — and its operations and maintenance contractor.