Free On Fridays: Virginia Railway Express Adds Incentive For Rail Travel

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Friday is typically a busy day for traffic in the DC and Northern Virginia region, especially during the afternoon and evening rush hour. But commuters will have a new incentive to ride rail this summer.

Virginia Railway Express, a commuter rail connecting the Northern Virginia suburbs with Washington, D.C., said it will offer free service on Fridays this summer. Riders can travel without paying a fare at any of the VRE stations on the Manassas and Fredericksburg Lines Fridays from June 2 to Sept. 1.

The commuter rail is looking to boost ridership, as historic data shows it drops during the summers as well as Fridays throughout the year.

"This Fare Free Fridays initiative will promote VRE service as an option to those who commute on Fridays and riders who are using the VRE service for non-commuter purposes," said VRE board documents. "During this period, VRE staff will work with regional partners to promote the VRE service in general, but also connect them with areas of interest in the region."

According to VRE, previous fare-free efforts showed riders want to try VRE but may be uncertain of how to purchase tickets or how zone-based fares work. VRE ran a fare-free month in September 2022 to thank customers and celebrate its 30th anniversary. Ridership data from September 2022 showed a 24,216 increase from August 2022, not including trips from the Alexandria and Crystal City stations.

The fare-free initiative continued in October 2022 between zones 1, 2 and 3 — Backlick Road, Franconia-Springfield, Alexandria, Crystal City, L'Enfant Plaza and Union Station — to help riders affected by a temporary Blue and Yellow Line shutdown. Reduced fares were offered between zones 1, 2 and 3 to help riders affected by Metro's Yellow Line shutdown until May 2023.

The fare-free Fridays initiative is expected to cost VRE $250,000 to $300,000 in revenue. It will use federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to replace lost revenue.

VRE has 19 stations and runs northbound trains to DC in the morning and southbound trains from DC in the evening on weekdays only. Stations served by both the Manassas and Fredericksburg Lines are Union Station, L'Enfant, Crystal City and Alexandria.

Stations only served by the Manassas Lines are Broad Run, Manassas, Manassas Park, Burke Centre, Rolling Road and Backlick Road. Stations served only by the Fredericksburg Line are Spotsylvania, Fredericksburg, Leeland Road, Brooke, Quantico, Rippon, Woodbridge, Lorton and Franconia-Springfield.