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VIRGINIA RAILWAY EXPRESS UPDATE
703-684-1001 www.vre.org May 19, 2010
New Amtrak Richmond
to Washington Train
Amtrak and the Commonwealth of Virginia services are estimated to remove 1.4
have signed an agreement to operate an million cars from highways, save more than
additional train between Richmond and 8.3 million gallons of fuel and eliminate
Washington, D.C. during commuter hours. 66,000 tons of carbon emissions each year.
This new train, along with the previously
implemented daily service between Lynchburg These two projects, and the associated
Editor’s Note: and Washington, D.C., provides more passenger infrastructure improvements, display Virginia’s
options, and are the first state-supported continuing investment in intercity rail, and
"The world's favorite
season is the spring.
All things seem
possible in May."
- Edwin Way Teale
And May for us at
VRE is all about
looking forward
to the many good
things to come.
Inside this
issue you’ll find
information on our
new Dyson hand
dryers, the new
Fredericksburg
express train as
well as information
on the Manassas intercity passenger rail services in Virginia. are another step in positioning Virginia
Railway Heritage to be a national leader in high speed rail.
Festival and Amtrak’s “We cannot engage the future without a Governor Kaine attended a roundtable
new Richmond to strong commitment to passenger rail in these discussion with Vice President Joseph R.
Washington train vital corridors, providing more transportation Biden, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray
service. Also inside, choices for all Virginians while helping LaHood and other Governors on the future
you’ll find the history grow our economy,” Governor Kaine said. of high speed rail in the United States.
of Burke Centre “I appreciate the commitment of Amtrak,
and information on CSX and Norfolk Southern to make these The additional Richmond to Washington, D.C.
upcoming bridge new services a reality. This is a first step route will begin operation on July 19, 2010 with
constructions, one toward a national vision of rail and ensures stops at Staples Mill Road in Richmond, Ashland,
that will take place Virginia’s place in that larger network.” Fredericksburg, Quantico, Woodbridge,
north of the Brooke Alexandria, L’Enfant Plaza in Washington, D.C.,
station and one in The new routes represent the first phase and Union Station. The train is scheduled to
Alexandria. of planned passenger rail improvements depart Richmond daily at 7:00 am and arrive
in Virginia’s I-81/Route 29 and I-95/I-64 in Washington, D.C. at 9:30am. Afternoon
corridors. At full implementation, these continued on page 2
Volume 6, Issue 4
History of Burke Centre
The area of Fairfax County known as Burke a telegram to Union Quartermaster General
is named for Silas Burke (1796–1854), a Montgomery C. Meigs complaining of the
19th century farmer, merchant, and local poor quality of the mules he had captured.
politician who built a house (which is still
Safety Sense standing) on a hill overlooking the valley In 1903, the name of the post office was
of Pohick Creek in approximately 1824. changed from Burke's Station to "Burke."
You never know The area remained predominantly rural
when the car will When the Orange and Alexandria Railroad was well into the mid-20th century. After World
break down or constructed in the late 1840s, the railroad War I, some employees of the Federal
roads will become station at the base of that hill was named Government began moving into the area,
impassable due Burke's Station after Burke, who owned the and commuted to Washington, D.C. by train.
to weather or land in the area and donated a right-of-way
an accident, so to the railroad company. In 1851, The Orange The popularity of the personal automobile,
always prepare & Alexandria Railroad reached Burke and the effects of the Great Depression, and the
for unexpected Manassas (then called “Tudor Hall”). The completion of the Interstate Highway System
contingencies original Burke Station dates from that period. contributed to the decline of railroads, including
having: this station. After 116 years of service,
In the following years, as rail service expanded passenger trains ceased to stop at Burke in 1967.
1. A flashlight or and connected to the entire nation, Burke The first large subdivision in the vicinity, Kings
lantern. Station became a Regional Transit Center Park, was constructed beginning in 1960, and
where passengers and goods could be was followed by many others over the next
2. Emergency flares exchanged. The height of rail service reached two decades, converting Burke into a densely-
or banner. a peak in the late 1800s and early 1900s. populated suburban community. Currently,
The community that grew up around the railroad tracks on the same historical line
3. Water and food. railroad station acquired a post office branch are owned by the Norfolk Southern Railway.
in 1852. During the American Civil War, the
4. A Blanket. railway station was garrisoned by Union In June 1992, the Virginia Railway Express
troops. On December 28, 1862, Confederate (VRE) started service at 10 stations, including
5. Tire-changing cavalry under General J.E.B. Stuart raided the Burke Centre Station, along the Washington
and battery-jumping the station. Stuart seized supplies from DC – Manassas Airport Corridor. In 2008,
tools. the area, destroyed a nearby bridge, VRE opened its 1500 space structured
monitored Union messages passing over parking garage, VRE’s largest, providing
These are just some the telegraph lines, and then famously sent ample parking for current and future needs.
of the basics to add
to your packing
list. Don’t forget
New Amtrak Richmond
a cell phone for
emergencies or a
phone card so long-
distance calls won’t
cost as much. A to Washington Train continued from page 1
container for those
with car sickness service is scheduled to with rail operators along each route, including
may be useful, along depart Washington, D.C. the host railroads—CSX and Norfolk Southern—
with paper towels or at 3:55 pm and arrive in addition to Virginia Railway Express.
baby wipes. Think in Richmond at 6:25pm. In April 2009, Governor Kaine announced a
of other things that similar agreement to operate daily passenger
your passengers Detailed schedules and service between Lynchburg and Washington,
may need before fares will be finalized with D.C. with stops at Kemper Street in Lynchburg,
setting out, keeping Amtrak within the next Charlottesville, Culpeper, Manassas, Burke
in mind that helpful two months. A part of this agreement, the
t th As Centre, Alexandria, and terminating at
items like these tend Commonwealth will help fund Amtrak service Union Station in Washington, D.C.. The train
to cost more when for the first time with a $17.2 million investment departs Lynchburg at 7:38 am and arrives in
you buy them far over a three-year demonstration period. Washington, D.C. at 11:20am. For afternoon
from home. service the train departs Washington, D.C.
The Amtrak Board of Directors’ approval at 4:50pm and arrives in Lynchburg at
expands the availability of Amtrak service 8:36pm. Service began in October 2009.
between Virginia and the entire Northeast
Corridor. This agreement with Amtrak is the For more information on these two trains,
last of four major agreements to be signed visit: www.drpt.virginia.gov.
Page 2
New Express Train Coming
A new morning Woodbridge, Alexandria, Crystal City, L’Enfant,
express train on the and Union Station. (There will not be an express
Fredericksburg line is train for the return trip). This new express
on the way, beginning train will have 3 cars and seat 450 riders and
July 19. The new 5:05 will help to alleviate some of the crowding Courtesy Corner
am train will run 10 normally experienced on the 5:15am train.
minutes earlier than
the first train currently Plans for the express train came after Virginia
scheduled on the Most everyone
was awarded $75 million in stimulus money on
Fredericksburg line and will get riders to is aware that cell
January 28 for high-speed rail improvements
Washington 25 minutes sooner than any phones are not
to the Powell’s Creek area, where crews
other train VRE operates. The train will stop allowed in the
will build a third set of tracks between
at Fredericksburg, Leeland Road, Brooke, Quiet Car, so we
Dumfries and Arkendale in Stafford County.
thought we’d pass
along some other
reminders about
general cell phone
use and courtesy.
Everyone has been
to a public place
and experienced
either an annoying
cell phone ring or
a loud one-sided
conversation. As
a courtesy to your
fellow riders, please
try to have phones
set to vibrate if
possible.
If you get a call, try
to keep it short and
to the point and try
to speak in a hushed
voice.
We realize the
importance of cell
phones in this day
and age and we’re
not telling you that
you can’t use phones
(except for those in
the Quiet Car), but
please try to show a
little courtesy when
doing so.
Thank you.
Manassas Heritage Railway
Festival - June 5th
Formerly a Southern Railway passenger station, vending Civil War memorabilia and provisions
the Manassas train depot is now the signature will be on site, and period music will include
icon of Old Town Manassas, acting not only groups such as Evergreen Shade, South Fork
as a busy stop for daily Amtrak and Virginia and the Chantleers. A special performance
Railway Express commuter trains, but home to by the Mosby Players with Jim Wass and
Upcoming Dates
the Old Town Visitor Center and the James and Company will round out the evening, with
Fri. May 21st - Bike Marion Payne Railroad music and instruction
to Work Day H e r i t a g e G a l l e r y. for a 1861 Period
Community Dance
Wed. May Now in its 16th year, from 6 to 8 o’clock
26th, Meet the the Annual Manassas Saturday evening.
Management at Heritage Railway
Broad Run. All Festival was originally This year’s Heritage
morning trains. created to celebrate Railway Festival will
and educate on the be held from 10am
Mon. May 31st - rich railroad history until 4pm around the
Memorial Day, no that Manassas has Old Town Manassas
VRE Service. t o o f f e r. O v e r t h e train depot and the
years, the event has Loy E. Harris Pavilion
Tue. June 1st - become known as on Saturday, June 5.
Planned Service “train day” to area
Disruption families anticipating Once again, the festival
an entire day focused will feature elaborate
Wed. June on the Railroad. With model train displays,
2nd, Meet the the approaching 150th anniversary of the 1st the much anticipated VRE Excursion Train
Management at Battle of Manassas in 2011, Historic Manassas, to Clifton and back sponsored by Northwest
Leeland Road. All Inc. is pleased to announce that, this year, Federal Credit Union at Signal Hill, live
morning trains. a large scale Civil entertainment on the
War weekend will main stage featuring
Sat. June 5th - surround the the Norfolk Southern
Manassas Heritage H e r i t a g e Ra i l wa y Lawmen Band, a
Railway Festival Festival on June 5. kids’ stage with both
professional and
“ We a r e e x c i t e d local talent powered
this year to have b y Ra d i o D i s n e y,
teamed up with food concessions,
the reenactment rides, and vendors
community to add o f “ ra i l r o a d a n i a ”.
m o r e C i v i l Wa r Admission to the
living history to Heritage Railway
t h e f e s t i va l t h a n Festival and Civil
ever before,” says War Weekend
VRE Update is a Liz Via-Gossman, is free, and the
publication of Virgin- City of Manassas Manassas Museum
ia Railway Express. Community Development Director. “This is will also be offering free admission that day.
The newsletter is all a prelude to what the public can expect
published monthly in 2011 when Manassas commemorates There is plenty of free parking in Old Town’s
12 times per year. the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War.” multi-story parking garage, conveniently
Stories included are located next to the festival at Main and
for the sole use of Beginning Friday, June 4, living history Prince William Streets. Bring the whole
VRE riders. Com- exhibitions will begin setting up on the lawn family and enjoy a wonderful day
ments and questions of the Manassas Museum as a part of the celebrating our area’s rich railroad history!
may be directed to larger annual Manassas Heritage Railway
VRE at gotrains@ Festival in Old Town on June 5th. Living City Manager Larry Hughes looks forward
vre.org or at (703) historians, authors, and both Union and t o t h e R a i l w a y F e s t i v a l e v e r y y e a r.
684-1001. Confederate re-enactors will be present in
camps for public inspection. Infantry, Artillery “The railroad and the Civil War are the two
and Cavalry drill demonstrations are being marquis themes that have shaped the heritage of
Page 4 planned throughout the day. Period sutlers Manassas. I can’t wait to enjoy this great festival.”
On-Time Performance
Over The Last Six Months On-Time
Performance
April 2010
Fredericksburg
Line
300 – 95%
302 – 86%
304 – 91%
306 – 95%
308 – 95%
310 – 91%
301 – 91%
303 – 77%
305 – 77%
307 – 95%
309 – 82%
311 – 77%
313 – 77%
Overall – 86%
Electronic Hand Dryers Coming Manassas Line
to VRE Train Restrooms 322 – 100%
In January, 2010, the VRE Operations Board and it’s hygienic, cleaning the air before blowing 324 – 82%
approved a task order to install new hand it onto hands. It can dry 22 pairs of hands for 326 – 77%
dryers in all of the VRE restrooms on the the price of a single paper towel and it uses 328 – 95%
trains. Currently, these restrooms have paper 80% less energy than warm air had dryers. A 330 – 91%
towel dispensers in the bathrooms HEPA filter removes over 99%
332 – 95%
for passenger use. Unfortunately, of bacteria from the air used
used paper towels have been found to dry hands and it starts and
325 – 86%
stuffed into the toilets causing stops automatically so it is a
damage to the toilet system. The touch-free operation. For those 327 – 68%
result of this damage is that the who are in the habit of using a 329 – 68%
bathrooms are being placed out of paper towel to touch the door 331 – 86%
service for extended repairs, which handle, just substitute a piece 333 – 77%
elevates our maintenance costs of toilet paper, your own wet 335 – 82%
when we are trying to reduce them. wipe or handkerchief instead. 337 – 68%
VRE obtained and installed one By changing to the Dyson Overall – 83%
Dyson Airblade electric hand dryer Airblade hand dryer, we can
in one bathroom on train 328/331 achieve immediate cost savings
*A train is
in August of 2009. The objective and eliminate paper towel waste,
considered
was to determine if this unit would not to mention the savings on
be a suitable replacement for the maintenance costs to repair the delayed if it is
paper towel dispenser. The feedback from toilets that were clogged with paper towels. more than 5
passengers was positive and the performance minutes later than
of the electric hand dryer proved to be reliable The units have been received and are ready the posted
and suitable for the operating environment. for installation. We will be installing them schedule into its
The elimination of the paper towel holder first on the cars that are out of service final destination.
will also eliminate the need to purchase and they will be rotated back into the
and stock bathrooms with paper towels. system. The first installation will take place
within a month or so, and it is expected to
The Dyson Airblade hand dryer works in just 12 take approximately six months to complete
seconds. It’s the fastest hand dryer out there the installation for the the entire fleet. Page 5
Upcoming Bridge Work North
of Brooke Station
VDOT is getting ready to start work on Residents living east of the single-lane bridge
Bike to Work Day the bridge about a mile north of the will likely be happier with the new structure's
– Friday May 21st Brooke VRE station. Some of you may width--40 feet across from curb to curb.
be wondering what is going on there, so Instead of the current bridge's single traffic
Join thousands of we thought we’d give you a brief update. lane, which forces cars to take turns crossing,
area commuters there will be two 12-foot travel lanes and
for a celebration of When some of Amtrak's taller, double-decker 8-foot-wide paved shoulders. Improvements
bicycling as a clean, trains pass underneath the old 1917 railroad also will be made to Courthouse Road
fun and healthy overpass on Courthouse Road, the clearance over 1.3 miles on the bridge's approaches.
way to get to work! is extremely tight. “The distance between the
Washington Area train and the bridge can be measured in inches,” "I'm happy to finally see the bridge replaced
Bicyclist Association said Rob Shackelford, Virginia Department of under my watch," said Stafford Supervisor
and Commuter Transportation area construction engineer. Paul Milde, who represents the area. "It
Connections invite There needs to be more clearance. wasn't built to last 93 years, but it has
you to try bicycling When the new bridge being built over the served our county and our community well. “
to work as an tracks is finished in September 2011, it will
alternative to solo have a 23-foot clearance over the tracks. This Planning work will start this month, but
driving. Help the is ample space for Amtrak and the Virginia area residents will likely notice construction
Washington region Railway Express double-decker cars. The work beginning in July, Shackelford said.
become a better new bridge also will be long enough to span The existing bridge will stay open during
place to ride. Bike a third railroad track, which is envisioned to construction, limiting the need for traffic
to Work Day is a eventually be laid down as part of the state's disruptions. Once the new bridge is built,
FREE event and infrastructure upgrades for high-speed rail. t h e e x i s t i n g b r i d g e w i l l b e r e m ove d .
open to all area
commuters. There
New Bridge in Alexandria
will be a raffle,
prizes, food, drink
Will Improve Service
and more at all pit
stops throughout
the region.
As relayed in a Train Talk from last week, we are Cameron Run is part of extending the third
Free T-shirts planning for a service disruption on June 1st track from Alexandria to Franconia/Springfield.
will available for due to CSX replacing a century old bridge over Currently the old bridge only has one track.
the first 8,500 the Norfolk Southern tracks near Cameron Run. However, the replacement will have two
registrants who are Some of you may be asking, “Why is this being tracks to facilitate multiple trains operating
in attendance at done?” We hope to answer that question for you. in the same area. It will be especially helpful
the pit stop they since our trains will then be able to pass
registered for. The CSX territory on which the Fredericksburg around freight trains as they slow down
Line operates is a busy corridor that sees about 30 when approaching the hill at Franconia.
Registration for Bike freight, 18 Amtrak, and 30 VRE trains on a daily
to Work Day 2010 is basis making the railroad operate near capacity. Some Manassas Line riders may be saying,
now open! In many ways it is the equivalent to driving “That’s great, but why does it affect me?”
down I-95 at 6AM; vehicles may be moving Well the Alexandria-Franconia area is
Register for the pit at top speed but any small disruption where CSX and Norfolk Southern lines
stop rally you plan will have a cascading effect on traffic. meet. As a result, the bridge that will be
to attend. Raffles installed will go over Norfolk Southern tracks
will be held at each All those who have a vested interest in the which will affect Manassas line service.
pit stop for prizes corridor know this, and projects to improve
including commuter capacity have been happening for some time. We realize this will be a headache for some
bags, bike locks, riders but infrastructure improvements such
and bicycles. Installation of the Quantico bridge, new as this one will help improve performance
switches, and second platforms, eliminate and efficiency. The disruption will only be
For more bottlenecks and add flexibility to train temporary but is part of a long term process
information, please operations, but the main project to improve to improve mobility within our region. Lastly,
visit: http://www. performance is adding a third track from while we have not finalized the schedule
waba.org/events/ Washington, D.C. to Richmond. There are for that day (stay tuned to Train Talk and
btwd/ already three tracks from D.C. to about our website in the coming days for those
Alexandria (excluding the Long Bridge over details), we can say for certain that mid-
Page 6 the Potomac) and the bridge cut-in near day service will be cancelled on June 1st.
