Manassas Line

The Manassas Line is a Virginia Railway Express commuter rail service that extends from Washington, D.C., to Bristow, Virginia.^[1] The first of VRE's two lines, with service beginning on June 22, 1992,^[2] the line operates on tracks owned by CSX Transportation (the RF&P Subdivision) and Virginia Passenger Rail Authority.^[3]

Manassas Line
Manassas Line train at Manassas station in 2011
Overview
Status	Operating
Owner	Virginia Passenger Rail Authority, CSX Transportation
Locale	Washington, D.C., Fairfax County, Virginia, Prince William County, Virginia
Termini	Washington Union Station Broad Run station
Stations	10
Service
Type	Commuter rail
System	Virginia Railway Express
Train number(s)	321–338
Operator(s)	Virginia Railway Express
Daily ridership	5,062 boardings (April 2025)
History
Opened	June 22, 1992
Technical
Line length	35 miles (56 km)
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Operating speed	79 miles per hour (127 km/h) maximum
Route map Manassas Line highlighted in blue Show interactive map Legend MARC Amtrak Union Station First Street Tunnel L'Enfant Potomac River Washington, D.C. Virginia Crystal City Alexandria Fredericksburg Line to Spotsylvania Amtrak Backlick Road Rolling Road Burke Centre Clifton (seasonal) Manassas Park Manassas Broad Run Amtrak All stations are accessible Show route diagram

The line got around 5,062 boardings per day in April 2025.^[4]

History

The line south of Alexandria, Virginia, was once owned by Southern Railway, whose Crescent train stopped at the line's Alexandria and Manassas stations. When U.S. intercity passenger service was taken over by Amtrak, the new railroad continued the Crescent service between New Orleans and New York City.^[5]

In 1984, planning began for a commuter rail service for the area. Eight years later, after many new stations were constructed, Virginia Railway Express began operating trains on the line on June 22, 1992.

In 2009, Amtrak extended its Northeast Regional service south to Lynchburg, bringing more trains to Manassas and Burke Centre.^[6]

In 2017, VRE began a $2.8 million study of expansion to the Broad Run station and layover facility that would allow additional Manassas Line service.^[7]

The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority purchased the line from with Norfolk Southern between Broad Run and Alexandria used by VRE in 2024.^[8]

Stations list

State	Location	Station	Connections
District of Columbia	Washington	Union Station	Amtrak: Acela, Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Floridian, Northeast Regional, Palmetto, Silver Meteor, Vermonter, Thruway Bus to Charlottesville, Virginia   MARC: ■ Brunswick Line, ■ Camden Line, ■ Penn Line   VRE: ■ Fredericksburg Line   Metrorail:     DC Streetcar: H Street/Benning Road Line   Metrobus, Loudoun County Transit, OmniRide, MTA Commuter Bus
		L'Enfant	VRE: ■ Fredericksburg Line   Metrorail:             Metrobus, Loudoun County Transit. OmniRide, MTA Commuter Bus
Virginia	Arlington	Crystal City	VRE: ■ Fredericksburg Line   Metrorail:       Metroway   Metrobus, Arlington Transit, Fairfax Connector, Loudoun County Transit, OmniRide
	Alexandria	Alexandria	Amtrak: Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Floridian, Northeast Regional, Palmetto, Silver Meteor   VRE: ■ Fredericksburg Line   Metrorail:       Metrobus, DASH
	Springfield	Backlick Road	Metrobus, Fairfax Connector
	Burke	Rolling Road	Metrobus
		Burke Centre	Amtrak: Northeast Regional   Metrobus, Fairfax Connector
	Manassas Park	Manassas Park	OmniRide
	Manassas	Manassas	Amtrak: Cardinal, Crescent, Northeast Regional   OmniRide
	Bristow	Broad Run	Manassas Regional Airport

References

1. "VRE System Map". Virginia Railway Express. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
2. Fehr & Sanchez (June 18, 1992). "Getting On Track". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
3. "VRE Frequently Asked Questions". Virginia Railway Express. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
4. "Train Utilization". Virginia Railway Express. April 7, 2025. Archived from the original on April 7, 2025. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
5. "Crescent". Amtrak. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
6. "Burke Centre Now An Amtrak Stop". Railfanning.org. January 18, 2010. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
7. "VRE throttles back Gainesville, Haymarket expansion plans". Trains Magazine. March 21, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
8. "VPRA Purchases Manassas Line from Norfolk Southern" (Press release). Virginia Passenger Rail Authority. September 5, 2024.

External links

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