CHANGE MY LOCATION
Local
California News
Multimedia News
VRE train delays rise in January
SEE THE LATEST ON THIS STORY
Related Topics: Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C. (Map, News) - Almost one in five Virginia Railway Express trains on the popular Fredericksburg Line was late last month, driving the commuter rail agency to its worst on-time performance since the summer's heat restrictions were in effect.
Every afternoon train was late leaving Union Station over a three-day stretch, contributing to a track record well below targets.
Of VRE's 15,126 daily trips, 8,148 are on the Fredericksburg line.
"It worries me when I see it going in the wrong direction," VRE board secretary Paul Milde said. "The future of rail depends on safety and on-time performance."
Overall on-time performance slipped from 91 percent in January 2007 to 86 percent in January 2008, and the Fredericksburg line experienced 15 more delays last month than in December.
The delays are mostly limited to the afternoon commute due to a comprehensive focus on reducing delays in the morning, Executive Director Dale Zehner said.
"We concentrate on the delays in the morning," he said. "You'll find they are in the afternoon when riders prefer to have the delays. They want to get to work on time."
But Milde cautioned the agency cannot be satisfied by morning on-time performance alone.
"Our ridership is up and I just want to make sure we're not losing our momentum," he said.
The agency's recent decision to replace its locomotives with a new fleet would reduce the potential for troubling mechanical delays, said rider advocate George Billmyer of Annandale. Meanwhile, the Manassas line on-time performance improved to almost 90 percent in January.
The agency is preparing for a 3 percent fare increase in its next fiscal year and is holding a series of hearings starting Wednesday.
Comments from Examiner Readers
12:27 PM MST on Tue., Aug. 28, 2007 re: "VRE ridership up; commuters likely to ask for later trains"
Report as inappropriate
3:56 PM MST on Sat., Aug. 18, 2007
re: "New VRE modifications may push price tag past $86M"
Report as inappropriate
3:49 PM MST on Sat., Aug. 18, 2007
re: "New VRE modifications may push price tag past $86M"
Report as inappropriate
3:40 PM MST on Sat., Aug. 18, 2007
re: "New VRE modifications may push price tag past $86M"
Report as inappropriate
5:12 AM MST on Wed., Aug. 15, 2007
re: "VRE ridership up; commuters likely to ask for later trains"
Report as inappropriate
6:06 AM MST on Thu., May. 3, 2007
re: "Fairfax would save $1.2M under VRE restructuring"
Report as inappropriate
Examiner Reader said:
I think that we need more funding of rail. The big cost to the state is more roads. Rail is a cheaper and greener alternative and a relaxing way to travel.
242 agree | 232 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Japan? JAPAN? WHAT?, Americans can`t figure out how to keep a wheelchair from rolling? I guess it`s our great public school educational system! VRE IS NUTS! CORRUPTION! SOMEBODY HAS TO BE STEALING! JAPAN???
237 agree | 230 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
$350,000 for seat belts and a door lock? Where are buying this stuff; form the same people who charged U.S. DOD $1,000,000 for TWO LOCK WASHERS? HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?
261 agree | 239 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
"cost-cutting measures"!?! What COST-CUTTING MEASURES? WHO'S RUNNING THE ZOO? ARE YOU GUYS INSANE? Usually when you CUT COSTS things COST "LESS" NOT "MORE"!!!! GOOD GRIEF!
241 agree | 243 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
I used VRE, and I have stopped, by the time it got to the Rippon or Woodbridge station , they was no seats and I refused to stand, when people asked for longer trains the answer was the platform was not long enough, wrong answer!! many times I have had to walk back from the quiet car to exit the train so that no problem. the problem is it grew to fast too quick and they were not ready for the growth. So now I ride the bus I allways get a seat.
261 agree | 266 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Local Governments need to immediately initiate construction of high-density housing within walking distance of the VRE Stations. More vehicles would be taken off of the road and old commercial structures and outdated housing could be torn down and upgraded. It is time to bring Route One out of the 50's.
271 agree | 385 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree